When even Jim Farry blocked a royal postponement

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25 years ago, Scotland were due to play a World Cup qualification game against Belarus on the day of Princess Diana’s funeral.  The SFA, then run by chief exec Jim Farry, the same man who was eventually removed from office for delaying Celtic’s registration of Jorge Cadete, decided the game should proceed as planned.

Whatever you think of Farry, he acted without concern for the royalist contingent.  Despite the SFA’s offices being vandalised and Scottish Secretary, Donald Dewer, applying political pressure, Farry dug in:   ”We have taken heed of the various viewpoints, but let’s be reasonable about this, life does and must go on.”

He did not act alone, the SFA International Committee were involved, and they included Celtic’s Jack McGinn, and the Greatest Football Administrator the world has ever known, Campbell Ogilvie!  This was a strange time in Britain, maybe the strangest few weeks of the last century.

Royalists were split between backers of the self-styled Queen of Hearts (honestly), and those in the minority, who sided with the actual Queen.  The Queen, a bit like Farry, held out as long as she could against the indulgent wallowing infecting millions, by resisting calls to lower flags to half-mast.

Before the end of the week, royal flags were lowered and the Scotland game was postponed.  Those of us who never took an interest in royalty were often heard saying “Let’s be reasonable about this”, but were largely ignored.

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  1. Many people ignoring the climate of Scotland and England in the 16th Century.The whole land was vehemently Anti Papist,after the Reformation.With a great deal to back them up,by the way.Vatican was corrupt to the core.

     

    The failed Gunpowder Plot did little to calm the situation.Religion pushed down the throats of the illiterate.

     

    The following Covenanter wars ,were a pain in England’s arse.For the Act Of Union,the security of the Presbyterian Bigots,was included into the Constitution to pave the way.Been there ever since.Dont forget,whoever sits on the Throne is The Defender Of The Faith.

     

    It’s history.The Catholic faith burnt 300,000 women as Witches.Burnt Heretics by the thousand.Would have burned Galileo,Leonardo,etc,for perceived Heresy.Popes had umpteen illegitimate children.

     

    ,same Bishops.As was the norm,Religion was corrupt.The Reformation was inevitable.

     

    As I say,History,from a terrible bygone age.No use worrying or debating it now.

     

    What he signed today,has no meaning to him in the present day.Do you honestly think he does not like Catholics,nor did his mother.The Constitution,which would take something with the power of an Earthquake to change,is there for good.

  2. DALRIADABHOY on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2022 2:56 PM

     

    ‘Ernie, your words below, so Charlie tax avoidance is ok because of what the royal family have always done it.’

     

     

     

    ####

     

     

    Read it again.

     

     

    And explain to me how it attempts to justify or excuse or downplay tax evasion or avoidance by anyone.

     

     

    ####

     

     

    “I just find it odd that people are getting exercised about the tax affairs of the royal family (which is hardly news) seem so unconcerned about the tax affairs of someone who has more direct bearing on our lives as Celtic fans.”

  3. The cult members on here used to bang on repeatedly about how there couldn’t be a Catholic Prime Minister because it was against the law and that was proof positive about constitutionally ingrained anti Catholicism.

     

     

    No matter how often it was pointed out they were wrong, quoting chapter and verse, they just kept on repeating it

     

     

    Goebbels like.

     

     

    That one turned out well, didn’t it?

  4. TURKEYBHOY on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2022 4:04 PM

     

    Many people ignoring the climate of Scotland and England in the 16th Century.The whole land was vehemently Anti Papist,after the Reformation.With a great deal to back them up,by the way.Vatican was corrupt to the core.

     

     

    The failed Gunpowder Plot did little to calm the situation.Religion pushed down the throats of the illiterate.

     

     

    The following Covenanter wars ,were a pain in England’s arse.For the Act Of Union,the security of the Presbyterian Bigots,was included into the Constitution to pave the way.Been there ever since.Dont forget,whoever sits on the Throne is The Defender Of The Faith.

     

     

    It’s history.The Catholic faith burnt 300,000 women as Witches.Burnt Heretics by the thousand.Would have burned Galileo,Leonardo,etc,for perceived Heresy.Popes had umpteen illegitimate children.

     

     

    ,same Bishops.As was the norm,Religion was corrupt.The Reformation was inevitable.

     

     

    As I say,History,from a terrible bygone age.No use worrying or debating it now.

     

     

    What he signed today,has no meaning to him in the present day.Do you honestly think he does not like Catholics,nor did his mother.The Constitution,which would take something with the power of an Earthquake to change,is there for good

     

     

    —-

     

     

    In the 16th Century every organisation was corrupt, including the monarchy.

     

     

    The reformation in England was not driven by opponents of indulgences, it was driven by the sex drive of a King. The CoE was founded not on the rock of Christ, but on the bollocks of Henry VIII as Martin Beehan famously said.

     

     

    I’ve no issue with the British Monarch having to be Protestant, they’re after all the head of the CoE. However, they’re free to marry Muslims, Jews and people of every religion or none, but remain barred from marrying a Catholic.

