The Iraq Inquiry - Chilcott's Circus Clowns Come to Town

[Jan Klimkowski]

Campbell finds solace in psalms:

Now Campbell quotes scripture at us: Blair's spin-doctor blogs on Psalm about 'people who try to twist your words'
By Niall Firth

Last updated at 3:45 PM on 13th January 2010

He once famously said that 'we don't do God'.

But Alastair Campbell today admitted that he had found comfort in a Psalm that had been emailed to him ahead of yesterday's appearance at the Iraq inquiry.

Writing on his own blog today, the former No 10 communications chief claimed that he had been inundated by emails and messages by well-wishers.
And the former spin doctor said that one email in particular had given him comfort as he listened to what he described as 'overblown and agenda-driven commentary'.

Alastair Campbell speaking at the Iraq Inquiry yesterday. He said he had been given some comfort by a Psalm sent to him yesterday before he appeared
He wrote: 'I am amazed too how many people, though they know I don't do God, sent me passages from the Bible.

'As I walked through the media scrum on the way in, and on the way out, and listened to some of the overblown and agenda driven commentary, I was glad to have read in the morning an email with Psalm 56 attached ...

'"'What can mortal man do to me?" it asks "All day long they twist my words, they are always plotting to harm me. They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, eager to take my life..."

'I never detected a death plot among the British media, but the rest of it sums up the Westminster lobby to a tee.'

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Mr Campbell wrote that he while he was 'still not doing God' he agreed with Neil Kinnock who he quoted as saying that 'it's a shame we're atheists, because some of the best lines are in the good book.'
And he added: 'I will give the papers a miss today, knowing that most will follow their own agenda pretty much regardless of anything said yesterday'.

Mr Campbell also revealed that he would like Keira Knightley to play the lead role in any film version of his new novel.

He said he had 'loved' her performance in the new film The Misanthrope where she stars alongside Damian Lewis.

And he wrote: 'I could not help thinking that she would be good as Maya, the heroine of my novel out in a few weeks.

'A couple of film-makers have already expressed an interest and I would ask them to note this match made in heaven. Kate W would be good too, mind.'

Mr Campbell famously said 'We don’t do God' when he stopped Mr Blair from talking about his faith in an interview with Vanity Fair to mark his 50th birthday.

No 10’s anxiety to avoid religious rhetoric during the Iraq war was underlined when Mr Blair prepared a TV address on the invasion’s eve.

He told staff: “I want to end with ‘God bless you.’” But this sparked a revolt by advisers and he dropped the line.

Mr Campbell also once told Mr Blair not to mention God in a TV broadcast because it would sound too American.

During yesterday's appearance at the inquiry, Mr Campbell denied doing anything to 'beef up' the case for going to war.

And he dismissed the overwhelming evidence of government papers and his own diaries that he pressured spy chiefs to harden Tony Blair's 'dodgy' dossier on Iraqi weapons.

During six hours of questioning he insisted that 'not a single one' of his team 'sought to question, override, rewrite, let alone the ghastly "sex up" phrase, intelligence assessments in any way, at any time, on any level.'

The former No 10 communications chief then defied critics of the war by insisting he was 'very, very proud' of his role - and made clear that Tony Blair will do the same when he testifies later this month.

He added: 'I defend every single word of the dossier, I defend every single part of the process.

Psalm 56 (New International version)

Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me;
all day long they press their attack.
My slanderers pursue me all day long;
many are attacking me in their pride.
When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me?
All day long they twist my words;
they are always plotting to harm me.
They conspire, they lurk,
they watch my steps, eager to take my life.
On no account let them escape;
in your anger, O God, bring down the nations.
Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll—
are they not in your record?
Then my enemies will turn back
when I call for help.
By this I will know that God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise—
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
I am under vows to you, O God;
I will present my thank offerings to you.
for you have delivered me from death
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God in the light of life


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...z0cWa2Jmum

I humbly suggest a more appropriate biblical passage:

Let us pray.

God, whose nature is ever merciful and forgiving, accept our prayer that this servant of yours, bound by the fetters of sin, may be pardoned by your loving kindness.

Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who once and for all consigned that fallen and apostate tyrant to the flames of hell, who sent your only-begotten Son into the world to crush that roaring lion; hasten to our call for help and snatch from ruination and from the clutches of the noonday devil this human being made in your image and likeness. Strike terror, Lord, into the beast now laying waste your vineyard. Fill your servants with courage to fight manfully against that reprobate dragon, lest he despise those who put their trust in you, and say with Pharaoh of old: "I know not God, nor will I set Israel free." Let your mighty hand cast him out of your servant, Alastair Campbell, so he may no longer hold captive this person whom it pleased you to make in your image, and to redeem through your Son; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

All: Amen.

Then he commands the demon as follows:

I command you, unclean spirit, whoever you are, along with all your minions now attacking this servant of God, by the mysteries of the incarnation, passion, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, by the descent of the Holy Spirit, by the coming of our Lord for judgment, that you tell me by some sign your name, and the day and hour of your departure. I command you, moreover, to obey me to the letter, I who am a minister of God despite my unworthiness; nor shall you be emboldened to harm in any way this creature of God, or the bystanders, or any of their possessions.

The priest lays his hand on the head of the sick person, saying:

They shall lay their hands upon the sick and all will be well with them. May Jesus, Son of Mary, Lord and Savior of the world, through the merits and intercession of His holy apostles Peter and Paul and all His saints, show you favor and mercy.

All: Amen.

Next he reads over the possessed person these selections
from the Gospel, or at least one of them.

P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.

Yes, indeed.

The rite of exorcism.