• About
    • Ethics policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Ownership, funding and corrections
    • Complaints procedure
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
Brighton and Hove News
5 December, 2025
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Brighton and Hove News
No Result
View All Result
Home Brighton

Wickedness of the church denounced by Brighton priest

by Frank le Duc
Wednesday 6 Jul, 2011 at 10:14AM
A A
4

The wickedness of the Catholic Church was denounced in a sermon by one of its own priests on Sunday.

The corruption of popes, the perversion of bishops and the sinfulness of priests were also criticised.

And Father Ray Blake also preached about the infidelity of the laity to the congregation of St Mary Magdalen in Brighton.

Father Blake chose the feast day of Saint Peter and Saint Paul to spell out some of the hard realities confronting fellow Catholics.

He told the congregation how Napoleon’s threat to destroy the church was met with a quip by Pope Pius VII’s Secretary of State Consalvi: “But Imperial Majesty, the clergy have been trying to do that for 1,800 years.”

After the sermon Father Blake wrote in his blog: “The thing is, if you believe Jesus, in the incarnation, there is nowhere else to be except in the Catholic Church, which is what this convert is saying:

“My longing to become a Catholic boils down to the fact that I believe that the Bible is the word of God and I take Christ at his word when he says to St Peter: ‘Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.’”

Father Blake added: “If Jesus says he is building a church on St Peter, there is no other church that fits the bill.

“Either that or this verse means nothing, therefore the Bible means nothing.”

Father Blake pointed out that the next time Jesus is recorded speaking to Peter after the “rock” quote was to say: “Get behind me, Satan.”

One church-goer said: “He tackles the controversial and difficult and seemingly contradictory meanings and messages around faith and belief.

“Sometimes this causes a bit of a brouhaha but he is brave enough and strong enough to confront these failings head on.”

ShareTweetShareSendSendShare

Comments 4

  1. John Dale says:
    14 years ago

    “…therefore the Bible means nothing.”

    Well he got that bit right.

    If he recognises the evil that is inherent in his particular brand of christianity, and also recognises that the bible’s authority is built on foundations that make quicksand look like reinforced concrete, then Mr Blake should really take the obvious step and give up his infantile superstition once and for all. Oh wait a minute – he makes his living from promulgating nonsense to the gullible doesn’t he.

    Reply
  2. Lorenza says:
    14 years ago

    Couldn’t say it better myself John 🙂

    Reply
  3. Chris says:
    14 years ago

    Absolutely, John and Lorenza. It’s so sad that people are so easily duped by this superstitious mumbo-jumbo twaddle. Far from putting a stop to it, the Government encourages it. Disgraceful

    Reply
  4. lala says:
    13 years ago

    Unlike previous replies, I dont find Father Blake’s religion infantile. If you percieve his comments with maturity and intelligence it will be apparent he is simply conveying constructive criticism. Jesus did live on earth, he is devine, did many miracles, he died, was buried and rose again 3 days later. Jesus is God. Just because this did not happen in our lifetime it does not mean it did not happen at all. If you have that approach to anything historical what would you believe in? The Roman Empire existed before, during and after Jesus so would you question its existence too?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most read

Albion chairman sued over ‘£600m gambling syndicate’

Aquarium roundabout to go in January

Family home can become student house despite dozens of objections

New pool plans approved

Wickedness of the church denounced by Brighton priest

Counter-terror police carry out raids in Brighton and Eastbourne

CCTV released in investigation into Apple Store theft

Government confirms mayoral elections postponed until 2028

Reports suggest Sussex mayoral election to be postponed

Royal Mail depot tweaks approved

Newsletter

Arts and Culture

  • All
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Food and Drink
Hotel Lux exclusive interview & gig review

Hotel Lux exclusive interview & gig review

5 December 2025
Pastel announce headline tour which includes Brighton date

Pastel announce headline tour which includes Brighton date

3 December 2025
£1 ticket tour brings over one thousand people back into grassroots venues

£1 ticket tour brings over one thousand people back into grassroots venues

3 December 2025
Blur’s Alex James bringing ‘Britpop Classics’ to Brighton

Blur’s Alex James bringing ‘Britpop Classics’ to Brighton

3 December 2025
Load More

Sport

  • All
  • Brighton and Hove Albion
  • Cricket
Brighton and Hove Albion beaten in seven-goal Villa thriller

Brighton and Hove Albion beaten in seven-goal Villa thriller

by Frank le Duc
3 December 2025
0

Brighton and Hove Albion 3 Aston Villa 4 Two goals from Jan Paul van Hecke, one of them in the...

Debut for Tzimas as Brighton and Hove Albion host Aston Villa

Debut for Tzimas as Brighton and Hove Albion host Aston Villa

by Frank le Duc
3 December 2025
0

Brighton and Hove Albion have named 19-year-old Stefanos Tzimas in the starting line up to face Aston Villa at the...

Manager of Brighton and Hove Albion’s women team dismissed after allegations

Brighton and Hove Albion triumph at Nottingham Forest

by Frank le Duc
30 November 2025
0

Nottingham Forest 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 2 A late goal in each half helped Brighton and Hove Albion to...

Baleba dropped as Brighton and Hove Albion face Nottingham Forest

Baleba dropped as Brighton and Hove Albion face Nottingham Forest

by Frank le Duc
30 November 2025
0

Carlos Baleba has been dropped to the bench as Brighton and Hove Albion prepare to face Nottingham Forest this afternoon...

Load More
July 2011
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Jun   Aug »

RSS From Sussex News

  • Counter-terror police carry out raids in Brighton and Eastbourne 5 December 2025
  • Government postpones mayoral elections until 2028 4 December 2025
  • Homless charity launches vital £30k Christmas appeal 4 December 2025
  • Man jailed for nine years for child sex abuse 2 December 2025
  • Number of drink and drug driving deaths and serious injuries soars 1 December 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy
  • Complaints
  • Ownership, funding and corrections
  • Ethics
  • T&C

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Opinion
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Sport
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Contact

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News