Newsletter: February 2009
February 2009 marks the first Bishops' Conference monthly newsletter. In this edition, we get to know Bishop Tom Williams a little better. Bishop Tom is an Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool and is Chair of the Bishops' Conference Healthcare Reference Group.
We've also got updates on legislation, safeguarding, liturgy, Day for Life, evangelisation, the Holy Land, Marriage and Family Life and more.
Meet Bishop Tom Williams
National responsibility: Healthcare
Bishop Tom Williams is an Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool and is very passionate about his local patch. In this month's audio interview, we get to know Bishop Tom a little better and find out more about his national Healthcare role as Chair of the Bishops' Conference Healthcare Reference Group. The interview was released to coincide with the World Day of Prayer for the Sick (11 February).
This year's Day for Life
Day for Life - the day in the Church's year dedicated to celebrating the dignity of life from conception to natural death - will this year focus on the theme of suicide.
The main emphasis of Day for Life in 2009 will be on the pastoral dimensions of this difficult and sensitive subject. It will highlight why the Church believes that every life is worth living and look at the reasons why people contemplate suicide. It will also point towards the support that the professional services can bring and hopefully help to reduce the stigma too often associated with mental illness and depression.
Building upon last year's focus on mental health; the bishops hope that this year's day with its particular focus on suicide will help raise awareness of the vital role played by families and a supportive parish community in supporting and sustaining those who may be struggling to cope.
Day for Life will be celebrated this year on 26 July 2009.
Legislation
Single Equality Bill
Major new legislation on equality is likely to come before Parliament in April 2009.
The Bishops' Conference Department of Christian Responsibility and Citizenship, working closely with the Church of England, is actively engaging in discussions with government on aspects of this legislation.
A briefing paper will be issued when the Bill is published.
Coroners' and Justice Bill
The Coroners' and Justice Bill has nothing to do with euthanasia but pro-euthanasia activists are seeking to amend it to allow assisted suicide. The bill had its second reading (debate stage) in the House of Commons on 26 January and will now be scrutinised by a Parliamentary Committee until 5 March after which it will be put to the vote. It then passes to the House of Lords. Care Not Killing is briefing MPs about the bill. Care Not Killing Chairman Brian Iddon MP has also put down an Early Day Motion on the Bill which has so far been signed by 27 MPs.
Prime Minister tells Cardinal he opposes assisted suicide
Speaking to Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, guest editing the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Prime Minister Gordon Brown expressed his opposition to any change in the law to allow assisted dying. The Prime Minister said that he was 'totally against' changing laws on euthanasia and that it was not for him to create laws to 'put pressure on people to end their lives'.
Visit the Care Not Killing website.
Marriage and Family Life
Home is a Holy Place review days
Last summer, 3000 Home is a Holy Place multimedia resource packs were published by the Bishops' Conference for the parishes of England and Wales to assist in raising awareness of the graces and blessings of life at home.
On 27 February there will be an opportunity to hear how these packs have been used in parishes, pastoral areas, schools and with family groups. Speakers from the dioceses of Nottingham, Portsmouth, Shrewsbury, Southwark, Wrexham.
Venue: St Chad's Cathedral House (Grimshaw Room), Birmingham B4 6EU.
Time: 10.30am - 3.30pm.
Click for booking form and further details.
Contact: Elizabeth Davies, Marriage and Family Life Project Office.
Email: elizabeth.davies@cbcew.org.uk
Tel: 07817 479694
Love and Work in the Adult Life Cycle
With work/life pressures squeezing the time that many of us have for nurturing our primary relationships, FAMILIAS, the Association for Diocesan Marriage and Family Life Ministry and the Marriage and Family Life Project Office have invited Br James Zullo FSC, PhD to explore more fully why the balance of love and work is such a critical issue for our selves, for our families and for all those with whom we work. All welcome.
Venue: Liverpool Archdiocesan Centre for Evangelisation
Date: Friday, March 13th 2009, 10am-4pm.
Booking form and further information.
Contact: Mrs Liz James, Marriage and Family Life Adviser, Diocese of Arundel & Brighton.
Email: Liz.James@dabnet.org
Tel: 01293 651152
Liturgy
Roman Missal Translation
At the November meeting of the Bishops' Conference three Grey book texts were voted on and approved: Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children, Masses for Various Needs and Intentions, and Ritual Masses.
This means that six of the twelve Grey books - the final text prepared for voting by ICEL - have been approved by the Bishops' Conference. The remaining sections will be presented for voting at the Easter meeting of the Bishops' Conference: Proper of Saints, Common of Saints, Votive Masses & Masses for the Dead, Antiphons, Introductory Documents and Appendices.
At the end of June 08 the Congregation for Divine Worship sent out to Bishops' Conferences directives on the use of Hebrew Tetragrammaton - YHWH in the liturgy. In respect to the ancient tradition of the Church the Hebrew word should be rendered as ‘Lord’. These directives do not affect the current liturgical texts, including the Lectionary, used in England and Wales.
Bishop Arthur Roche presented the document to the bishops at their November meeting and afterwards issued a statement. As directives also affect other texts used in the liturgy, such as songs and hymns, Bishop Roche has written to publishers to inform them of the document and to require that they either omit or provide alternative versions of texts. Bishop Roche’s statement can be found on page 4 and a copy of the Congregation’s letter can be found on the Liturgy Office website.
