Catholic politicians and scandal

What is it with politicians who like to describe themselves as Catholics?

Is there even one who is prepared to be anything other than the cause of scandal?

Catholic Culture brings us the news that Stephen Hughes, a freeloading waster at the European parliament, has "offered public criticism" of the Holy Father's comments about Harriet Harman's immoral Equality Bill.

Do you think there is any chance that Mr Hughes' bishop, + Seamus Cunningham, of Hexham and Newcastle, might return from the ad limina visit with enough orthodoxy to enquire of Mr Hughes why he sees fit to cause such grave scandal to the Church?

What's going on in Pretoria?

The Archdiocese of Pretoria, South Africa is where I was baptised (Sacred Heart Cathedral) and where I spent the first 30 odd years of my life. The Archdiocese was established in 1948 and for it's first 60 years, until 2008, only had two bishops, + John Colburn Garner and + George Daniel.

Archbishop Daniel retired in November 2008 and was replaced by + Paul Khumalo CMM. I see now, although the SACBC website still doesn't have the news, that + Khumalo has resigned. Why? That's a tenure of only 13 months! Sounds strange to me.

The Apostlic Administrator is my one time parish priest Mgr Abel Gabuza. His first act was to cause scandal to the church in circumstances that are almost a repeat of the Ted Kennedy fiasco. South African Catholic reports that the pro-death abortionist politician Manto Tshabalala-Msimang (who denied anti-retroviral drugs to millions with HIV) was granted a funeral in Sacred Heart Cathedral by Mgr Gabuza. Moreover I understand there was an oration during the funeral.

Sadly, nothing about this surprises me.