Out of Temptation's Way

Christian Britishness has come over encouragingly ecumenical, with Catholic piety neatly complemented by Protestant thrift. Beneficiaries from the Church of Rome's houses of penance for unfortunate mothers and their unholy offspring have been receiving worldly compensation from the Irish government; but the mainland has mercifully intervened to claw back at least some of the filthy lucre with corresponding cuts in social security benefits. This dose of British decency has led a number of reformees to proceed unto the next life without letting their souls be burdened with excesses of treasure on earth, and the Department for Workfare and Privation is now carefully considering the matter. Given the likelihood that we will all have to tighten our belts in aid of the Persian Crusade, there seems every chance that virtuous impoverishment will be allowed to continue bestowing its spiritual graces.