Rome and Its Moral Teaching
We have often remarked that the present pope is subtly endeavouring to send out messages which appeal to the spirit of this corrupt generation, in order to make the Church of Rome appear more attractive in the eyes of the world. A further step in the downward progress of the papacy in softening its line on moral issues is the latest statement to emerge from the Vatican, that “LGBT” young people wanted to “benefit from greater closeness” with the Church. Instead of referring to sodomites as people of “homosexual tendencies”, as formerly, the papal propaganda machine is now beginning to refer to them as “gay” – their own preferred choice of identification.
Cardinal Baldisseri, a Vatican spokesman, commented on this change of tone: “We are open. We don’t want to be closed in on ourselves.” Yet, at the same time, the Roman Church’s own official position remains unchanged, and only last week the Pope stated that only opposite-sex couples were able to form families. “The family [as] man and woman in the image of God is the only one,” he remarked. Of course, sending out mixed messages is nothing new for this pontiff or for the Church of Rome more generally. How far the Roman harlot may depart from traditional moral teaching in its occasional pronouncements is impossible to predict, but when one form of gross sin is countenanced, there is no limit to the capacity of fallen men both to justify it and to indulge in it. AWM
Church Information
Death of Elder
We note with sadness the death, on June 19, of Mr Alasdair Macdonald, an
elder in the North Uist congregation. May the Lord raise up many others to take the place of those whom He removes to eternal glory!
Theological Conference
This year’s Theological Conference will be held, God willing, in Inverness, on Tuesday, October 30, and Wednesday, October 31, with Rev D A Ross as chairman. It is expected that the following papers will be read, all in public:
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| Robert Findlater and Revival at Lochtayside | Rev K D Macleod |
| Man’s Eternal State | Rev J R Tallach |
| Sanctification | Rev Roderick Macleod |
| The Restoration of the Jews | Rev J L Goldby |
| The Temple | Rev J B Jardine |
(Rev) J R Tallach, Convener, Training of the Ministry Committee
Meetings of Presbytery (DV)
Outer Isles: At Leverburgh, on Thursday, August 2, at 7 pm.
Southern: At Glasgow, on Tuesday, August 7, at 2 pm.
Asia Pacific: At Auckland, on Friday, August 31, at 10 am.
Zimbabwe: At Bulawayo, on Tuesday, October 9, at 11 am.
Western: At Lochcarron, on Tuesday, October 30, at 11 am.
Northern: At Dingwall, on Tuesday, November 6, at 2 pm.
Jewish and Foreign Missions Fund
By appointment of Synod, the second of the year’s two special collections for the Jewish and Foreign Missions Fund is to be taken in congregations during August.
W Campbell, General Treasurer
Matron for Ballifary Home, Inverness
The present Matron of Ballifary Home has indicated that she intends to retire in March 2019, DV. Applications are invited by the Ballifary Care Home Committee for this post, or with a view to training for it. The position is not only professionally rewarding but is an opportunity to care for some of the elderly in the Church in their later days. “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me” (Mt 25:40). Applications should be addressed to the Clerk of the Committee: Mr A MacLean, Tabor, 32 Urquhart Road, Dingwall, Ross-shire, IV15 9PE.
Acknowledgement of Donations
Congregational Treasurers acknowledge with sincere thanks the following donations:
Achmore: Communion Expenses: Anon, In memory of a beloved husband, £100.
Inverness: Bus Fund: Anon, £50.
Lochbroom: Mrs E Steven, Elgin, £80.
North Harris: Communion Expenses: AML, £100; CMK, £20.
Portree: Bus Fund: Anon, £10. Jewish & Foreign Missions Fund: Anon, for African Mission, £100. TBS: Anon, £100. Where Most Needed: H & G van den Wal, £40.
Santa Fe: Laide Friend, towards flood damage, £100.
Shieldaig: Communion Expenses: Anon, £110. Door Collection: Anon, £80. Where Most Needed: Anon, £50.