It has to be said.. Even I recall teachers we laughed about due to their over active interest in pupils, including one we called Sexy Saxby who insisted on showering with the boys after sport up to the fourth year but not afterwards, funnily enough. Girls had a sports teacher they called "tuppence licker" for that matter and warned younger girls of the perils of the changing room. Could be cruel slanderous shit by kids or who knows? Certainly the showering and showing us how to ensure our wedding tackle was clean seems suspect...

Joe is rightly saying that with millions of Catholics around, you can bring every wicked deed down to a small percentage of them. Correct. Although I would point out that in every case, they can back up their deeds with unfortunate interpretations of their duty as Catholics. The Protestant movement started through disgust at papal corruption spreading throughout the church. (Interesting documentary about Henry VIII last night, showing how mainland Europe was already split when he decided to take on the Pope.)

Regarding Jim's bits about Ireland, a good article in today's Guardian. I especially like the bit (or am saddened by it for that matter) where you need to have your child baptised in order to get into most schools. I recall some on here saying it's wrong to claim to be a God botherer in order to get your school of choice. As it's nonsense anyway, there's no harm. Except of course the deluded buggers think the statistics make them relevant.