     

     

    This law was and remains the foundation of bigotry against Catholics in some parts of the UK.

     

     

    It needs binned.

  5. TURKEYBHOY on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2022 4:04 PM

     

    ‘Many people ignoring the climate of Scotland and England in the 16th Century.The whole land was vehemently Anti Papist’

     

     

     

    ####

     

     

     

    Not the whole land entirely There were recusant areas in England and Scotland. Not just the plebs either, some of the ancient aristocratic families remained Catholic.

  6. AN DÚN on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2022 4:18 PM

     

     

     

    ‘This law was and remains the foundation of bigotry against Catholics in some parts of the UK.’

     

     

     

    ###

     

     

    The law wasn’t the foundation of the ‘bigotry’. The ‘bigotry’ already existed.

  7. ERNIE LYNCH on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2022 4:21 PM

     

    AN DÚN on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2022 4:18 PM

     

     

     

     

    ‘This law was and remains the foundation of bigotry against Catholics in some parts of the UK.’

     

     

     

     

    ###

     

     

     

    The law wasn’t the foundation of the ‘bigotry’. The ‘bigotry’ already existed.

     

     

    —-

     

     

    The Orange Order point to this law and justify their bigotry on it.

     

     

    It needs binned. It wouldn’t exist today were it directed at Black people or any other religious or ethnic minority.

  8. TURKEYBHOY on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2022 4:04 PM

     

     

     

    Just on that point about the Catholic aristos.

     

     

    The guy in charge of the funeral arrangements is the Duke of Norfolk, who is the UK’s senior aristocrat (no idea how that’s worked out).

     

     

    He’s a Catholic.

  9. AN DÚN on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2022 4:24 PM

     

     

     

    You can live your life, or form your opinions, based on what a shower of stick twirling DOBs have to say if you like.

     

     

    But I wouldn’t recommend it.

  10. LIONROARS67 on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2022 4:24 PM

     

    Can anyone name all the British PMs who were catholic during their term in office

     

    ####

     

     

     

    Bojo. Peace be upon him.

  11. Funeral arrangements.

     

     

    We were often told that the queen’s funeral was planned with military precision

     

     

    But so far poor witchell is having to guess what days things will happen

     

     

    She might go to holyrood tomorrow or maybe someday

  12. Is Boris Johnson a Catholic ? no definitive answer even from Bojo himself, maybe we could get an answer from Goebbels ?

     

     

    To the dismay of many a crumpet-and-tea Englishman, earlier this summer British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was married in Westminster Cathedral, the seat of Catholicism in London. Johnson’s marriage to Carrie Symonds, a Catholic, was a surprising and sudden affair. It caused something of a stir, as surprising and sudden weddings will—especially by public officials, and most especially by British public officials.

     

     

    The twice-divorced Mr. Johnson is not only the first prime minister the United Kingdom has seen marry while in office for nearly 200 years. He is also not known to be a Catholic, though he was baptized as one. Some are decrying how even the Church will bend her rules for the privileged.

     

    Mr. Johnson’s policy on cake, he admits, is “pro having it and pro eating it.” Does that attitude extend even so far as religion?

     

     

    When asked by a journalist after his Catholic marriage and the Catholic baptism of his son, “Are you now a practicing Catholic?” Johnson, an Anglican since Eton, replied, “I don’t discuss these deep issues—certainly not with you.” Fair enough, sir.

     

     

    In any event, the Prime Minister is now under suspicion of being England’s first Catholic prime minister, which would complicate his relation to the Church of England (God save the Queen). Mr. Johnson known for his wry and ready wit, and he wielded it in that moment to keep to himself what so many seek to fling into public scrutiny. Whether it be our religion, our political affiliation, or our vaccination status, the deep issues of our lives are boarding themselves up against undue exposure as they become increasingly divisive.

  13. The problem Ernie is that there’s a legal basis for Anti Catholic intolerance.

     

     

    I would have thought it fairly straightforward that such laws have no place.

     

     

    Unfortunately some people can’t ignore the Orange Order. They match outside our homes and churches.

  14. Prime ministers Roman Catholic Church

     

     

    Tony Blair – Anglican while in office, he converted to Catholicism after leaving office in 2007.

     

    Boris Johnson – baptised as a Roman Catholic but became an Anglican while at school. On 29 May 2021, Boris Johnson married Carrie Symonds at Westminster Cathedral – a Roman Catholic Church – adding an additional Catholic sacrament.[12]

     

     

    Inclusive evidence for me, happy to state no practising roman catholic PM whilst in office

  15. This is true.

     

    I have just been to Morrisons .

     

    At the check out, I could hardly hear the beep as I scanned my goods. An assistant was nearby so I mentioned to him that, perhaps, this scanner was faulty as it was barely audible.

     

    `No` he replied. ` We have turned them down (out of respect) for The Queen.`

     

     

     

    Was Gulliver`s Travels Non-Fiction?

