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20/12/2006

Statement issued by Archbishop Patrick Kelly in support of the Churches of the Holy Land

This week Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes is visiting the Holy Land with gifts from the Holy Father to the peoples across that Land. There are also signs that the Holy Land is finding a more prominent place in international political discourse marked by an awareness that justice for all its peoples will serve not only their security and peace but also of the wider region, and indeed of peoples across the world.

13/12/2006

Pilgrims urge prayer for the ‘little town of Bethlehem’

Church leaders in England are asking parish churches and congregations throughout the country to pray for ‘the little town of Bethlehem’ as they approach the final week of Advent – the Church’s season of preparation for the celebration of the birth of the Christ child.

12/12/2006

Evidence before the House of Commons Education and Skills

The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham, Chairman of the Catholic Education Service of England and Wales, yesterday, Monday 11 December, gave evidence before the House of Commons Education and Skills Committee on the subject of Citizenship Education.

08/12/2006

Heythrop College presents Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks with an honorary degree

The University of London, through Heythrop College, last week awarded Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks an honorary doctorate of Divinity in recognition of his outstanding contribution to religion in public life at a ceremony also attended by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor.

08/12/2006

Invite Someone To The Cinema

Share your faith this Advent by inviting someone to see the recent film release, The Nativity Story, says England and Wales’ mission chief.

06/12/2006

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor called on all members of society to work together to alleviate poverty

The Cardinal was addressing an audience of religious leaders, charities, trade union delegates, politicians and people with experience of poverty in the UK at the National Poverty Hearing Day in London on Wednesday 6 December.

05/12/2006

Church leaders to make a pilgrimage to Bethlehem

Christian leaders have called for prayers throughout Advent for Christians in the Holy Land as they prepare for a pilgrimage to the birth place of Jesus Christ.

21/11/2006

Bishops Call on Government to Decommission Nuclear Weapons

The very existence of nuclear weapons has always posed grave moral questions. Their uniquely destructive power means that they belong in a different category from any other weapons; this has always been recognised in the particular attention with which they have been regarded by the Holy See and by our own Bishops’ Conference.

21/11/2006

Bishop Kenney calls on Government to support International Treaty banning cluster munitions

Alongside other faith leaders, the new auxiliary bishop of Birmingham, the Right Reverend William Kenney, has urged the Government to support an international treaty banning cluster munitions, warheads that scatter scores of smaller bombs.

15/11/2006

The Nuffield Council's Guidelines: 'Deliberately ending life'

We warmly welcome the clear recommendation from the Nuffield Council today that “the active ending of life of newborn babies should not be allowed, no matter how serious their condition.” This reaffirms the validity of existing law prohibiting euthanasia, and upholds the vital and fundamental moral principle that the deliberate taking of innocent human life is always gravely wrong.

14/11/2006

Bi-lateral meeting between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Church of England House of Bishops

“We recognise the importance of working together to present a shared Christian witness to our society, and acknowledge the importance of working with other Christian denominations, and with those of other faiths to take forward the common good in society."

14/11/2006

Message for World Migration Day

The following message is from Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue, Chairman of the Office for Refugee Policy, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales:

08/11/2006

Vatican Cardinal Releases Statement on Sustainable Development

In one of his statements focussing on the importance of sustainable development, Pope Benedict XVI turned his attention to the situation of poverty in the world: “True world development requires ... an objective knowledge of human situations, the identification of the real causes of poverty and practical responses whose priority is the appropriate formation of each person and community. Thus, the authentic freedom and responsibility that are proper to human action will be put into practice.”[i]

08/11/2006

Cardinal welcomes International Finance Facility for Immunisation

The first step to raise funds for a mass immunisation programme for children in the developing world was taken at a ceremony held in London on Tuesday, November 7th 2006, attended by the Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown and representatives of Britain's faith groups.

31/10/2006

Church Affirms The Importance Of Remembrance

Remembering the dead is of fundamental importance if the living are to find lasting peace and come to terms with their own deaths, said the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor.

31/10/2006

Pastoral Letter on Remembrance Sunday

As Remembrance Sunday comes round again next weekend, we renew our gratitude to those who risked life and limb in wars and conflicts to protect our country and preserve the values we cherish most dearly. As each year goes by, sadly more and more people are added to our prayers: servicemen and women who have given their today that we might have our tomorrow.

31/10/2006

Symposium to explore the spirituality of marriage and family life

Families are holy, even in the midst of crisis, tension, and difficulty concluded participants at Releasing Formidable Energy, a symposium to explore the spirituality of marriage and family life, held between 20 - 22 October at St Cuthbert’s College, Ushaw, near Durham.

26/10/2006

Statement by Archbishop Vincent Nichols on Education and Inspection Bill

I welcome the decision by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills not to table an amendment to the Education and Inspection Bill concerning the planning of future faith schools.

27/10/2006

The Cardinal Celebrates his Golden Jubilee

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the Archbishop of Westminster and spiritual leader of the five million Roman Catholics of England and Wales, celebrates the 50th anniversary of his Ordination as Priest on Saturday 28 October 2006.

27/10/2006

Pope Benedict XVI's Message of Congratulations to the Cardinal

Soon the whole Catholic community in Britain will experience a special joy when it will be able and indeed will want to honour you, our venerable brother, as a renowned spiritual leader.

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