English Catholics

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catholic03

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Pax Christi,

I have posted this on ‘Casual Discussion’ as I believe this topic fits there the best. I am an English Catholic. I do not live in England. Although, like many people in my country (New Zealand), I am of English descent. All of my grandparents are/were English. My English identity is of great importance to me. I am a British Patriot. I oppose people in my country who wish to remove Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of New Zealand. I love England. I am very English in how I talk (received pronunciation), how I dress (very formally), and how I live my life (I like English automobiles, television programmes, furnishings). Although, I do not have much knowledge on the less fortunate of us Britons. My family were British landed gentry, and this reflects in my personality.

Anyway, I am posting this to see how many other English Catholics are active on the Forum. Are there many of us? Any British Catholic Patriots? Better still, anybody like Margaret Thatcher (my favourite British Prime Minister). I also love Jacob Rees-Mogg, an English Catholic politician. He supports the teachings of the Church. Devout English Catholics appear to be few and far between. How many of us are there? Although around 10% of people in England are Catholic, I have no idea of the situation regarding practicing English Catholics.

The Archbishop of Westminster is the true successor of St Augustine!

Yours in Christ and His Blessed Mother
 
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catholic03 said:
I love England. I am very English in how I talk (received pronunciation), how I dress (very formally), and how I live my life (I like English automobiles, television programmes, furnishings). Although, I do not have much knowledge on the less fortunate of us Britons. My family were British landed gentry, and this reflects in my personality.
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Do you love England, or an idealized picture of England from years and years ago?

I’m not English, so I have no dog in this fight, but it seems like you’re saying you like fantasizing about Downton Abbey more than actual England. For example, based on my interactions with English people, even well-off, educated professionals, they don’t make it a point to dress “very formally”, at least not day-to-day.

Obviously, how you dress and speak is your call. Your post just made me wonder if the thing you’re into is more of an idealized “England” from novels and tv shows as opposed to the actual place and people.
 
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I am English, too, living in Liverpool but born on the South Coast.

I don’t share your political views, though, sorry. And adding the word sorry surely confirms my credentials!
 
Welcome 🙂
I’m English too, though I do live in Britain. I’m not Conservative… my political persuasion is somewhere in the middle, or centre-left, though I do kind of like Jacob Rees-Mogg. Your Britishness is probably more defined than mine, too, though I’m probably a little closer to the masses over here.
 
English Catholic, don’t share your politics in the slightest OP but I must know, what is the correct way to make a cup of tea ?
 
Though I’m an American, I had the good fortune of living for a short time in London and was educated in Scotland, so that might give me suitable Anglophile credentials to say a word or two. I have a good deal of sympathy with what you say, though I think the poster who wonders if you aren’t loving something that has vanished does have a point. Trust me, I have to control that in myself as well. I remember once a fellow student - a “classic” English type - once said to me, “Everything I love in England is gone, or is fast disappearing.” And that was in the early 90s. Change can be hard sometimes.

It also might be said that those living in the colonies are often more proud of their heritage and culture than those in the home country. I’ve read this was the case of Greek colonies in Antiquity, was often true of the Irish and Scottish diaspora in the 19-early 20th centuries, and is very true of the large Armenian community that lives around me today: they are Armenians writ large. This isn’t to say this is good or bad, just something to keep in mind.

I’m happy to say I have no real opinions about British politics or Brexit. None of my business, thank God, and we have more than enough trouble to worry about over here in the States. I do love the people, though, and only wish them peace and prosperity. Of course.

In my experience English Catholics (those practicing their faith, that is) are very rare birds… Honestly the faith seems much stronger here in the States. Yet when one does find those practicing English Catholics (hopefully like the members here) I tend to find them very impressive indeed. The small publishing house Baronius Press would alone be an indicator of vibrant faith that still lives in Blighty.

I have a deep love for the late Monsignor Gilbey. If you haven’t read his meditation on the CCC called I Believe, I highly recommend it. Very solid, practical, and deeply English.

Finally I have lovely memories of Brompton Oratory in London, though it’s been over two decades since I’ve been back. They had excellent priests there, and the Mass and worship were sublime. I hope it’s still true.

