Jack Belloli
@frgiacbelloli.bsky.social
priest in the church of england | theology, poetics, activism | he/him
Reposted by Jack Belloli
for the record everyone should be mad *at the government* for this
December 2, 2025 at 4:57 PM
for the record everyone should be mad *at the government* for this
Reposted by Jack Belloli
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
November 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
Reposted by Jack Belloli
This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started
November 30, 2025 at 9:57 AM
This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started
Reposted by Jack Belloli
Sought and found asylum in the UK
R.I.P. Tom Stoppard, playwright most famous for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.
Born Tomas Straussler in Czechoslovakia he fled his home during the Nazi occupation and found refuge in Britain at the age of eight. He later discovered all four of his grandparents had died in the Holocaust.
Born Tomas Straussler in Czechoslovakia he fled his home during the Nazi occupation and found refuge in Britain at the age of eight. He later discovered all four of his grandparents had died in the Holocaust.
Sir Tom Stoppard, playwright famed for his wit and depth, dies at 88
Winning an Oscar for the screenplay for Shakespeare In Love, he captivated the hearts of audiences for more than six decades.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Sought and found asylum in the UK
Reposted by Jack Belloli
I wrote an essay for @bostonreview.bsky.social about what I learned about close reading when I taught at West Virginia University
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
The Claims of Close Reading - Boston Review
Literary studies have been starved by austerity, but their core methodology remains radical.
www.bostonreview.net
November 26, 2025 at 3:14 PM
I wrote an essay for @bostonreview.bsky.social about what I learned about close reading when I taught at West Virginia University
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
Reposted by Jack Belloli
Wonder if she and Starmer ever ask themselves if this is what they got into politics for
"Outside of the most exceptional circumstances family reunion, will not be possible [for refugees]" Shabana Mahmood tells MPs
November 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Wonder if she and Starmer ever ask themselves if this is what they got into politics for
Reposted by Jack Belloli
A little reminder to media bookers that there are a range of Labour peers with relevant life experience and achievements across policy areas, and your contacts list for Lords PLP can extend a little beyond ‘Glasman, M.’
Lord Dubs said he was "lost for words".
Labour Peer Who Fled The Nazis Condemns His Party's Immigration Crackdown
Lord Dubs said he was "lost for words".
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 9:31 AM
A little reminder to media bookers that there are a range of Labour peers with relevant life experience and achievements across policy areas, and your contacts list for Lords PLP can extend a little beyond ‘Glasman, M.’
Reposted by Jack Belloli
On the night of October 22-23 1957, the poet John Wieners composed a long poem on a single 10ft continuous scroll of teletype paper. Now Face Press have released it in a gorgeous new publication containing not just a transcription but a full scale facsimile!
November 18, 2025 at 11:17 AM
On the night of October 22-23 1957, the poet John Wieners composed a long poem on a single 10ft continuous scroll of teletype paper. Now Face Press have released it in a gorgeous new publication containing not just a transcription but a full scale facsimile!
Reposted by Jack Belloli
How delightfully quaint some of these old Devon village names are, their etymologies lost in the mists of time.
November 17, 2025 at 3:24 PM
How delightfully quaint some of these old Devon village names are, their etymologies lost in the mists of time.
Reposted by Jack Belloli
To explain briefly: at the moment people successful in their asylum claims get permission to stay in the UK for 5 years, then have to apply for permanent residency. At that point a review of their status is done, but it’s rare not to succeed at that point unless they‘ve committed an offence 1/
To reiterate, this is about making life immeasurably more miserable and stressful for some of the most vulnerable people, in the almost certainly vain hope of winning over the votes of racists.
Anything more shabby and shameful is difficult to envisage.
Anything more shabby and shameful is difficult to envisage.
Asylum in UK to be made temporary under Home Secretary’s plans
Shabana Mahmood will lay out reforms modelled on the Danish system on Monday.
www.independent.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 9:36 AM
To explain briefly: at the moment people successful in their asylum claims get permission to stay in the UK for 5 years, then have to apply for permanent residency. At that point a review of their status is done, but it’s rare not to succeed at that point unless they‘ve committed an offence 1/
Reposted by Jack Belloli
Good statement from the US conference of Catholic Bishops
November 14, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Good statement from the US conference of Catholic Bishops
Reposted by Jack Belloli
The story of Goodwin's "radicalisation" has an exculpatory function, sparing the blushes of those who couldn't see the obvious problems with his output ten years ago. All that really happened with him is he became emboldened by the endless indulgence of people who really should have known better.