  16. I find my account above so ridiculous that I feel I have to repeat that the episode is neither exaggerated, embellished nor false. It is completely true. Honest.

  17. Hot Smoked @ 4:40

     

     

    FFS – the world has become maniac.

     

     

    I had to switch to Fox News recently to avoid the madness on TV over here.

     

     

    Having said that 25 minutes of Biden bashing, followed by exploitation of immigrants at the border to rouse the Tr*mp base made me give up.

     

     

    Maniac.

  18. Boris doesn’t strike me as the type of young person who would be asking himself serious questions about his faith. The fact he became Anglican while attending Eton would suggest he thought it, or was advised, that remaining outwardly Catholic wasn’t in his future best interests.

  19. If Morrisons can lower the volume of their scanners out of respect, I am going to show mine by watching the News with the sound turned off.

  20. 3-0 Leipzig is some turnaround by the Rose inspired team. So much work to do for us to get anything from this group. Why could they not have sneaked a wee 1-0 win on Tuesday and kept their manager at least until we have played them.

  21. Article extract in my post at 4.34 pm from Crisis magazine a voice for the faithful catholic Laity

     

     

     

    Is Boris Johnson a Catholic? – Crisis Magazinehttps://www.crisismagazine.com › is-boris-johnson-a-ca…

     

    20 Aug 2021 — Boris Johnson may or may not be Catholic, but he is certainly Chestertonian, and that goes somewhere beyond his doughy build and rumpled …

     

     

    Enjoy your evening

  22. AN DÚN on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2022 4:53 PM

     

    Boris doesn’t strike me as the type of young person who would be asking himself serious questions about his faith. The fact he became Anglican while attending Eton would suggest he thought it, or was advised, that remaining outwardly Catholic wasn’t in his future best interests.

     

     

    Sorry has Boris ever been outwardly catholic ?

  23. AN DÚN on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2022 4:53 PM

     

     

    Boris Johnson’s confusing and contradictory religious historyhttps://www.economist.com › erasmus › 2019/07/27

     

    27 Jul 2019 — In a nutshell, he has Muslim, Jewish and Christian ancestors. He was christened a Catholic by his mother. He was confirmed in the Anglican faith …

  24. This, on a YouTube clip about cancelling football, made me smile:

     

     

    `As a mark of respect they should have simply made transport,ticket prices and all refreshments free so we could at least get an idea of how she and her family have lived.`

  25. DalriadaBhoy on 10th September 2022 3:38 pm

     

     

    SCULLYBHOY

     

    You have probably seen this tribute to Jock.

     

    Jim Craig, Archie Archie gie us a wave and Alan Rough.

     

    I have a lot of time for Alan Rough after hearing him share the encounter he had with Tommy Burns unexpectedly on holiday.

     

    Him recounting the story brought tears to my eyes.

     

    Anyway i enjoyed the below

     

    https://youtu.be/tKMxYHCvZOA

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    Thank you my friend.

  26. An Run,

     

    Yes it does need binned.The thing is,when the law was made,it was only Catholics who were a threat.

     

    Anyway,I am not a Monarchist,or religious,so maybe history is a bit different to me.

     

    I only know that changing the Constitution,is not an easy thing,no matter how much a person might want to.

     

    Look at America with the gun laws.Not exact comparison,but same difficulty.

  27. DalriadaBhoy on 10th September 2022 3:52 pm

     

     

    SCULLYBHOY.

     

    I tried to find the story Alan Rough told about Tommy.

     

    I couldn’t, I did find the below couldn’t get to the end though. Tommy twists Tommy turns Tommy Burns. Is a hero of mine and not just because of his football, trying to watch the below brought tears to my eyes

     

    Look at the expression quite early on Tommy’s face as he looks at Jock’s portrait

     

    That’s enough melancholy from me.

     

    https://youtu.be/ET8ZebeGPpw

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    Once again, I am indebted to you.

     

     

    I love having supported Celtic all of my life. Good times a plenty and more to come.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8e/16/92/8e16928993177d443ed7c82b94f241b5.jpg

     

     

    https://i.pinimg.com/564x/b1/e9/2e/b1e92eac8c528ac70da7efe37552b2fe.jpg

     

     

    Memories. (BTW is this a Celtic supporters blog?)

     

     

    Oh well, tea time. Catch you later.

  28. Ernie,

     

     

    You know as well as I do,there are Catholics in high officeEven during the Reformation,Henry 8th,and Cromwell,they survived.Still own the Estates.

  29. I only know that changing the Constitution,is not an easy thing,no matter how much a person might want to.

     

     

    —-

     

     

    I disagree with this TurkeyBhoy.

     

     

    Because the British Constitution isn’t written, but is in the form of laws and customs, it is more readily changed than that of Ireland or the US.

     

     

    For instance, the Good Friday Agreement changed the British constitution by virtue of the 1998 Northern Ireland Act. That law made history as it gave a constituent part of the Uk the lawful and therefore constitutional right to secede.

     

     

    The laws surrounding succession should have been repealed decades ago. It remains a disgrace that they have not.

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