What’s wrong with our schools?

A guest article by Joseph Bevan, author of Two Families and Traddy Daddy.

School children in 1947 (source)

How it started

My own father, who had taught in schools for over 50 years, liked to explain: “there are three essential items needed for the education of children: Kennedy’s Latin Primer, a bible and a cane.” This notion, also favoured in the 19^th century by the likes of Doctor Arnold, headmaster of Rugby School and featured in Tom Brown’s School Days, was the main principle behind the foundation of the Protestant English public schools and lasted until the 1960s.

Catholicism and Alcoholism

A guest article by Joseph Bevan.

What is an alcoholic?

Oscar Wilde once said: ‘everything in moderation, including moderation!’ Now, just because I haven’t touched alcohol for 25 years doesn't mean that I am a puritan or a killjoy. In my drinking days I suppose I classed myself as a greedy drinker as the lure of the bottle occupied much of my time, and I was either consuming or planning to consume. I am not against alcohol at all and hope the visitors to my house can rely on being suitably refreshed. I belong to a society called the ‘Pioneers’ and it seems, judging from their annual magazine, that many of their members are Irish Catholic priests! Members of this group make a permanent or temporary promise to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to refrain from all alcoholic beverages so as to atone for the sins of drinkers. The truth is that many sins are alcohol fuelled. The other point made by the Pioneers is that most people who drink alcohol, drink far too much. In order to persevere with permanent or partial abstinence one is encouraged to repeat a daily prayer.

Families and Children – Another View

A guest article by Joseph Bevan, in honor of the feast of St. Nicholas.

Catholic Church leaders are running scared

What would happen if the Holy Father restated some salient items of Catholic dogma? 

 

First of all, I am thinking about this dogma: Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus. This is defined as follows: “We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” (Pope Boniface VIII, the Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302.) If Pope Francis repeated this, one can only guess at what might happen. At the very least he would utterly destroy 60 years of ecumenical dialogue and cause a massive internal rift within the Catholic Church. He may even have to go into hiding!

“Sedevacantism is destroying the Catholic Church”: Guest Article by Joseph Bevan

In entering a debate there is often a tendency to start off with your conclusion, through the exercise of the will or the emotions, and then to gradually work backwards to justify your position. The danger of this procedure, of which we are all guilty from time to time, is to disregard any evidence which challenges our preconceived notions. Our conclusion may even contradict such evidence. The use of ad hominem arguments is very common also, such as: “Well, someone like him would say that, wouldn’t he?” The other obvious danger present in this line of thinking is that it can result in such an entrenched opinion that bitter strife ensues. One thing for sure is that the holder of views which have been acquired in this manner is unshakeable and impervious to alternative opinions, regarding any further argument more in terms of a personal attack.

“SSPX Episcopal Consecrations – Ignoring the Past” – Guest article by Joseph Bevan

SSPX Episcopal Consecrations – Ignoring the Past

“Fear is the Key” — Guest article about wokery and mob rule

“Fear is the Key” — Guest article about wokery and mob rule

Joseph Bevan

With the proliferation of electronic media there has arisen a powerful force within society which is instantaneous and deadly in its effect. This is known as popular opinion or, more accurately, mob rule. It is fear of the mob which is governing almost every facet of our human existence, and which has given rise to an elaborate defence mechanism, and that is ‘political correctness’ or ‘wokery.’ Wokery is resorted to in order to neutralise the threat of adverse popular opinion and it affects almost everything we do, say or think. There is little doubt that there now operates a ‘herd mentality’ which is driven by the internet. Definitions of ‘political correctness’ or ‘wokery’ have proved elusive simply because it is something we accuse others of, and rarely do we admit that we ourselves may be guilty of it.
 

New Memoir Recalls Conciliar Turmoil in Parishes and Families

Downside Abbey, where many events narrated in Two Families took place

Those who move in traditional circles in the UK tell me that “everyone has heard of the Bevans.” They are a large and highly musical clan whose members have been singing for decades in liturgies and concerts. Os Justi Press is proud to have just released Joseph Bevan’s book Two Families: A Memoir of English Life During and After the Council.

In running through his eventful life, Bevan vividly describes what the practice of Catholicism was like before, during, and after the Council: he shows the strengths and weaknesses of the preconciliar routine, the confusion unleashed in the 1960s, the collapse of the liturgy and especially of sacred music “in real time,” as it was unfolding.