Personal opinion pieces on a wide range of Catholic issues by different writers.
"When injustices around the world are screaming 'your life is of no value', the Church cannot remain silent. Apathy makes excuses. Love finds a way." (Nicky Gumbel)
Racism is a vile worm that continues to eat away at the soul of humanity. I don't think any right-thinking person can watch the video of the way in which George Floyd died without raging for justice.
44 year old...
Outside St Thomas' hospital in south London, an artwork has been created of artificial flowers with the message: I (big heart) NHS.
This captures the sentiments of so many who have been clapping on their doorsteps every Thursday, placing rainbows in their windows, acknowledging in personal messages their admiration and support for those who work in hospitals and care homes. An important h...
"It's necessary to rediscover the plan drawn by God for the family, to reaffirm its greatness and irreplaceability at the service of life and society" (Pope Francis).
On Friday, May 15, the world will observe The International Day of Families; a day that "provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic ...
Like many people, living alone during these strange days can be difficult. My daily walks help. Tramping around the streets of Kennington I'm aware of the inequalities in our wealth and our living arrangements. It's Iceland not M&S that has the queues outside. Most people live in blocks of flats and estates, only a few have patchwork gardens. The parks offer a breathing space and escape for the...
Leela Ramdeen writes:
"Preventing or delaying outbreaks, particularly among the most vulnerable, is the most important action we can take right now...coronavirus will also undoubtedly test our principles, values and shared humanity." (UNHCR)
As Michelle Bachelet and Filippo Grandi, UNHCR, have rightly said: "If our response to coronavirus is grounded in the princi...
On Friday evening my husband and I went to the last Mass in our parish for the next weeks, perhaps months. It was a bittersweet occasion which brought to mind all those who have been deprived of the Eucharist over the centuries due to religious persecution or even nowadays in remote parts of the world where vast distances mean Mass may be celebrated infrequently. A stark reminder of what we oft...
The coronavirus threatens the health of millions of people around the world if it spreads uncontrollably. Every precaution must be taken to prevent its spread and that means practicing greater personal and public hygiene and avoiding contact with people travelling from an infected area. We must show concern and never discriminate against anyone. Besides strict containment, strict personal hygie...
Catholic peer, Lord Alton writes: The United Kingdom is set to leave the European Union at 11 pm, January 31, 2020.
The British people voted to end government paralysis, but Britain faces social problems that urgently need addressing. It needs to reset its relationship with its European neighbours. Ending of one union, with the EU, may be a curtain-raiser for the ending of another: the U...
"Adherence to the current economic system represents a betrayal of future generations, owing to its environmental unsustainability." (Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum)
Will you be following the proceedings of the World Economic Forum's 50th Annual Meeting held in Davos, Switzerland from 21 - 24 January? This is seen as the single most influential...
Dr Pedro Gabriel, a Portuguese Catholic medical doctor and novelist reflects in the blog Where Peter Is:
Catholic social media has been in an uproar with the publication of a book about priestly celibacy, co-authored by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. The coverage of this book has been juxtaposed and contrasted with Francis' alleged intention to allow some married men to be ordained...
In a Facebook piece entitled: 'Charity or Charnel House?' Lord Alton comments on the news that the director of Marie Stopes charity, Simon Cooke, has had a massive pay rise and bonus bringing his salary to £434,000. His pay award last year increased his base salary from £173,067 to 217,250 making him one of the top five best-paid charity chiefs in Britain. He was then awarded a 100 per cent b...
Weimar, Germany- This is a city in central Germany that has had a glorious history marred by a terrible past. At present, it is a small city where the respect and promotion of human rights are celebrated and rewarded.
On International Human Rights Day, the city presents the prestigious Weimar Human Rights Award to those recognized and lauded for their commitment and work in defending and ...
Two years ago, speaking before a Vatican sponsored international symposium titled "Prospects for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons and for Integral Disarmament," Pope Francis said we cannot fail to be "genuinely concerned by the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental effects of any employment of nuclear devices.
"If we also take into account the risk of an accidental detonation as a re...
It's standard election news. Party puts up candidate who has said or done something particularly stupid. Press publish details of the embarrassing story. Candidate offers grovelling apology and survives, or they are swiftly removed by central office. It's textbook journalism and sadly all too familiar.
But what if the misdemeanour is expressing views which most Christian people believe? M...
