This is me, Eccles

This is me, Eccles
This is me, Eccles

Tuesday 30 April 2013

New saints' names available

Although it is no longer forbidden by Canon Law, many priests are unhappy about baptising babies with names that are neither Biblical nor the names of saints: for example, Jay-Z, Harper Seven, or Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily.

tiger

Some say that "Tiger" was given her name because she was stripy.

Pope Francis has noted these concerns, and has agreed to do a "bulk-canonization" of dead people with particularly silly names, so that in future Catholic parents will be able to use them without embarrassment. These may include non-Catholics of a particularly saintly reputation.

St Groucho

St Groucho.

An addition to people with silly names, the Pope is also planning to canonize representative people called Darren, Tracey, Barack, Harrison, Rock, Whoopi and Beyoncé, which are all popular names amongst modern Catholics.

St Eeyore

Some people would draw the line at a St Eeyore.

In a powerfully-worded editorial in the Tablet, Catherine Pepinster has argued that the Holy Father is not going far enough, and that names such as Tablet, Homophobia and Why-Won't-They-Ordain-Women should also be allowed. In a sense this is a return to the Victorian age, when names such as Chastity, Cleanliness and There-Is-No-Salvation-Outside-The-Methodist-Church were commonly given to babies. However, at present the Catholic Church is trying to avoid out-and-out silliness.

St Fudge

St Fudge, a bishop.

6 comments:

  1. Methinks there will be an increase in the number of people who name their babies "Francis."

    ReplyDelete
  2. Darling eccles, how marvellous - st eccles sure to follow :) xx Jess

    ReplyDelete
  3. Saint Z must surely be up for it soon.

    ReplyDelete
  4. St Maglia Rosa and St Giro d'Italia are possibles too. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-shorts-the-pope-mantova-katusha-and-pellizotti

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have some sympathy for the unfortunate offspring who have been given far-out names – having been named after an attic myself.

    And by a good Irish Catholic mother, no less!

    ReplyDelete
  6. "Some people would draw the line at a St Eeyore."

    Pooh to that.

    ReplyDelete