Based on the teaching of St Thomas Aquinas, "natural law" is the concept which has underpinned Catholic attitudes to sex and sexuality since the 13th century. Building on the Aristotelian notion that "in all things of nature, there is something of the marvellous" , Aquinas held that the natural instinct of man to procreate was evidence of his essential goodness. The flip side to Aquinas' theory (which might have surprised old Aristotle) was that sex for any purpose other than procreation was sinful.
He was something of a hardliner on this, to the point of insisting that rape and incest, since they might result in conception, were less reprehensible than coitus interruptus.
The problem, for some, is that the proposed changes would remove the loophole used by churches where they are legally permitted to discriminate against women or gays to religious posts, but they use to apply to other posts - like teachers.
In a disgraceful act of spinelessness, Harriet Harman (the minister responsible) has decided, as The Times reported, to "drop a planned amendment that church leaders from all denominations feared might undermine their freedom to continue barring gays and — in the case of the Catholics — women from the priesthood". Anglicans also put in their opinion, with Archbishop John Sentamu saying that "[T]hat way lies ruin".
Of course, the changes proposed are being portrayed as "socialism in one clause" and that it could be "a first step towards the positive discrimination schemes that have proved so divisive in America".
Just another slope that we have avoided slipping down, I suppose.
We have been repeatedly rammed down our throats the rationale for supporting the invasion of Afghanistan – the myth that this is a ‘war against terror’. A war to eradicate and stop terrorists from destabilising the region and the world. A war against Islamic fundamentalisms advocated by the likes of groups such as Al Qaeda and the Taliban that preaches extremist beliefs and practices including those against women.
The requirements of doing business in China include self-censorship – something that runs counter to Google’s most basic values and commitments as a company. Despite that, we made a decision to launch a new product for China – Google.cn – that respects the content restrictions imposed by Chinese laws and regulations.
These attacks and the surveillance they have uncovered--combined with the attempts over the past year to further limit free speech on the web--have led us to conclude that we should review the feasibility of our business operations in China. We have decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn, and so over the next few weeks we will be discussing with the Chinese government the basis on which we could operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if at all. We recognize that this may well mean having to shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in China.
Google let dollars get ahead of their mantra, and that came back to bite them. Stay true to your mantra, Google.
Australia's financial regulators say the guarantee scheme for large deposits and wholesale funding – introduced at the height of the global financial crisis to help the nation's banks borrow funds overseas – can now be phased out because of improved funding conditions.
The decision on Tuesday by the RBA to keep the cash rate at 3.75% was seen as a surprise by some (not me - hehe). Could it be that it is the big four banks that actually caused the RBA to keep rates on hold because they are increasing the margin between the cash rate and their standard variable rate (SVR). The Australian reported that "RBA deputy governor Ric Battellino warned monetary policy in Australia was higher than the official cash rate because of the move by the banks after the three rate rises in 2009."
IG markets analyst Ben Potter said:
"Comments that stimulus affects are fading and that banks have hiked in excess of the official cash rate have clearly hit home with the RBA"
I thought that I should create a chart that shows the increase in the difference between the RBA cash rate and the SVR.
Back in November 2007, the gap between the RBA cash rate (6.75%) and the SVR (8.75%) was 1.82%. This is the rate it was for year and years.
Now - the gap is 3.01%.
The banks are now taking more than 1% extra - and where does that go? Does that mean we should thank the banks for the interest rate staying the same? Will the banks ever return the gap to 1.82% - or will they continue to gouge their customers in their search for bigger profits?
Can I start by saying that Qantas is not my favourite airline?
The experience starts with check-in. A 80 minute queue - not bad in itself, but when you see around 5 dedicated checkin desks manned but with no queue you get annoyed (the desks were ones dedicated for US -bound flights).
The plane is an old 767-300 - with no personal entertainment. How can this be? They charge full fare for the flights to-from Manila. It is the same sort of time as flights to HKG/SGP/BKK - they get entertainment? Lucky for me I know about the lack of entertainment and so had movies on my iPhone (I watched the Python documentary that Kevin reviewed a few weeks ago, and Cranky Geeks).
The food was not good at all. A slow-cooked pork meal that I only half-finished. At least the red wine was OK :)
We were given flight arrival forms (which was a good thing), but when we get to immigration we find that we have been given the wrong forms. And so there was a scramble as 200 people all try to complete the new forms while standing in line.
Anyway - I am here in Manila, trying to catch up with all that has been happening, and thought that we could start the day with an open thread.
So - go for it, mention any story you like, just be civil and (if possible) give us a laugh. I need one.
