New website opens up Church's best kept secret

No it's not the launch of yet another Dan Brown novel but a new interactive resource that will bring Catholic Social Teaching to life.

The launch of the LiveSimply website on Catholic Social Teaching on 29 November will mark the arrival of a valuable tool for schools, parishes and beyond. The site will provide a resource for people to work with in deepening their understanding of the faith.

Once described as the Church’s best kept secret, the social teachings offer a blueprint for those working for justice both inside and outside of the Church. The site focuses on the six themed areas of human dignity, community and participation, care for creation, life and work, peace, and solidarity.

Contributors include South African Archbishops Desmond Tutu and Kevin Dowling, Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of York John Sentamu, Ellen Teague, Mary Colwell and Bruce Kent.

The launch of the site comes at a timely moment with Pope Benedict recently stressing the urgent need "for commitment to educating Catholic laity in Church social doctrine".

Commenting on the website, Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster said: "Here is a website which will be useful whether you’re coming to Catholic Social Teaching for the first time or whether you want to find out a bit more on this journey of discovery, it will be very important because it is such a crucial exploration and application of the faith which is so formative in our lives and so important for us all."

The launch event will take place from 7 to 9 pm on Monday 29 November in Loyola Hall, Heythrop College, University of London, Kensington Square, W8 5HN. Speakers on the night include Southwark auxiliary Bishop John Hine, former Labour MP John Battle and international author Megan McKenna.

Bishop John Hine said: "Working for greater justice in our world is a constant challenge to all of us in our church. Consequently we need to keep ourselves as well informed on today's issues as possible. The livesimply website will greatly facilitate this, providing us with up-to-date information and thereby motivating us to keep the Church's Social Teaching high on our agenda."

Space are limited: To book a place email Esther Trewinnard at esther@progressio.org.uk or call 0207 288 8620