Which bits of the Bible can we omit?

There's been a bit of controversy this week about the second reading in the Novus Ordo Mass, which was Ephesians 5:21-32: this has some juicy stuff about wives submitting to their husbands as the Church submits to Christ. As far as I know, in England and Wales, this bit is not optional (sometimes, parts of a reading can be omitted, but only if it is too long and the priest wants to get away early); however, in the USA it seems that St Paul's teaching does not meet with modern feminist ideals, and can be omitted if the priest is worried about being beaten up by irate women after the Mass is over.

"And if St Paul comes here, he'll get the same!"

So I looked at all the readings for last Sunday (including the psalm) to see whether there are other parts that should really be omitted to avoid offending sensitive souls.

Reading 1: This is from Joshua 24, and our hero calls the people together and tells them that if they don't want to serve the Lord, then they can go and serve the other gods, including the gods of the Amorites. The people decide to stay put.

Verdict: Well, this isn't very ecumenical, is it? I think we'd better cut this a bit, to avoid offending fans of Pachamama and similar alternative gods.

The Amorites worshipped Amurru, seen here dressed for motorcycling.

Psalm: Based on Psalm 33. It has the refrain "Taste and see that the Lord is good".

Verdict: This may offend people with no taste - and I don't mean modern hymn-writers, I mean inability to taste food and drink; and of course, what are the blind supposed to think? There's another awkward bit later on, where we're told that the just man will be rescued from his trials, and "not one of his bones shall be broken". What are people with broken bones going to think of that?

"This wouldn't have happend if you were a just man."

Reading 2: St Paul reveals that he is not exactly a feminist.

Verdict: Enough said already.

Gospel: From John 6. This starts with "After hearing His doctrine many of the followers of Jesus said, 'This is intolerable language. How can we accept it?'"

Verdict: We know how they feel. Look, let's just scrap all these Bible readings and skip to the homily, where the priest can make us feel comfortable by telling us about his holiday in Madeira.

New Commission to investigate Women Deacons

Pope Francis has created a new commission to study the possible ordination of women as deacons in the Catholic Church. As a service to our readers, we present a guide to some of the great minds who will be taking part in this Commission for Feminist Theology.

Dr Morgan le Fay - a veteran British theologian and lecturer on practical sexual studies.

The Foul Hag Sycorax - mother of Cardinal Caliban. Ms Sycorax is believed to have the largest collection of Pachamama statues outside the Vatican, most of which have spirits trapped inside them. Writing a biography of Austen Ivereigh.

Weird Sister One - a representative of the Blasted Heath Coven Convent. Intends to use "Eye of Newt, Toe of Frog" theology to bring in women deacons.

"Hail, Lady Macbeth, thou shalt be Pope hereafter!"

Dame Circe - an uncompromising feminist theologian from Greece who thinks that all men are pigs.

Prof. Minerva McGonagall - professor of Slightly Catholic Studies at Roehampton University.

Mother Grimm - part of the "cannibalism theology" wing of the Catholic Church. Worships in a gingerbread chapel. Holds a doctorate in Gelato Studies from the University of Villanova.

Mother Grimm's Gingerbread Chapel.

The Bride of Dracula - an aristocratic touch is brought to the commission by its inclusion of this Transylvanian Countess, who is believed to be a major stake-holder.

Mrs Black, also known as the Wicked Queen - the implacable enemy of Sister "Snow" White ever since a memorable debate at Notre Dame University.

Cackles evilly.

Jadis - a representative from the Anglican church. Author of the treatise, Was Aslan a woman?

The Wicked Witch of the West - widely believed to be transgendered. A close friend of Fr James Martin SJ.

Ms W.W.O.T. West promises to bring a "new broom" to the Catholic Church.

The Book of St Richard, Chapter 24

Continued from Chapter 23

1. And it came to pass that Richard was invited to the prestigious Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism; this was because many years ago he had been a scientist, and he was in those days still a skeptic, or at least a sceptic.

2. And he accepted with alacrity, saying, "It will enable me to rub shoulders with many luminaries of whom nobody has ever heard, not to mention Michael Mann, he who hath produced a 'hockey stick' graph showing that the world will be consumed by fire if we do not shower gold upon him."

3. "And, although I shall fly to New York, that I may claim the miles of air, yet shall I pretend that I walked from Oxford, so that my giant footprints of carbon be hidden from the gaze of Mann."

Cometh the Nemesis of Richard.

4. But it was not to be, for there came into Richard's life a woman named Chanty Binx.

5. This was a woman with red hair, not unlike the fair Mrs Dawkins; well, at least, if the fair Mrs Dawkins had decided to dress up for Hallowe'en to scare the breeches off Richard.

6. She was known as an example of the hard-line feminist that screameth abuse, hateth men, and sweareth like the fabled fishwives of the Gate of Billings.

7. So it came to pass that on the Tube of Yew there appeared a song that mocked extreme Islamists and feminists.

8. And Richard found pleasure in this song by a fellow-atheist, and recommended it to his disciples.

The shanty that mocketh Chanty.

9. However, as scripture hath it, "Stick not thy nose into a nest of hornets, lest it be stung until it swelleth like the hippopotamus of the Nile."

10. And Richard was told that he was encouraging rape and death threats.

11. For why did he not confine himself to attacking the followers of Christ, who deserved all they got?

12. Thus Richard's invitation to the fleshpots of New York was withdrawn; for, in the words of the prophet Necsas, "Unpopular and offensive views are fine, but if we disagree with them they become divisive, counterproductive, hate speech."

Richard is banned from the "world's biggest bores" conference. [click to enlarge]

13. And some said "NECSS hath got cold feet. Doth Michael Mann know of this climatological phenomenon?"

14. But Richard was sore exasperated and said unto himself, "Atheists! Are ye not sick of them? CURSES, WHAT AM I SAYING???"

Richard is wounded.

Continued in Chapter 25.