Newsletter: October/November 2009
Assisting suicide
There's an important consultation taking place about when cases of 'assisting suicide' will be prosecuted. The law on 'assisting suicide' has not changed but the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has issued 'interim guidelines' about when to prosecute people who do it. We have until 16 December 2009 to respond.
Also this month, we look forward to the National Celebration marking 25 years of the Catholic Association for Racial Justice, profile Prisoners' Sunday and look back on the Synod of Bishops for Africa that took place in the Vatican in October.
All this and more below.
Public consultation on assisting suicide
There is an important consultation taking place about when cases of 'assisting suicide' will be prosecuted. The law on 'assisting suicide' has not changed but the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has issued 'interim guidelines' about when to prosecute people who do it. We have until 16 December 2009 to respond.
The current interim guidelines are defective in some important ways and it is essential that as many people as possible concerned about safeguarding the value of life should say what they think.
Why is it important to respond?
It is important to respond because the guidelines are defective. If they are not changed, then there is a real danger that this will be the turning point which could bring about the legalisation of assisted suicide and euthanasia. Pro-euthanasia groups will already be studying these guidelines to see how to use them to promote suicide.
Until 16 December you have the chance to comment, before the guidelines become permanent.
For more information and help to fill in and return the consultation form, click here.
Looking back on the Bishops' Synod for Africa
Vatican City, 4-25 October 2009
Hundreds of Bishops from Africa and a select number from outside the continent met in Rome from 4-25 October 2009 to discuss the Catholic Church in Africa.
The theme of the Special Assembly was The Church in Africa at the Service of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace."You are the Salt of the Earth...You are the Light of the World" (Mt 5:13,14).
The Rt Revd John Rawsthorne was invited by Pope Benedict XVI to take part in discussions. Bishop Rawsthorne, as well as being Bishop of Hallam, is Chair of CAFOD (the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development).
Synod discussions focused on a wide range of issues and challenges facing the diverse continent of 53 countries - from HIV/AIDS, poverty and governance to women's issues, migration and family life.
Bishop Rawsthorne took part in our special three-part roundtable discussion from the Vatican Radio studios in Rome. We have this and an audio interview with Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos (northern Nigeria) retrieved from our archives and uploaded for you.
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Liturgy
Click here for the Autumn prayer card.
Cycle of Prayer
Remembrance Day Sunday
8 November [2nd Sunday in November]
Prisoners' Week
15-21 November
Day of Prayer for Prisoners and their Dependants
Sunday 15 November [3rd Sunday in November]
Youth Day Sunday
22 November [Christ the King]
Click for more from the Liturgy Office of England and Wales.
News
Here are a few September news stories not covered in other areas of this newsletter. For all our latest news, visit our RSS feed.
3 Nov 2009
Vatican official highlights an increase in priestly vocations
30 Oct 2009
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor's new appointments in Rome
30 Oct 2009
The Archbishop of Westminster announces appointment of Parliamentary Roman Catholic Duty Priest
28 Oct 2009
Caritas Social Action Network releases report on care for the elderly
19 Oct 2009
Re-opening of the newly restored church of the Venerable English College, Rome
Visit our Media Centre.
Safeguarding
New home for the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service
Whilst most people were either relaxing or sun seeking throughout August, CSAS staff were on the move once again.
In a repeat of a major office move last summer, CSAS has now relocated to what it hopes will be its permanent "home":
Queensway House, 57 Livery St, Birmingham, B3 1HA
National Catholic Safeguarding Commission: Annual Report
Both the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission (NCSC) and the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (CSAS) were a year old in July and in September the first NCSC Annual Report was published.
This outlined the work and developments of both national bodies in addition to highlighting some of the positive safeguarding activities going on within our parishes and religious communities.
Prisoners' Sunday 2009
15 November 2009
Catholic parishes across England and Wales will mark Prisoners' Sunday on 15 November - a day of prayer and action for prisoners, their children and families, prison workers, former offenders, and victims of crime.
The theme of Prisoners' Sunday 2009 is Hold Fast to Hope - a hope rooted in the Christian belief that the divine spark is in all people, that no-one is beyond redemption. Change can and does take place.
This year, pact (The Prison Advice and Care Trust) has teamed up with the St Vincent de Paul Society to provide dynamic resources to encourage people to mark Prisoners' Sunday.
The day will see the launch of a new initiative called 'Basic Caring Communities' (BaCC), which helps support former offenders.
Catholic Education Service (CES)
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families: "The vibrancy, dynamism and success of schools with a religious character has never been stronger"
Nearly 200 providers of schools with a religious character, representatives of faith communities and government officials gathered for a conference, "Keeping Faith in the System", affirming the work of schools with a religious character and their collaboration with other schools at the Institute of Directors on Wednesday 14th October 2009.
