LONDON - 27 November 2007 - 420 words
Young
Catholics consider how to live out their faith in public life
More than 50 young Catholics considering a career in public life
gathered at Notre Dame University campus in London on Saturday,
24 November. to hear from Catholics working in public life about
how they live out their faith in public service to others. The
second 'Faith in your Future' conference, organised by the Catholic
Bishops' Conference brought together eminent speakers from the
world of healthcare, politics, media and social care including
Baroness Patricia Scotland QC, Catherine Pepinster, Editor of
the Tablet, Cathy Corcoran the Chief Executive of the Cardinal
Hume Centre, Dr Martin Lupton and MPs John Battle and Mark Hoban.
Archbishop Peter Smith chaired the panel discussions.
Baroness Patricia Scotland QC spoke of how her parents had taught
her that 'God has given each of us a talent and that it was our
job to find out what that talent was, to own it and to use it
for the benefit of others'. She had at one time considered a vocation
to the religious life, but for various reasons entered the legal
profession instead. Stressing that a career in public life was
a calling, she added that it would not be an easy one, but that
there would be real opportunities to make a difference in the
world.
Dr Martin Lupton, a gynaecologist, who is also Chair of the Ethics
Committee of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
said that in his job, in any one day, many of the important life
issues such of birth, life and death could all be lived out.
He gave a powerful testimony of how an encounter with a nun who
was nursing a terminally ill man living in abject poverty was
a life changing experience. It was this image of the Church, not
the powerful institution, but rather on its knees ministering
to the most vulnerable in the world, which led him back to work
in medicine. "The Church as a servant - that makes sense
to me", he said.
He was proud of the fact that as a Catholic he belonged to a Church
which was one of the largest providers of healthcare in the world
and concluded by affirming all the young people present in their
life choices: 'the Church has to have faith in each one of you,
as you are its hands, its eyes and body in the world today - without
you it will have no future'.
In a question and answer session which
followed; the participants were able to ask the panel members
about how they balanced their public roles with their faith. Mark
Hoban, MP for Fareham, said that every Catholic in public life
was there to serve all of God's people. He said that as a Catholic
working in politics, 'you look at different cases and different
circumstances balancing it against your own faith and your own
conscience'. 'My faith has changed what I do in Westminster and
in my constituency'. John Battle MP spoke about how he had first
become involved in local politics through campaigning on behalf
of the needs of his local community. This had led to his becoming
a councillor and then on to working for Church action on poverty.
The Church's social teaching had been a constant point of reference
for him. He stressed the need to build community and to get involved.
At the closing Mass, principal celebrant and homilist, Fr Paul
Embery gave a fitting conclusion to an inspirational day: "Those
in public life may find, like Thomas More, that at times there
are difficult choices to be made, even major clashes of loyalty
to be negotiated. But this is nothing new. More followed in
the footsteps of the likes of Thomas a Beckett and we follow in
the footsteps of both. We should not be afraid of this there
is a dialogue to be had".
The Conference was organised principally for some of the many
young graduates who have expressed interest in participating in
the Catholic Parliamentary Internship scheme which has been run
by the Bishops' Conference since 2003. This scheme places young
Catholic graduates with Christian MPs for a year.
More information about the internship programme can be found
at: www.catholicchurch.org.uk/internships
© Independent Catholic
News 2007
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