The Department for Christian Life and Worship has issued Guidance Notes on the Burial of Ashes. The notes acknowledge that cremation is not seen as the equivalent to burial and that the sense of laying to rest comes with the subsequent burial of the ashes. It encourages those involved in funerals and ministry to the bereaved to alert families and relatives to the rite of burial of ashes. A form of the liturgy can be found in the Order of Christian Funerals. The guidance also notes some of the implications of providing a site within Church property for the burial of ashes and suggests other places that might be considered.
http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/
Glimpse of Heaven DVD
A Glimpse of Heaven, through Alex Ramsey’s photographs and the text of Christopher Martin highlights the rich heritage of Catholic Churches in England and Wales.
Following on from this hugely successful publication by English Heritage, in collaboration with the Patrimony Committee of the Bishops' Conference, a new DVD of A Glimpse of Heaven has been produced.
The DVD incorporates both film and photography and also interviews with architectural journalists, architects, conservationists and churchmen.
News on the release of the DVD
Click for our on-going feature focusing on A Glimpse of Heaven
Safeguarding
E-enabled Policies & Procedures
After nearly 12 months of editing, rationalising, simplifying and developing, the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (CSAS) has launched the National Safeguarding Policies and Procedures of the Catholic Church in England & Wales as an interactive electronic manual.
This can be accessed by both regular users as well as the general public on:
http://www.csasprocedures.uk.net.
By providing the procedures manual in this way the Catholic Church is demonstrating transparency in this vital area of work and has produced a state of the art resource for Diocesan Safeguarding Co-ordinators and Officers to assist them in their work.
Parish Safeguarding Resource Pack
To support Parish Safeguarding Reps in their work CSAS has developed, in consultation with Reps and Diocesan Safeguarding Officers, a Safeguarding Resource Pack, sometimes referred to as the "Parish Pack." It is the aim that every parish will have at least one copy for use by the Rep and as a reference point for the Parish Priest, parish committees and so on, regarding to all safeguarding matters.
The pack clearly spells out what “Safeguarding” is, the different roles and responsibilities within the Church both nationally and locally and why it is an integral aspect of day to day ministry for everyone. It provides a series of tools for the Parish Rep, informing them of the support and training they will receive as well as easy to follow summaries of key policy areas.
As an additional aid to fully embedding the safeguarding message into parish life, CSAS has produced a leaflet on safeguarding to be available in every church as well as a “do’s and don’ts” card to be given to everyone involved in working with vulnerable people. This card provides helpful contact information in addition to some clear points about positive behaviour.
The “Parish Pack” is an important first step in realising the challenge of the Cumberlege Commission five-year vision.
Bishops hear of suffering in visit to Holy Land
The Bishops' Conference of England and Wales organises the annual meeting of the Co-ordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church of the Holy Land (Holy Land Co-ordination).
Mandated by the Holy See, the Holy Land Co-ordination meets every January in the Holy Land with the aim of acting in solidarity with the Christian community there and sharing in the pastoral life of the local Church as it experiences intense political and social-economic pressure.
This year, Archbishop Patrick Kelly of Liverpool and Bishop William Kenney, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham, joined the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and bishops from Europe and America in the Holy Land. In a joint statement the bishops said:
"The violence in Gaza was on everyone's minds and lips. We heard directly about the human tragedy from the parish priest of Gaza, Father Manawel Musallam.
There can be no peace unless people believe in peace. There can be no security unless there is security for all. There can be no justice unless there is justice for everyone in this land. Faith gives us hope that justice, peace and forgiveness are possible-a conviction shared by our hosts, His Beatitude Fouad Twal and the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land."
Taken from the final communique.
Click here for images, statements and press coverage of the visit.
Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation
Online spiritual resource launched in response to the 'Credit Crunch'
A spiritual internet resource has been launched by the Catholic Enquiry Office, which is run by CASE (Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation), to support and reach out to people in England and Wales who are living with uncertainty and hardship. Jesus invites Christians to proclaim and make incarnate the Good News of the Gospel through use of the spoken word, signs, gestures, symbols, but also through charity in action - good works. The recently launched 'Credit Crunch' web portal offers all of these elements and includes an mp3 meditation for download, a space for reflection, stories from people who have previously lived through difficult times, 'tips on how to get through', a place to share burdens and offer thanks, a prayer page, as well as links to Catholic organisations that provide practical help.
Clergy Canonical Directory
In November 2008, the Bishops of England and Wales formally approved the publication setting out the Canonical rights and responsibilities of clergy.
This will be published by the Catholic Truth Society (CTS) in Spring 2009.
Cycle of Prayer
The Sick and those who care for them
especially on World Day for the Sick (11 February)
Students and Teachers
especially on the ecumenical Education Day (three Sundays before the 1st Sunday of Lent)
The Unemployed
especially on the Day of Prayer for the Unemployed (one Sunday before the 1st Sunday of Lent)
Lent
Candidates for the Sacraments
especially on the Sundays of Lent
The Needy and Hungry of the World
especially on Lent Fast Day (Friday after the first Sunday of Lent)
Women's World Day of Prayer
(First Friday in March)
Penitents and Wanderers