The conference built on DCSF's 2007 publication, "Faith in the System", which celebrated the positive contribution that schools with a religious character make to society. "Keeping faith in the System" highlighted the positive contribution which schools with a religious character make in the school system, their local communities and beyond.
Downloads
The following pdfs can be downloaded:
“Faith in the System”: Department of Children, Schools and Families - 2007 (pdf)
Photos
For a photo gallery from the conference, visit our Flickr photostream.
Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education
On Thursday 5 November, Ed Balls announced that Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education is to be made part of the national curriculum in schools from September 2011. Click for story.
The changes mean that schools will be obliged to teach PSHE, but school governors retain the right to determine their school's approach, which should be in accordance with the ethos of the school. Parents have a right to withdraw their children from PSHE classes up to the age of 15.
CESEW has commented on these proposals:
5 Nov 2009
CESEW responds to proposals relating to Sex and Relationships Education and parental rights
Remembrance
On Remembrance Sunday we remember the fallen who selflessly gave their lives for their country.
It is marked on the Sunday nearest to 11 November - Remembrance Day - which is the anniversary of the end of hostilities in the First World War, in 1918 at 11am. The national ceremony is held at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, London.
The newly ordained Bishop of the Forces, the Rt Revd Richard Moth, is presiding at a Solemn Requiem Mass offered for the Fallen at Westminster Cathedral on Remembrance Sunday - 8 November 2009.
Remembrance resources
Life4seekers, a website provided by the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE), has a special section on Remembrance.
Visit life4seekers.co.uk/remembrance:
Why do we pray for the dead?
Remembrance stories
Pope Benedict XVI on honouring departed loved ones
Remembrance List - submit the name of a friend or relative to life4seekers' Remembrance List to be held in prayer by visitors to the site.
What happens after we die?
Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE)
The CASE team has four significant evangelisation initiatives to report on in this edition of the Bishops' Conference newsletter.
St Thérèse of Lisieux and Little Way Week
Following the inspiring visit of the relics of the Patroness of Mission, Little Way Week (18-24 October) aimed to provide an opportunity for evangelistic outreach. Parishes, families, schools and individuals were invited to commit to service - one act a day for a week - through which they could share the love of Christ with those around them. Although the founding week happened in October, Little Way Week can be done locally during any month of the year. Ideas and resources, including 'ideas by text', can be found at: littlewayweek.co.uk
Faith and Culture Focus
CASE recently hosted a 'Faith and Culture Symposium' which brought together those involved in academic reflection on faith and culture and representatives of new expressions of mission, to explore the theme: 'Meeting Jesus in late Modern Culture - the Gift of our Sacramental Tradition for Evangelisation'. Bishop Paul Hendricks (Auxiliary - Southwark) presented the opening paper. For pdfs and mp3s of the talks from the day, click here.
National gathering
The Agency has also facilitated a gathering of those who have a responsibility for evangelisation at a diocesan level. Bishop Kieran Conry, Chair of the Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis, spoke to around 40 delegates from across England and Wales. The group met at St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham and spent time in prayer, discussion and exploring a vision for an evangelising parish, as well as strategic steps that can be taken to enable wider mission engagement. For more, click here.
Christmas evangelisation
Finally, resources for 'Come Home For Christmas', the seasonal outreach initiative to resting Catholics, are available by clicking here.
For more information about the support and resources that the CASE team offers please tel: 020 7901 4863; e: info@caseresources.org.uk
Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ)
25th Anniversary National Celebration at Westminster Cathedral
Saturday, 7 November
The Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ) is marking its 25th anniversary on Saturday, 7 November by holding a special, day-long national celebration at Westminster Cathedral.
The theme is the 'Changing Face of Britain' and it explores how we can challenge racism within our diverse population. Parishes, Religious communities, other Christian denominations and faith communities, schools, civil society, local and central government, politicians and the media have all been invited to attend.
Bishop Kieran Conry, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, said:
"Racism violates the dignity of the individual and the oneness of the human family. As Christians we have a duty to work towards its eradication. For the past 25 years CARJ has sought to tackle racism and racial discrimination by addressing the needs of minority ethnic and marginalised communities. During the course of its Silver Jubilee, CARJ has been focusing on the present and future challenges we face as well as celebrating the ever-increasing diversity of our Church and our society. We must take this opportunity to affirm with one voice our ongoing commitment to end racism."
Catholic 2012
Over seventy chaplains were present from across the sporting disciplines of football, rugby league and union, cricket, horseracing and athletics with delegates attending from across Scotland, England, Wales and mainland Europe.
With recent incidents such as disciplinary sanctions in rugby union, cases of suspected match-fixing in European football, and race-fixing in Formula One, the sporting world has rarely been in such need of robust guidance and a proven steer towards responsibility and integrity.
Speakers made presentations on relevant topics such as gambling addiction, the place of child protection in sport, and understanding the worldview of an eighteen-year old. An update was also given on the progress being made for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.