Sunday Reflection with Fr Terry - 29 January 2012 I remember reading about a television interview with Mother Teresa of Calcutta in the United States. The interview bowled along, and then the interviewer paused the live broadcast for a commercial break: ‘We will continue with this interview in a minute or two, but first, listen to this message from our sponsors.’ As the commercials were shown, the studio suddenly fell silent Read More ... Posted: Friday, January 27, 2012 5:17 pm
Religious leaders reflect on Christian presence in Arab world The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit reaffirmed churches’ commitment to justice and peace in the Middle East, while stressing the importance of a common vision for living together by Christians and Muslims in the Arab world. Tveit was speaking at the Read More ... Posted: Friday, January 27, 2012 5:00 pm
Film Review: W./E. If W./E. had been released ahead of the Prince of Wales’s wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles, the very mention of the Wallis/Edward legend might have been enough to capitalise on the interest of the audience. But as it is, the relationship between Wallis and David lacks chemistry, Read More ... Frances Murphy - Posted: Friday, January 27, 2012 3:08 pm
Vatican defends transfer of alleged whistleblower An Italian television programme has claimed that a former top Vatican City official was moved to another post, against his will, after he complained about the way contracts were being awarded. The programme: 'The Untouchables' broadcast by the La 7 channel on Wednesday night, showed several letters sent last year by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, Read More ... Posted: Friday, January 27, 2012 2:49 pm
CoE welcomes ban on cash for scrap metal The Church of England has welcomed the UK government's decision to outlaw the sale of scrap metal for cash. Home Secretary Theresa May announced the ruling today in a written statement to MPs. She also told them that fines would be 'significantly increased' to tackle the growing problem of metal theft. Anne Sloman, Chair of the Church of England's Read More ... Posted: Thursday, January 26, 2012 11:32 pm
London: peace coalition campaign against war on Iran This Saturday, 28 January, from 2pm-4pm, the Stop the War Coalition is launching a campaign against a war on Iran at the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square. The protest will be joined by politicians, academics, students, trade unionists, aid workers, justice and peace groups and church representatives. In a statement, the Coalition said: "The momentum for an attack Read More ... Posted: Thursday, January 26, 2012 10:57 pm
Australia Day honour for Sidney Port Chaplain Today, on Australia Day, it was announced that Sister Mary Leahy has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal for services as an Apostleship of the Sea port chaplain. A member of the Sisters of St Joseph, Sr Mary has worked in the port of Sydney for many years. In 2010, the Sydney Seafarers' Centre where Sr Mary serves, wonRead More ... Posted: Thursday, January 26, 2012 7:04 pm
Pakistan: Caritas relief efforts hampered by kidnappings A rise in abductions of foreign workers by Islamist militants has curbed relief efforts in flood-affected parts of the country, say officials from Caritas Pakistan. Seven foreign aid workers have been kidnapped in the last six months, with four of them taken so far this month. Read More ... Posted: Thursday, January 26, 2012 6:45 pm
Catholic Bishops visit Olympic Park With six months to go before the Opening Ceremony of the XXX Olympiad, bishops from the three London dioceses visited the Olympic Park this week to see how 504 acres of wasteland in the East End of London has been transformed into a place of new life and immense beauty. At the invitation of Mgr John Armitage, chair of the Catholic 2012 Committee Read More ... Posted: Thursday, January 26, 2012 5:35 pm
Mexico: Archbishop appeals for criminal truce during Pope's visit The climate of violence generated by Mexico's drug cartels is so volatile, that the Archbishop of Leon has asked criminal organizations to call a truce during the Pope's visit to the city. Last Sunday, during a press conference, Mgr Jose Guadalupe Martin Rabago asked "on behalf of all Mexico" Read More ... Posted: Thursday, January 26, 2012 1:52 pm
CTE Presidents statement for 2012 Games Leaders of the Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran and Free Churches in England and Wales, issued the following statement today, marking six months before the start of the London Olympic Games. 2012 is a year of celebrations in England. The Olympic Torch Relay, the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen, the Olympiad and the Paralympics Read More ... Posted: Thursday, January 26, 2012 11:27 am
Churches pray for Christian unity Despite all the divides and divisions, churches and congregations observed the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the month of January, with a profound theme for this year: 'We will all be changed by the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ' (cf. 1 Cor 15:51-58). Sponsored jointly by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches, Read More ... Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 11:08 pm
Hull: Sisters create haven of hospitality & peace in city centre What is the role of a nun in today’s world? The Sisters of Mercy in Hull have found a very modern solution to the question of how to fulfil their vocation and meet the challenge of the 21st century. In 1857 seven Sisters arrived in Hull. Their number grew and their beautiful home, Endsleigh House was once a convent with more than 70 nuns; Read More ... Mary McCollum - Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 10:46 pm
