On the high calling of women Although the author of this article lives in a country that celebrates “International Women’s Day” in March, it is also apropos to the American tradition of Mother’s Day, celebrated in May. This year the Sunday of the Myrrbearers coincides with Mother’s Day, and we wish our readers who are mothers a happy one. Following the “long-standing and good tradition”, our public at large recently celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8. Though its title of “international” refers to the former USSR rather than the entire world, that is already more than enough. As usual, there has been a lot of debate (particularly among Orthodox) about this holiday, revealing a general lenient and tolerant attitude. People have put forward the following arguments: “What is wrong with it? Nobody remembers Clara Zetkin anymore, to say nothing of the marches of feminists, suffragettes, and the Second International… Everything has been miraculously purified, spiritualized and reappraised by itself, so now it is a mere ladies’ day. A wonderful day of spring, the sun, the sky, flowering mimosas… and our dear women.” At first glance it sounds nice and neutral, but the Holy Scriptures teach us absolutely different things: Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (Mt. 7:16). As this holiday tookRead more

The seven-year-old points to rope screwed to a tree in Park Road reserve causing scarring A young Katikati boy felt strongly that putting large screws into trees to hold up boundary rope at Park Road reserve was going against nature — so he did something about it. Seven-year-old Sunny Daly was walking through the reserve in January with his mother Suzzane Daly when they noticed the perimeter barrier ropes stapled to about five of the trees sometime ago had caused them to scar and grow around the rope and large bolts. Sunny, who goes to Katikati Primary School, was quite upset by this, so he wrote a full-page letter to Western Bay of Plenty District Council, and sent some photos. In his letter Sunny said he was complaining about five trees in Park Road reserve that have screws in them to hold the boundary rope up. “I think this is against nature’s law! I suggest you put in more posts and take the screws and the rope out of the trees.” Suzzane also confirmed to Council that the letter was genuine and asked them to “please take it seriously”. About a month later a man from Council rang to say they were impressed by Sunny’s letter and were sending out some workers to investigate. After about five months Sunny andRead more

A fantastic symbol of its demographic decline. At the beginning of this month the Reiwa era of Japan began. On that day Emperor Naruhitobecame the 126th Japanese monarch as he took over the throne from his father, Emperor Akihito, who had abdicated the day before. The role of Japanese emperor is almost entirely ceremonial and symbolic. But in one way at least the current royal family is perfectly apposite for the nation Emperor Naruhito ceremonially rules over. As the New York Times reported, the ceremony on May 1 in which the new emperor was invested with the sacred sword, jewels and seals that signify his right to sit on the throne, illustrated a clear problem that the imperial family has: it is shrinking and ageing. Just like Japan’s wider population. Aside from the new Emperor, the ceremony included all adult male heirs. All two of them. Emperor Naruhito’s uncle was there, Prince Hitachi, who is 83 years old and in a wheelchair. But never fear, Naruhito’s brother is also there: Prince Akishino a sprightly 53. (The Emperor is 59.) Absent was the only other male heir, Naruhito’s nephew, the 12 year old Prince Hisahito. So there are a total of three male heirs to the throne. And one of those heirs is from the generation than the current emperor. The trouble is twofold. First, the successionRead more

High Court of the United Kingdom has decreed that social services cannot remove a four-year-old boy who identifies as a girl from a couple who have let “him” transition after sending the child to school in a girl’s uniform. The unnamed council had argued that the anonymous couple had “acted in a precipitate manner in relation to perceived gender dysphoria”. It withdrew its case in the face of glowing reports from experts about the couple’s parenting skills. However, the couple demanded a public judgment be delivered so that there would be no “cloud of suspicion hanging over them”. This is thought to be the first time a judge has sanctioned gender transitioning at such a young age. Mr Justice Williams praised the couple as “attuned and careful” parents who were dedicated to the welfare of their children. Gender specialists told the judge that the child, who was named “H” in court records, behaved in a way “consistent with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria”. This expert advice “provided clinical justification” for the couple’s approach to H’s gender identity. In the judge’s opinion, “H” clearly identified as a girl and seemed to be “a content, alert and socially engaged little girl”. No doubt this couple are good parents — if being good parents consists of dutifully following the current “trans” orthodoxy that saysRead more