Seán Manchester
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In his blog, website and [[BBC]] interviews (referenced above) he seems to be quite convinced that he is Roman Catholic Bishop. This will come as a surprise to many of the faithful as he does not appear in the official list of British bishops provided by "catholic-hierarchy" <ref>[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/country/bgb2.html List of British Catholic bishops from Catholic hierarchy]</ref>. | In his blog, website and [[BBC]] interviews (referenced above) he seems to be quite convinced that he is Roman Catholic Bishop. This will come as a surprise to many of the faithful as he does not appear in the official list of British bishops provided by "catholic-hierarchy" <ref>[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/country/bgb2.html List of British Catholic bishops from Catholic hierarchy]</ref>. | ||
| − | However, further investigation reveals that he is a member of the Old Catholic Church. And not just a member - the leader in the [[UK]]!<ref>[http://www.holygrail-church.fsnet.co.uk/BOCC.htm Old Catholic Church in the UK]</ref> <ref>[http://www.holygrail-church.fsnet.co.uk/Apostolic%20Succession%20%28Old%20Catholic%29.htm The Right Reverend Seán Manchester, O.S.G.]</ref> While it may be surprising that a church leader believes in vampires one might ask if this is really any stranger than believing in [[creationism]], exorcism and the [[virgin birth]] - ideas that that may be obligatory under other circumstances | + | However, further investigation reveals that he is a member of the Old Catholic Church. And not just a member - the leader in the [[UK]]!<ref>[http://www.holygrail-church.fsnet.co.uk/BOCC.htm Old Catholic Church in the UK]</ref> <ref>[http://www.holygrail-church.fsnet.co.uk/Apostolic%20Succession%20%28Old%20Catholic%29.htm The Right Reverend Seán Manchester, O.S.G.]</ref> While it may be surprising that a church leader believes in vampires one might ask if this is really any stranger than believing in [[creationism]], exorcism and the [[virgin birth]] - ideas that that may be obligatory under other circumstances. |
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 15:35, 29 October 2009
Sean Manchester is an Old Catholic Bishop[1] exorcist [2] and vampire hunter[3]...no, you didn't read that wrong he's a vampire-hunting, exorcising bishop.[4] He's written a number of books (you can guess the subject) [5], and was involved in a vampire panic surrounding the Highgate Cemetery in London.[6] Highgate holds a very special place in the annals of bullshit because, while pseudosciences frequently contradict, you rarely find its supporters calling bullshit on each other. Manchester and a man named David Farrant both claim to have the "real" story of the Highgate Vampire, and essentially accuse each other of being frauds (this may stem from the fact that Manchester is a Priest, and Farrant is an occultist).[7]
Notwithstanding his interest in vampires he also seems to take a great interest in exorcism. While the ummm "conventional" Catholic Church and many other flavours of Christianity still (yes, we know it's the 21st century) approve of exorcism, it seems unlikely that the vampire-hunting "bishop" is fully in line with current Catholic teaching over the undead. If you want to find out a bit more about him, the bishop gives his side on this YouTube video.
For a sense of perspective on the bishop, a blogger named Alex Lucard claims that Manchester harassed him, allegedly accusing him of actually being the vampire Dracula[8] (Alucard is "Dracula" spelled backwards).
His research seems to mostly consist of reading Bram Stoker and watching old vampire movies (the idea of Dracula using "Alucard" as a pseudonym originated in the 1940s film Son of Dracula, starring Lon Chaney Jr., and his account of the Highgate Vampire has so many parallels to Dracula that Stoker's estate could probably sue if it wasn't public domain). A perhaps surprising situation as most people who do believe in vampires generally follow folklore, rather than Universal Monster Movies. He's also president and founder of the "Vampire Research Society".[9]
On being a bishop
In his blog, website and BBC interviews (referenced above) he seems to be quite convinced that he is Roman Catholic Bishop. This will come as a surprise to many of the faithful as he does not appear in the official list of British bishops provided by "catholic-hierarchy" [10].
However, further investigation reveals that he is a member of the Old Catholic Church. And not just a member - the leader in the UK![11] [12] While it may be surprising that a church leader believes in vampires one might ask if this is really any stranger than believing in creationism, exorcism and the virgin birth - ideas that that may be obligatory under other circumstances.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Yes, "bishop" here's his blog
- ↑ Here's his webiste, lots of exorcism
- ↑ An interview with the vampire hunting-bishop on the BBC
- ↑ Vampire-hunting bishop at the BBC2.
- ↑ http://www.gothicpress.freeserve.co.uk/Gothic.htm
- ↑ The Highgate vampire story
- ↑ http://www.davidfarrant.org/about/index.html
- ↑ http://www.alexanderlucard.com/wordpress/?cat=28
- ↑ Vampire Research Society
- ↑ List of British Catholic bishops from Catholic hierarchy
- ↑ Old Catholic Church in the UK
- ↑ The Right Reverend Seán Manchester, O.S.G.