So there you are - a few thoughts from a non-English member! Welcome to CAF!
 
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Bixby said:
In my experience English Catholics (those practicing their faith, that is) are very rare birds… Honestly the faith seems much stronger here in the States.
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I agree with this, even in the areas with more Catholics.
 
I’m Canadian, but a strong Monarchist and Anglophile.
My family religiously watches the Queen’s annual address each Christmas.
 
Interesting

I would love to visit the UK and not just London but other places in England, Scotland and Wales,

However I’m scared I might be hated because I’m American.
 
Dan_Defender said:
@Rob2 is as English as you can get 🙂
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Thanks @Dan_Defender .

Yes , I’m English , Lancashire born and bred .

Like the OP I have views about our Queen .

I can recall her coming to the throne on the death of her father . There is no one in the country who can match the duty and service she has given to her country . She is the world’s best head of state , being our Queen for 67 years and 44 days .

I am chuffed that England won 5 - 0 yesterday against the Czech Republic .

And the best Prime Minister of my lifetime has been Clem Attlee .

As for patriotism , well I agree with another Englishman , Samuel Johnson , that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel .

Also we up in the North are made of sterner stuff than those in the South . 😄

But above all else I am a member of the Catholic Church , and in the Catholic Church there are no foreigners , which does not prevent me loving my non-Catholic brothers and sisters as I am called to do by my belief in and complete and utter loyalty to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church

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Sarcelle said:
However I’m scared I might be hated because I’m American
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I don’t know anyone who hates Americans… a sort of fake rivalry is quite a strong British trait, though, it seems… we always seem to set people up one against the other in the media… like football teams or band comparison or towns etc. It’s just silly nonsense to most of us.
Rob2 said:
Also we up in the North are made of sterner stuff than those in the South .
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Agreed! 😉
 
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Sarcelle said:
However I’m scared I might be hated because I’m American.
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Please don’t be scared! I can’t imagine anywhere in the UK you’d be hated. I think some of the root of complaints is Americans (stereotypically) tend to be louder and more friendly (at least more than London and the south of England), but that’s no bad thing.

I’m not an English Catholic, or even Christian. My politics are completely the opposite of yours, OP! I’m not sure I actually know any Catholics.
 
Good heavens, where did you get that idea? As mentioned, I lived over there for years and always felt accepted; nine times out of ten the people of both England and Scotland were gracious and kind in their dealings with me. (Of course, maybe I was too naive to know their real feelings! 😄 ) Really, a great experience in every way. I had many good friends.

Speaking as an American raised in the climate of the South and West, there were times the people felt a little reserved. I remember being startled that people - strangers - didn’t greet one another on the street, keeping their eyes firmly set on the pavement, but that’s a minor thing and only passing. I still treasure many of the friendships I formed over there.

And I love the Queen, God bless 'er! Surely one of the finest, most remarkable women of modern times.
 
I’m an Englishman. The England you describe no longer exists. My country has been ruined by social and cultural upheavals and mass immigration. Peter Hitchens explains what happened to Britain in his book The Abolition of Britain.

Old England is dead and gone forever. The people are no longer Christian. They’ve lost the virtues defined them: reserve, modesty, humility, patience and the stiff upper lip. For the most part, the population is now atheistic, selfish, and drunken. Certain cities have experienced total societal breakdown.

Many of our cities would be unrecognisable to the Britons of the 1950s. The Asian communities have exploded and now occupy their own ghettos. The places have been Islamified. I predict that the UK will be a majority Muslim county within 50 years.
 
Hmm, I don’t fit the stereotype then.

I’m a bit aloof until I get to know you and as quiet as a church mouse. About as timid too.

😊
 
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Saxum said:
I predict that the UK will be a majority Muslim county within 50 years.
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Given that the Muslim population is only around 10%, with a birthrate tending to be the same as the host country, I don’t really see how that can happen, except in Muslim majority areas like Bradford, perhaps. .
 
I noticed that a lot of people have in mind that Muslims have a stratospheric birth rate.

However the truth is, fertility rates have been going down not just in the West but around the world and some Muslim majority nations have fertility rates below replacement level.
 
Anybody who doubts the Islamisation of England should visit Luton, Derby, and Birmingham.
 
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