David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.


04 March 2016

repelled not


We too participated in the courtroom Theatre of the Actors of Regard over recent days, watching on TV much of the interrogation and testimony of Cardinal George Pell by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

In the 1960s your correspondent was an altar boy at St Monica's church, Kangarro Flat. We learned on Day Two that the notorious paedophile Father Gerald Ridsdale, moved-on by Pell & Co from one parish to another, was also sent to Kangaroo Flat. Phew!
Day Two recap : ABC online

- Cardinal George Pell faced continued questions on how much he knew about Ridsdale's crimes against children 
- He maintained he knew nothing, and says he was grossly deceived by then Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns 
- He said Ridsdale's offending was a "sad story" that was "not of much interest to me" - comments that sparked anger and disbelief amongst survivors 
- The commission heard Ridsdale was moved from Inglewood, to Kangaroo Flat, to Bungaree, to Edenhope and to Mortlake throughout the 1970s and 1980s 
- Cardinal Pell said he had attended a meeting that discussed moving Ridsdale between parishes, but said he could not remember what reasons were given 
- He said paedophilia was definitely not discussed at the meeting
There but for the grace of God (sic), go we.
         


   We have admired the dignified witness of those Ballarat and other survivors (above) who travelled to Rome to be present, in person and together, as Pell responded by video to the Inquiry being held at Ballarat, to where he claimed to be too unwell to travel.
Theatre of the Actors of Regard  

       
   End of Day 2 news conference (above) : we noted the words of survivor David Ridsdale, abused nephew of Gerald Ridsdale :
"As I said yesterday, all we've seen is a performance. We've not seen evidence."
Theatre of the Actors of Regard  

Cardinal Pell arriving at Hotel Quirinale to give evidence.
               
End of Day 4 news conference : David Ridsdale again 
DAVID RIDSDALE: We hear so much people say things like, "It was a different time, or we didn't know." I don't buy it because it was never a good time to rape children. 
RACHAEL BROWN: He'll be part of the group who'll meet with cardinal Pell tomorrow. He says these men might be broken, but they're not beaten. 
D R : Don't ever underestimate broken people. Just because you see people in the street and you think there is something wrong with them, stop the judging. You know, pick them up, like we picked each other up. 
ABC RN : PM
And from the header to this blog, the name of which alludes to the Spoken Word, the broken word and to broken people :

 DAVID JONES, ARTIST AND POET (1895-1974) BEGINS HIS PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)


 collection AGNSW  
The image above derives in part from a votive offering placed inside the supposed tomb of St Peter, directly underneath the present St Peter's Basilica at The Vatican. Placed there at the time of Constantine's Christian ascendency, the eyes either side of the Cross are there as custodians, to 'take the hit' as it were, to protect their important charge from the deadly first glance of the Evil Eye as the Cross soul travels in the underworld. Regard : it seems as applicable as ever to this present Church shame, if only as a reminder of failed responsibility.
       
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