Post by Brother Billy on Oct 31, 2005 1:34:26 GMT -5
Radio 4 Thursday 27th October
Oh my goodness, this programme was trailed and trailed to death. Now I suspect the average radio listener concludes that there’s supposed to be a linear relationship between the number of times a trail is broadcast and the importance of a programme. Consequently, I was expecting some earth shattering revelations about this rather secretive organisation. However the opposite is apparently true and openness now appears to be the order of the day.
There was still a distinct feeling of unease though and I found the members featured on the programme somewhat perplexing and creepy. I couldn’t believe my ears when the ‘pricking clamp’ was described. If this was supposed to help to identify with the suffering of Christ on the cross, then why do they need to live in such an ostentatious building? Why not live in cells similar to those inhabited by enclosed orders of nuns? Why did the US woman refuse to show the interviewer her flat? Why did the Scottish woman marry if she has such a profound loathing of men and only wants to pray with women? Where does she go to mass on Sunday? I couldn’t believe my ears when the man who works as an actuary stated that women do all the cooking!!!!
I had the great privilege of visiting a convent run by the order of Poor Clares a few months ago and my feelings were exactly the same as those described by Alan Whicker in his 15 minute R4 discourse a few years back. These were, indeed, very holy ladies and I enjoyed every second of my conversation with them. I wanted to ask if they’re allowed to use deodorants, but couldn’t quite summon up the courage! I heard Karen Armstrong speaking quite recently on The World Service about the issue of how one does differentiate between a vocation and indoctrination, but in the case of The Poor Clares, I’d say the former is definitely valid.
Oh my goodness, this programme was trailed and trailed to death. Now I suspect the average radio listener concludes that there’s supposed to be a linear relationship between the number of times a trail is broadcast and the importance of a programme. Consequently, I was expecting some earth shattering revelations about this rather secretive organisation. However the opposite is apparently true and openness now appears to be the order of the day.
There was still a distinct feeling of unease though and I found the members featured on the programme somewhat perplexing and creepy. I couldn’t believe my ears when the ‘pricking clamp’ was described. If this was supposed to help to identify with the suffering of Christ on the cross, then why do they need to live in such an ostentatious building? Why not live in cells similar to those inhabited by enclosed orders of nuns? Why did the US woman refuse to show the interviewer her flat? Why did the Scottish woman marry if she has such a profound loathing of men and only wants to pray with women? Where does she go to mass on Sunday? I couldn’t believe my ears when the man who works as an actuary stated that women do all the cooking!!!!
I had the great privilege of visiting a convent run by the order of Poor Clares a few months ago and my feelings were exactly the same as those described by Alan Whicker in his 15 minute R4 discourse a few years back. These were, indeed, very holy ladies and I enjoyed every second of my conversation with them. I wanted to ask if they’re allowed to use deodorants, but couldn’t quite summon up the courage! I heard Karen Armstrong speaking quite recently on The World Service about the issue of how one does differentiate between a vocation and indoctrination, but in the case of The Poor Clares, I’d say the former is definitely valid.
