Vaughan Roberts
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vaughanroberts.bsky.social
Vaughan Roberts
@vaughanroberts.bsky.social

Writer and speaker; priest and canon emeritus, spouse, father and grandfather. Interested in sport, culture, religion and how organisations function.

Vaughan Edward Roberts is a Church of England clergyman. Since 1998, he has been the rector of St Ebbe's, Oxford. In 2009, he became Director of the Proclamation Trust.

Source: Wikipedia
Art 21%
Political science 18%

Reposted by Vaughan S. Roberts

Former President Bill Clinton calling for transparency.

Reposted by Vaughan S. Roberts

As a man of the people, I will always defend trail hunting, which I know is a top priority for all my working class constituents who own horses and enjoy simple pleasures like ripping foxes apart for laughs.
In a joint statement, the prime ministers of Greenland and Denmark urged the US to show respect, saying annexation is not an option.

Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Jens Frederik Nielsen stressed that Greenland belongs to its people, not the United States.
There's a word for selling political influence for cash... (sadly Reform aren't the first to do so)

Via Private Eye

A really theological/ecclesiological film ...
Just seen the new Knives Out. Fun film but the way all the action comes to a sudden pause, and we all have to wait for a while as Father Judd quietly prays over the phone with Louise is probably the most unexpected and exquisite and profound movie moment I've come across all year. Beautiful.

Reposted by Vaughan S. Roberts

Just seen the new Knives Out. Fun film but the way all the action comes to a sudden pause, and we all have to wait for a while as Father Judd quietly prays over the phone with Louise is probably the most unexpected and exquisite and profound movie moment I've come across all year. Beautiful.

My recent review of "The Church Must Grow or Perish: Robert H Schuller and the Business of American Christianity" by Mark T Mulder & Gerardo Marti (Eerdmans, 2025) for the Journal of Contemporary Religion is now available here as an eprint:
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/SIDKN...

Reposted by Vaughan S. Roberts

Reposted by Vaughan S. Roberts

One Russian paper today sees "a split in the Western camp. This is objectively good for Russia.” Other papers: “crisis” in metals industry & “more than 40% of working Russians surveyed have barely enough/not enough money before payday for food & essential goods.” #ReadingRussia
Russian paper: "We see a split in the Western camp. This is objectively good for Russia."
YouTube video by Steve Rosenberg
youtu.be

Reposted by Vaughan S. Roberts

No better time of year to contemplate the world’s incorrigible plurality, than Christmas. The haves & have nots, the spiritual & secular

Under this sits MacNeice’s agnosticism & his father’s profound faith

'more than glass between the snow & the huge roses'

#poetry
#poemoftheday
#christmas
Wow -- Russia reportedly plotted last year to plant bombs on US-bound flights (gift link) giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

Reposted by Vaughan S. Roberts

Only 2.6% of the people picked up in Homeland Security’s latest immigration crackdown in Chicago had criminal records.
Meanwhile, 100% of the people who are currently president are convicted felons.
From the @wsj.com chief foreign correspondent

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Is that £9million… Russian money?
So tell me again how Nigel Farage, who just took the largest ever political donation, from a Tory mega-donor, and another donation from the Viscountess wife of the non-dom owner of the Daily Mail, is planning to "take on the establishment"

Reposted by Vaughan S. Roberts

This evening, Dr Robert Bluck (Buddhist Chaplain) gave the @durhamuniversity.bsky.social Chaplaincy Christmas Lecture on ‘Buddhism & Christianity: Rivals or Allies?’ It led to numerous thoughtful questions from those present. Picture: Dr Bluck & I - allies not rivals! @shaidmahmood.bsky.social
FT Exclusive: The Reform UK leader told donors he expects a deal or merger between his party and the Conservatives ahead of the next general election, suggesting he does not believe he can sweep to power alone. on.ft.com/44xlHi0
Trump dozes while Marco Rubio speaks to him directly next to him. Just insane optics.

Reposted by Vaughan S. Roberts

Reposted by Vaughan S. Roberts

Really interesting review⬇️
‘A Catholic who attended services held by Protestant clergy, and never doubted that the Eucharist was a sacramental miracle, was to all outward appearances a Protestant.’

@malcolmgaskill.bsky.social on Catholicism in colonial America.

www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Malcolm Gaskill · Bejesuited: America’s First Catholics
Readers familiar with the legend of Pocahontas – baptised an Anglican in the church at Jamestown – and the puritan...
www.lrb.co.uk
‘A Catholic who attended services held by Protestant clergy, and never doubted that the Eucharist was a sacramental miracle, was to all outward appearances a Protestant.’

@malcolmgaskill.bsky.social on Catholicism in colonial America.

www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Malcolm Gaskill · Bejesuited: America’s First Catholics
Readers familiar with the legend of Pocahontas – baptised an Anglican in the church at Jamestown – and the puritan...
www.lrb.co.uk
This poem is dedicated to anyone making a start on their advent calendar today.
Lying in politics is wrong and should never be rewarded, says newspaper which pays Boris Johnson £1 million a year to be its star columnist
NEW

What do you do with unlawful orders?

The critical - and topical - issue of when the military and security services can refuse to do what they are told

By me

emptycity.substack.com/p/what-do-yo...
What do you do with unlawful orders?
The critical - and topical - issue of when the military and security services can refuse to do what they are told
emptycity.substack.com
Huge respect to the papers for finding both an 88 year old worried about the tax bill on her 6 bedroom Kensington house and a 20 year old fretting about only being able to save £12k a year tax free.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
1/5 It was entirely predictable that The Telegraph would jump on @DavidOlusoga’s Empire series to fight its right wing culture war for control of our public history. Let’s see what they’ve done:

Whilst Rogers was scoring twice at Elland Rd I was at the theatre watching "Dear England" - a play about Southgate's time as England manager ... spooky, or what?
In newly leaked audio, Peter Thiel admits he urged JD Vance to ignore Pope Leo XIV on moral questions — including the ethical development of AI.

He goes even further, branding Leo “the woke American pope” and suggesting he’s a tool of the Antichrist.
NEW: JD Vance’s Top Donor Suggests Pope Leo XIV is Antichrist
In a leaked lecture, Peter Thiel says he’s urged Vance to ignore the pope on moral questions — and simply pray for him.
www.thelettersfromleo.com

My recent encounters with Van Gogh: (1) alongside Anselm Kieffer at the Kieffer – Van Gogh exhibition @royalacademyarts.bsky.social (2) and alongside John Lennon in the play "When Vincent Met John" at the Minerva Theatre. Both most enjoyable!