The following story appeared in the London Times a couple of days ago:
Clergy in the Diocese of Southwark are calling on their bishop to issue a statement of “repentance and regret” after he was found, apparently drunk, in the back of a silver Mercedes throwing children’s toys out of the window.
The Bishop of Southwark, Dr Tom Butler, repeated yesterday his claim that he has no memory of the episode in Crucifix Lane, Southwark, that left him with a black eye and a bump on his head that prevented him from wearing his mitre.
He cannot recall how he got from a Christmas party at the Irish Embassy, near Buckingham Palace, to a back street near Southwark cathedral and from there to his home, bloodied and bruised, in Tooting Bec Gardens.
Priests in his diocese want their bishop, who they say has always taken a “zero-tolerance” approach to drunkenness by the clergy, to come clean ...
One senior clergyman said: “We want to know what happened. We want consistency. The same ethic applies to him as to a first-year curate found drunk outside a youth club. He must make some kind of statement about this. We expect it of politicians, why not bishops?”
He quoted 1 Timothy 3: 2-3: “A bishop must be above reproach . . . not a drunkard.”
SURELY WE CAN GET SOME LIMERICKS OUT OF THIS?
Clergy in the Diocese of Southwark are calling on their bishop to issue a statement of “repentance and regret” after he was found, apparently drunk, in the back of a silver Mercedes throwing children’s toys out of the window.
The Bishop of Southwark, Dr Tom Butler, repeated yesterday his claim that he has no memory of the episode in Crucifix Lane, Southwark, that left him with a black eye and a bump on his head that prevented him from wearing his mitre.
He cannot recall how he got from a Christmas party at the Irish Embassy, near Buckingham Palace, to a back street near Southwark cathedral and from there to his home, bloodied and bruised, in Tooting Bec Gardens.
Priests in his diocese want their bishop, who they say has always taken a “zero-tolerance” approach to drunkenness by the clergy, to come clean ...
One senior clergyman said: “We want to know what happened. We want consistency. The same ethic applies to him as to a first-year curate found drunk outside a youth club. He must make some kind of statement about this. We expect it of politicians, why not bishops?”
He quoted 1 Timothy 3: 2-3: “A bishop must be above reproach . . . not a drunkard.”
SURELY WE CAN GET SOME LIMERICKS OUT OF THIS?
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on December 26, 2006
- Rewards: Gold: 300, Honorable mention: 4 people
- Final notes: In all, quite a lively set of entries. The winner preserved the traditional form and subtlty of the limerick. Two entrants lost position for excessive crudity - the essence of the clerical limerick is subtlty. Also, there is a limit, even in limericks, beyond which bad rhymes should not go. The new system of dragging the entrants round is a pain and I apologise if the order is not exactly right.
Contest Winners
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From the path straight and narrow I fear
the Bishop of Southwark did steer,• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 2449213, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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• Commented on by judge. [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 2418999, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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There was a bruised Bishop of status
who's fish smelled persona non gratis• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
There once was a Bishop and ranter
Who fancied himself as a Santa• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 2419001, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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The Bishop was battered and gory
He told a ridiculous story• Commented on by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 2420023, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 2422007, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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Oh, a drunkard's the Devil at work,
in the stews of old London's foul murk.by whitewitch 11 lines, 3 comments, on Dec 18 2:59 AM 2006• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Honorable mention
Entries [14]
1 - 14 of 14
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Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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What is a limmerick. I learned what it was about 2 years ago, because I had to write one. But I've since forgotten. Can someone refresh my memory. -
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A limerick is a 5-line poem with a rhyming pattern of A, A, B, B, A. I hope that's heplful...
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Thank you, judge, so much for the Silver Trophy! I enjoyed being a part of the contest. Congrats to all the other winners, too! ♥ Belle
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Hi, thanks a million for the gold, congratulations to the other winners, and have a wonderful new year. hugs Di
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Alas I'm late
But just for a laugh
There was a Bishop in Southwark
Who took great delight in his work
From a car he threw toys
to all the young boys
What an ecclesiastical berk! -
Many thanks for the Bronze, congratulations to the winner!!
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