Economic evolution The World Economic Forum in Davos began today, 25 January, under the cloud of the IMF’s warning of the risks that the eurozone crisis poses to the global economy. With the integration of politics and economics receiving more attention than ever before, Brendan MacPartlin SJ describes the recommendations of a Vatican document published at the end of last year, Read More ... Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 10:17 pm
Holy Land: campaigners issue appeal after demolition of peace centre After Israeli bulldozers demolished the home of Salim and Arabiya Shawamreh for the fifth time this week, human rights campaigners, aid agencies and representatives from several Jewish organisations and Christian churches issued the following appeal.. How much longer will Israel be allowed to escape accountability ... We call upon all people concerned Read More ... Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 9:35 pm
Birmingham: Requiem Mass for Fr Gregory Winterton In an atmosphere of great warmth but much sadness, and in defiance of the drizzle outside, Father Paul Chavasse was the principal celebrant at the Requiem Mass for Father Gregory Winterton, at the Birmingham Oratory, Edgbaston on Tuesday, 24 January 2012, the Feast of St Francis de Sales. Father Guy Nicholls was Deacon and Brother Richard Duncan Sub-Deacon. Read More ... Peter Jennings - Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 9:10 pm
Rome: Venerable English College celebrates 650th anniversary This weekend, the Venerable English College (VEC) celebrates a very significant milestone in the history of English and Welsh Catholicism. Friday, 27 January 2012 marks the 650th anniversary of the Foundation Deed which established an English & Welsh Hospice on the site occupied by the VEC. Its foundation in 1362 makes this the oldest English institution outside of England. Read More ... Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 7:19 pm
Coptic bishop comments on first anniversary of Tahrir Square His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom released a statement today, to mark the first anniversary of the uprising in Egypt's Tahrir Square. Bishop Angaelos comments on the potential for positive reform.. but also highlights the danger that Christians and indeed Egyptians as a whole now face if Read More ... Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 10:07 am
David Alton on abortion and advertising Whether or not it is licit to take the life of an unborn child is not an uncontroversial or uncontested question. All the more extraordinary, therefore, that permission has been given for abortion to be advertised on British television and radio as just another “service” – like buying a washing up liquid or insurance for your car. Surely this represents the ultimate dehumanisation Read More ... Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 9:22 am
Prince Charles visits CathCom's printers Prince Charles paid a visit to Yorkshire Web, the company based in Barnlsey, Yorkshire, who print CathCom's diocesan papers including Middlesbrough Voice, the Catholic Voice of Lancaster and Catholic South West. CathCom director Nick Layton said: "Prince Charles saw where the newspapers are prepared for print, Read More ... Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 9:17 am
Bishop Kirby comments on Irish emigration "Sadly, for many Irish people today emigration is not a lifestyle choice, but a necessity. Our new emigrants are forced to leave behind family and loved ones because of circumstances outside of their control. Many Irish people across the age groups must now take on the challenge of building a new life for themselves abroad. At a human level this will be very difficult Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 10:26 pm
Glasgow: Celtic Roots Mass Next Sunday, 29 January, the annual Mass welcoming citizens and visitors to Glasgow and the Celtic Connections Festival 2012 will be held at St Aloysius Church, Garnethill at 4pm. The event is supported by choirs and instrumentalists and is a joy-filled sung Mass. The St Mungo Singers and Glasgow parish choirs Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 6:04 pm
Holy Land: peace centre demolished for fifth time Beit Arabiya, the home of Arabiya and Salim Shawamreh was demolished on Monday night, 23 January, for a fifth time by the Israeli Authorities. Three houses as well as outhouses and animal pens were demolished by bulldozers accompanied by heavily armed soldiers as the 20 residents including young children looked on in horror. Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 5:33 pm
Church welcomes House of Lords vote to protect children Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN), the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, last night welcomed the House of Lords vote to exclude Child Benefit from the proposed household benefit cap, calling it “vital to protect children facing poverty.” Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 5:11 pm
Message from editor - new plans for ICN Today is World Communications Day and the Feast of St Francis de Sales, Patron Saint of Journalists. First of all I would like to say thank you very much to all our readers, e-mail subscribers and supporters and all those who send in news each day.... Several people have suggested some new features which I want to develop over the next few months. Read More ... Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 3:12 pm
