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Richard Ingrams wrote a column in Saturday’s Independent in which he covered three things, resisting daft rules imposed by a society gone politically barmy, some stuff on “Approved Royal Biographies” and the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux “visiting” the UK. He then had a rant about Christianity being the reason Elton John wasn’t allowed to adopt an orphan. http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/richard-ingrams/richard-ingramsrsquos-week-crazy-new-restrictions-that-must-be-resisted-1790059.html

Now okay, I don’t have an issue with Holy Relics but frankly, they are really not my personal thing but that said, what harm is there in them and just why the fuss by some journalists ? Have these people got nothing better to do or more interesting to write about to fulfil their contractual obligations of “x words” for their employer ? In that context, my comments to Mr Ingrams:

Grumpy Old Git

Totally agree with you about ignoring foolish rules, as to your comments about things that impinge on the Royal Family and biographies, I have no personal experience or interest. On the question of “Relics of a Saint”, you obviously have too much time on your hands and too little to do.

As a Catholic, I find the whole “relics thing” odd, an amusing throwback to fraud and deciet in the Middle Ages ! It is more importantly, unrelated to personal spiritual evolution and enlightenment but I am sure that for some, it might bring comfort, whatever, it is neither important nor significant in the broader scheme of Ecclesiastical things.

I like a lot of Matthew Parris’s writing but found his rant the other day on the topic of “relics” totally absurd and put it down to him changing his whacky backy supplier or, something because he hit 60. We seem to live in a very angry society currently but even so, I find “militant atheists” totally daft, if they consider us “God Botherers” so pathetic why make such a fuss, surely “humanity” demands that we are extended their pity from the bounty of their superior intellects ? I’m looking forward to the rise of “Militant Agnostics”, that must be the Bill Topping Act, forget Strictly or X Factor, prime TV stuff for sure.

Elton John and Adoption

As to Elton John, he is a splendid chap and very generous but contrary to what is written here, the key factor apart from age was his celebrity and money. As a friend of mine who has worked in Africa and Romania with orphaned children told me, “Never underestimate just how desperate people can be, slimmer chances of their child having a “better life” than these have seen child abandonments at orphanages increase over-night.”

Also not so long ago in the UK, I knew of someone who found that he had a previously unknown grandchild that was orphaned (complicated story), he offered to adopt the child. A modestly wealthy man of good character, he could certainly provide for the child’s future but as he was 62, his wife slightly older and not in great health, he was kindly but firmly rejected. It was kindly explained that a 3 year old child would need somebody who was “there for them emotionally” as they hit adolescence etc… work it out for yourself. Like soldiering, parenting is for the young.

Only You are Right

Your last paragraph is arrogant nonsense, the same stupidity that led Victorians to believe that converting the natives to Christianity was a Divine Mission and the West since 1945 to see imposing democracy on disparate cultures unable to deal with it, let alone believe in it, as their mission. Regardless of your stance, it is incorrect to assume that what you and your friends think and believe in is necessarily correct or the “only way”. Time you grew up Old Chap, can’t be an infant all your life telling stories about “Mummy and the Royals”. Now go and lie down.