How amusing that the bookfair is willing to err on the side of keeping people out, and on the basis of a dogmatic "anarchist" checklist of acceptibility. Look at Central America: Who was opposing U.S. imperialism? Catholic radicals. Who tossed out Marcos? Catholic radicals. Who's in jail in the U.S. for opposing the war machine? Catholic radicals.

What is the likelihood that the labour party, or anyone else that didn't subscribe to anarchist principles, would even want to come along to the bookfair. Bloodly slim, I'd wager.

Anyway, I think it's quite sad that any anarchist group would deal with a fellow anarchist this way, and I'm awed by the antipathy of many of the others who are commenting.

And for the record: I would bet that Ciaron has read more on anarchy, been arrested more, organized more, and lived more simply, than 99% of you, and he's done it for a hell of a lot longer than most (if not all) of you.

"We have met the enemy, and it is us."

Bruce Friedrich

I always did think Christians were a bit simple...

BTW neither the article or the reply seem to address events as they are said to have happened according to earlier postings by the bookfair organisers (last time i checked, not countered by the catholics)

As far as i understand it, the bookfair organisers had simply enquired about the Catholic Worker's attitudes on abortion and such matters, with the result we all see...

Can't see why an anarchist bookfair should support statist and/or authoritarian viewpoints. And if the catholic worker does not support them either, why don't they come out now and say so loud and clear. All together now: 'The pope is a pillock and what you do in bed is your own business. And no, we will not give to Ceasar what belongs to Ceaser'

Not surprised about more authoritarian lefty groups being infiltrated by christians, after all they are very similar in many ways.

If i ever find a catholic who is also an anarchist, then i think she should be as welcome in the movement as anyone else (none of our business if they want to believe in fairies), but i haven't found any yet, and i do live in a catholic country...

Jesus christ, I thought anarchism wasn't supposed to be racist (or whatever the equivalent for religions is, i dont know). Everybody running around screaming about islamophobia (and fair enough, i dont want muslims killed for the act of a few headcases) but you won't let catholic worker come? Okay, well, I AM ATHEISTIC and I fucking think they should be allowed to come. Let the people there decided whetther they want to see them or not; if they're shit, they'll probably just end up sitting around on their own with no one coming to their stool.

Grow the fuck up and stop being so frigging narrow-minded, please.

~~ Sean

"Revolution is necessary to free the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked and procure a life of well-being for the needy majority of our people. I believe that the revolutionary struggle is appropriate for the Christian and the priest. Only by revolution, by changing the concrete of our country we can enable men to practise love for each other... The Catholic who is not a revolutionary is living in Mortal sin."

- Camilo Torres, Colombian priest and Freedom fighter, died 19966 at the hands of the Colombian government.

the use of the left, lefty and indeed right,right wing is bollox, it's just different shades of oppression.
It is usefull if you can't tell your hands apart.
catholix on the other hand are not so savoury and apt at telling fairy stories. perhaps if they want to come along to the anarchist book fair, they would invite the lads along to the vatican, for an (first) opening of the vatican library
where untold millions of books that were stolen from, alternative types, earth religions ect, are stored.
All religions are bad news catholics are perhaps the worst.

fuck em !

some of you lost are starting to sound like Ian Paisley.
chill out!

If I understand correctly this is all about a misunderstanding over a book stall.

the pope might be crap on contraception and catholicism (like the rest of christianisty) highly weird in many ways but who was it chucked the money lenders out of the temple? and at least the pope has come out against the corporate glob, and liberation theology certainly did more for the poor of south america than most of us will ever have... heard about arch bishop romero and the rest?

plus I've got lots of mates who are catholic and some of them get enough shit in this country for their birth without a bunch of anarchists having a go all because of some stupid book stall.

right, rant over. now back to the real issues.

cheers!

I've personally known Ciaron for a few years now and seen him do more anarchist activism and put himself more on the line than almost anyone. Unless you want to be a part of a movement as censoring as stupid as soviet russia then you'll have to cope with people you don't 100% agree with. I can't stand organised religion but to demand an atheist movement sickens me.Debate the guy!don't ban him.

People who feel the need to cling to a religion are clearly unwell and should be allowed to go to bookfairs but should also be given a wide berth.
If they are too stupid to understand what exactly the catholic church has done in all its criminal years of existence then they need all the help they can get.
Read Arguelles. The church is behind the mind control of the clock and the calendar which dominate all our lives.
Some may consider this ridiculous but yes, something as seemingly insignificant really has fucked with humanity on a huge scale.
Why do they want to control women? Because the female menstrual cycle demonstrates the natural timing system that we should be living with. What better way to keep us from the truth than to devilise it?
The church is just like the royals. Don't be fooled by the 'social worker' front. Look at their history. They have murdered and cheated their way into power - and now they hang onto it however they can, like any criminal faction.

It may be that the vatican is an evil misuse of chritianity.
But you boneheads should read about Christ himself.
He would have to be one of the greatest socialists to ever
walk the face of the earth.

Umm, I believe the excellent Dorothy Day was a Catholic Worker? If you're denying that she worked for social justice and peace then, quite frankly, you're talking out of your arse. Do some research please.

Matt

The symbol of christ represents the integrated condition that we can all aspire to.

