A criminal case against a 79-year-old economics professor is symptomatic of President Erdogan's deepening assault on Turkish civil society. The trial should concern everyone who values freedom of speech and belief. On 22 November, Fikret Baskaya will be tried in Ankara under Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terrorism Law. Professor Baskaya, who recently had a heart bypass, faces five years in prison if ...
In a pastoral letter which will be read at all 500 Catholic churches in Scotland this weekend (23/24 November) Scotland's Catholic Bishops, will urge parishioners to participate in the 2019 General Election and to "elect an individual representative who reflects as closely as possible our beliefs." Scotland's Catholic Bishops warn that "a creeping intolerance towards religious belief" has becom...
A record number of people gathered in St Martin in the Fields for the Service of Commemoration for those who died homeless in London over the past year. The music group of Alastair Murray, John Deacon and Chris Bluemel played through the service.
After an introduction by Revd Richard Carter, priest at St Martin's, the first set of names was read out, with reflections on some of them. John...
Gospel of 19th November 2019 - Luke 19:1-10 Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance: he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore ...
Pope Francis sent a video message to the people of Japan on Monday, and urged them to protect all life - symbolized there by cherry blossoms - and to pray for his upcoming Apostolic Journey. The theme of his 23-26 November visit is: 'Protect All Life'.
In his video message sent on Monday, Pope Francis said this protective instinct resonates in our hearts and is particularly important in l...
The work of Catholic social action organisation Caritas East Anglia was formally commissioned by the Rt Rev Alan Hopes, Bishop of East Anglia, at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Norwich on Sunday November 17, followed by a special celebration lunch.
Caritas East Anglia is the latest addition to the worldwide federation of Caritas Internationalis, which is the second biggest humani...
Last Thursday, 75 Children from Catholic and Jewish schools gathered for a day of interfaith encounter and charity. The students worked together out the parish hall of Sacred Heart and Mary Immaculate parish in Mill Hill to assemble 400 'Vinnie Packs'.
The day celebrated the twin occasions of Mitzvah Day and World Day of the Poor, which both fell on Sunday 17th of November. Mitzvah Day is...
On the 16th November 2019 more than 250 members of Teams of Our Lady from across the country gathered at Westminster Cathedral to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the movement in Great Britain. The principal celebrant was Bishop Peter Doyle, the Bishop responsible for marriage and family life), and concelebrants included Bishop Richard Moth of Arundel and Brighton, Westminster Auxiliary Bishop...
Government statistics show that the UK Government licensed £5,335,852,492 worth of arms to Saudi Arabian regime in the first four years of its ongoing bombardment of Yemen (26 March 2015 - 25 March 2019).
This is an increase of almost 50% on the value of arms licensed in the four years preceding the war, which amounted to £3,572,049,751 worth of arms (26 March 2011 - 25 March - 2015).
At the beginning of February this year, the UK government introduced a cut on benefits for families with more than two children. Families who have more than two children, born after April 2017 will not be able to claim benefits for them. In June the Child Poverty Action Group, (CPAG), Church of England, Women's Aid, Turn2Us and the Refugee Council published a new report looking at the impact of...
Gospel of 18th November 2019 - Luke 18:35-43 As Jesus drew near to Jericho there was a blind man sitting at the side of the road begging. When he heard the crowd going past he asked what it was all about, and they told him that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by. So he called out, 'Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.' The people in front scolded him and to...
Pope Francis joined around 1,500 poor people and volunteers for lunch Paul VI Hall on Sunday, after the special Mass in St Peter's for World Day of the Poor and the Angelus with pilgrims in St Peter's Square. During the Angelus Pope Francis spoke about society's painful indifference to poor people. The hall was beautifully decorated, On the menu there was lasagna, chicken with mushrooms and pot...
Pope Francis marked the third World Day of the Poor today, with Holy Mass in St Peter's Basilica in the presence of poor people from the city of Rome accompanied by volunteers who assist the homeless and the most needy, the Pope said the poor "help us to reach heaven," "they are the treasure of the Church." Pope Francis established the day in his Apostolic Letter, Misericordia et Mis...
Green Christian has welcomed plans by the Church of England, announced last week, to "recognise the Climate Crisis and step up its action to safeguard God's creation." However, it questions the Environmental Working Group's proposal that General Synod should support the Government's carbon reduction of net zero carbon by 2050.
Deborah Tomkins, Co-Chair of Green Christian, said on 13 Novem...
