In Partibus Infidelium

For some Christians, I take it, Holy Week is a time to contemplate Christ's sacrifice on the Cross and their own modest hopes of resurrection into eternal life. For other Christians, such as Lord Carey of Blathering-in-the-Dotage, Holy Week is a time to lambast other people for failing to sacrifice enough on their behalf. Writing in that noted organ of forgiveness and goodwill to all mankind, the Daily Mail, Carey criticised Daveybloke for failing to pander sufficiently to the self-pity of those Christians who, like most Daily Mail readers, consider themselves part of a persecuted minority.

According to a poll cited by Carey, more than two-thirds of Christians have not only lost touch with reality to the extent that they regard themselves as persecuted, but have also forgotten their Bible so far as to be unaware of their Saviour's explicit instructions to greet persecution with exceeding gladness and masochistic relish. Carey made clear the extent of his own connection to reality by stating that he believed Daveybloke "genuinely sincere in his desire to make Britain a generous nation where we care for one another", presumably on the grounds that Daveybloke's government is the one which hired ATOS Healthcare so that the disabled might take up their beds and work. However, Carey is annoyed with Daveybloke for telling religious leaders to oppose "aggressive secularisation", whatever that may be, while supporting such things as equal marriage. Carey is concerned that the Government is risking "the alienation of a large minority of people who only a few years ago would have been considered pillars of society". It is jolly Christian of Lord Carey of Blathering-in-the-Dotage, who is no doubt a wholly disinterested party, to take such trouble on behalf of these disenfranchised unfortunates.