Both these items are from Libby Purves in the Times (what an unfortunate surname) many of whose posts have been entertaining recently. <\/p>\n

(I will pass gracefully over the slur to “guardinistas” in her recent post on a guardian blog about religion and how us atheists shouldn’t upset the bloggers Irish Catholic family with our strident atheism.<\/a>. \ud83d\ude42 Most of the comments she saw as ranting from enraged guardianistas seemed at least perfectly rational to me – whether I agreed with the commenter or not. Which is in itself a novelty, given the mad ranting that so often pops up on CIF)<\/p>\n

First, the lasermonks<\/a> who sell printer cartridges, with a range of other monk-producd products you can buy: <\/p>\n

In the UK, more modestly, Gorton monastery will provide fridge magnets among other things, and Ampleforth offers Old Amplefordian braces, damson gin, cufflinks , and a link to some Norwegian Cistercian nuns who market moisturizer and “St Olav’s Skin Treatment”, made of pomegranate, aloe vera, peach kernel, yarrow, rosemary and green tea in a bottle with a “real wood” top. No flies on them. Get your Christmas shopping done now.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There’s a great comment from Philip in the USA:<\/p>\n

Monks made a lot more money back in the day, when they sold penance. Oh, but then there was that Reformation thing. My bad.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Fridge magnets, braces, cufflinks and moisturiser? Small scale stuff. A bit charming and olde-worlde really. The church used to film “4 Weddings and a Funeral<\/a>” is more up to date, using the advantages that come from being a Hollywood brand.<\/p>\n

The Priory Church of St Gregory the Great (the church made famous by Four Weddings and a Funeral) has installed cash registers at its doors and is charging visitors to come in. It’s the first parish church to demand a fee, seven cathedrals already do so. \u00c2\u00a34 will get you in – if you’re not there for a service – or for \u00c2\u00a330 you can go as many times as you like in a year. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I’ll have to set aside the idea that anyone would be drawn by Four Weddings and a Funeral to want to do anything like visiting the church where the aforementioned rites of passage took place, as opposed to, say, giving the director and actors a good kicking. If anything, you would think the association would have driven even the most devout parishioner to think seriously about trusting their spiritual welfare to a different City church.<\/p>\n

Turns out it’s for its roof – the archetypal church roof fund – rather than for massive US-pastor-style personal enrichment. What is it about church roofs? Why are they always so crap?<\/p>\n

However, this is interesting in itself. It’s the City of London, (to you Americans, it’s like Wall Street, but generally richer….) A fair proportion of its regular visitors could probably buy a new roof without seriously breaking into their annual bonuses. Doesn’t this imply that the City of London’s Christian commodity traders may be a fair bit more in thrall to Mammon than to their supposed Christianity? Perish the thought.<\/p>\n

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