November 13, 2025 at 8:10 AM
The story of Goodwin's "radicalisation" has an exculpatory function, sparing the blushes of those who couldn't see the obvious problems with his output ten years ago. All that really happened with him is he became emboldened by the endless indulgence of people who really should have known better.
Reposted by Jack Belloli
this sort of thing makes me feel sincerely that we have fallen from grace as a civilisation
This conversation between ChatGPT and the young man it encouraged to commit suicide is just...my god
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
November 7, 2025 at 9:10 PM
this sort of thing makes me feel sincerely that we have fallen from grace as a civilisation
Reposted by Jack Belloli
Vance is Dostoyevsky's Grand Inquisitor made flesh
It's so vexing that ordo amoris is the last and only thing he has said about the moral/political life of a Catholic Christian. Solidarity is a major social teaching of the Church, with fundamental theological roots. Vance wants all the kingdoms of the earth, he does not want Christ.
October 30, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Vance is Dostoyevsky's Grand Inquisitor made flesh
War Christmas / it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
The bitterly ironic transformation of the iconography of the poppy, from sombre reminder of the senseless futility of a war in which the British ruling class systematically ordered the wholesale slaughter of millions of working-class men, to 'War Christmas', says everything about the current crisis
That's it. Peak remembrancy shop window has been located.
October 27, 2025 at 10:55 PM
War Christmas / it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away
Reposted by Jack Belloli
I sat in the British Library reading League of Empire Loyalists, BNP & National Front literature for my book and even they claimed to promote *voluntary* repatriation. Forcible deportation was always the ghost behind those ideas, but it’s amazing that UK politicians don’t even bother to hide it.
To be clear: deportations to increase cultural homogeneity is the text book definition of ethnic cleansing. Demands that come even close to this are so far outside any democratic norm and the rule of law. What has happened to a country when this is not condemned in the strongest possible terms?
October 22, 2025 at 8:37 AM
I sat in the British Library reading League of Empire Loyalists, BNP & National Front literature for my book and even they claimed to promote *voluntary* repatriation. Forcible deportation was always the ghost behind those ideas, but it’s amazing that UK politicians don’t even bother to hide it.
I still want to know who Gray is actually talking or appealing to any more (or ever did). It's like watching a man think in a vacuum.
October 21, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I still want to know who Gray is actually talking or appealing to any more (or ever did). It's like watching a man think in a vacuum.
Reposted by Jack Belloli
For those who don’t work in youth work, it’s hard to describe how bleak it is out there.
We just pulled the rug on a generation of young people and are now shrugging our shoulders and hoping social media is the cause of all ills because then it feels less of our fault
We just pulled the rug on a generation of young people and are now shrugging our shoulders and hoping social media is the cause of all ills because then it feels less of our fault
The absolute bloody vandalism of austerity in one chart. Good analysis of the overall picture here.
October 15, 2025 at 9:44 PM
For those who don’t work in youth work, it’s hard to describe how bleak it is out there.
We just pulled the rug on a generation of young people and are now shrugging our shoulders and hoping social media is the cause of all ills because then it feels less of our fault
We just pulled the rug on a generation of young people and are now shrugging our shoulders and hoping social media is the cause of all ills because then it feels less of our fault
Reposted by Jack Belloli
The obsession with language is not only racist and ablist (think Welsh, BSL etc.) but it's largely unncessary given the translation tech - which they're apparently so keen for us to use - we have available these days
Migrants will need A-level standard English to work in UK
Migrants will need A-level standard English to work in UK
www.independent.co.uk
October 14, 2025 at 1:43 PM
The obsession with language is not only racist and ablist (think Welsh, BSL etc.) but it's largely unncessary given the translation tech - which they're apparently so keen for us to use - we have available these days
Reposted by Jack Belloli
Guys I'm actually feeling *good* about this Pope.
October 9, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Guys I'm actually feeling *good* about this Pope.
Reposted by Jack Belloli
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.
buff.ly
October 8, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
Glad I made the decision to leave mine for later so I can happily embrace that sugar coma after The Traitors...
October 8, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Glad I made the decision to leave mine for later so I can happily embrace that sugar coma after The Traitors...