There have been other symbols throughout the ages of the sacrificial redeemer - christ isn't the first.

Is it completely impossible for people to do good works without being a member of a sect? Or is it only sect members that are 'good' enough?

Can't you see that declaring oneself a christian immediately implies that everyone else hasn't got it?
It can only cause dispute and eventually violence - as we see all over the world!

fucking hell some people get hot under the collar!

It doesn't seem to me that anyone around here has been advocating crucifying christians in stadiums quite yet, my understanding is that non-anarchists are being told not to have a lecture/discussion room (of which there are only a couple, if you ever bothered to go along to the bookfair before) at an anarchist bookfair.

Noone has put in question that these people may be 'leftwing' but that does not automatically entitle them to a room at the bookfair, any more that it entitles arthur scargill to one.

I repeat: i come from a catholic country (not Ireland btw), i was brought up a catholic, i rejected it in my teenage years cause i realised what a bunch of crap it is (like any other form of christianity). I know what i am talking about.

Would i prefer to be stuck in an elevator with a Liberation Theology priest than with a tory? quite certainly. But that does not bloody make him an anarchist. Does that mean that they should be kicked out of anti-war demos? of course not (unless they act in ways that deserve it, just like anyone else). But should anarchists be giving them a megaphone to spout socially reactionary views? thanks but no thanks. Once again: if they don't support such views, let them say so.

There is a tradition of 'social fascism' in many catholic countries, i.e. for some social regulation of capitalism (welfare etc) together with authoritarianism on all other fronts. This is another reasons why anarchists are weary of giving support to catholics even though they may be talking against unbridled capitalism.

Finally on the subject of opposition to the war, did anyone else here that cardinal (can't remember his name, it was Navarro possibly) that is basically the PR for the Vatican and fudged the issue enough to basically not openly support war in afghanistamn but not oppose it either? once again, just like the parliamentary left - talk a good talk but avoid walking the walk.

P.s. ref. a comment above, i wasn't aware that the pope himself had personally kicked the merchants out of the temple - should have been more careful at those bible classes.

"It is highly irresponsible for CW to use the badge of being "Working Class" to campaign for christianity, when the only hope for that class is international, atheistic, socialism"

What about self-proclaimed, self-satisfied anarchists using the badge of "leftism" to indulge in an ideological version of plain ol' snobbery?

I am not a true anarchist myself but politically I do lean towards some of the principles of anarchism as being far preferable to our existing system of government and in any case, I read lots of books.

I think I am admirably qualified to tell you a few home truths about Ciaron O'Reilly. I know him from his days in Liverpool where he was instrumental in setting up a very successful Catholic Worker house to support East Timorese refugees. Being from Preston I don't count myself as being one of his close associates but I did meet him on more than one occasion at the organised protests at our local aircraft factory from where Hawk planes were exported to Indonesia. For a while I have to admit that I too fell under his spell.

He has certain qualities and his capacity for organising popular support at demonstrations and activist's trials is exceptional. However, in spite of his undoubted commitment to the resistance movement and the fact that he is admired by many I quickly discovered that he is actually liked by very few. The Catholic Worker in Liverpool was eventually closed down with the refugees being turned out because he refused to accept anyone else's point of view on religion and resistance and even clashed with the local priest who had initially supported him and given him a home.

His attitude towards women was especially disgraceful and although he never actually tried to dominate or abuse me personally I eventually came to feel thoroughly intimidated in his presence and I would certainly have never been comfortable spending time alone with him. It eventually came to the point where, rather childishly I admit, I would actually cross the street to avoid him.

He is a typical bully. An egocentric mysoginist who has made far more enemies than friends in both this country and his native Australia. He also has this misguided love affair with the USA where he sees himself as some sort of God-like figure who has true radicals such as Phil & Dan Berrigan queuing up for his autograph when in reality he is hardly fit to walk in their shadow.

He is utterly paranoid to the extent where he believes that anyone who doesn't immediately accommodate his own radical views is worthless and most likely in the pay of the police or MI5. His ego is such that he sincerely believes he is a select target of police special branches and the FBI and that they have reams of information on him and his picture on every wall which makes him some sort of public enemy number one when in truth I'm sure that they actually regard him as a somewhat minor nuisance with a rather silly hair style.

I am sure that I am not alone in expressing delight to see Ciaron O'Reilly being denied a platform at the Bookfair. The ideals, philosophy and passion of the Catholic Worker movement are highly commendable but, with Ciaron as their spokesman, wholly unsuitable for this event.

it seems that the rather terse lead- article has had quite an impact, and has exposed the degree to which christianity has indeed infiltrated the left movement.

well, how the anarchists seem to dither when confronted with the christian claim to 'social concern', as if they cant tell that the only motive christanity has ever had has been to precisely inflitrate, demoralise and neutralise.

workers who happen to have a catholic background must make a decision in their lives; either stay as catholics and perhaps take their message of concern to other christian groups, such as the appalling ALPHA . incidentally, alpha tends to prove what 'saint ' paul realised a long time ago, that jesus can be remade in almost any image you want, (here, a patron saint of junior management).

the auhthor is correct beyond doubt; time to take a side: FOR ATHEISM AND SOCIALISM OR AGAINST IT.