Newsletter: Summer 2009
In our Summer newsletter we look back on the release of Pope Benedict's third Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate. We also focus on Mgr Richard Moth who will be ordained Catholic Bishop of the Forces on 29 September 2009.
Read the latest from the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation on Home Mission Sunday and Little Way Week. The Catholic Education Service focuses on the second round of invitations to bid for Charles Plater Trust grant funding and brings news of three consultation responses.
You can also download the Bishops' Conference response to the proposed EU Equal Treatment Directive, read about the More Than Gold Wembley conference looking forward to the 2012 Games, download Bishop Patrick Lynch's address to the National Justice and Peace conference on migration and look forward to the Catholic Association for Racial Justice's national celebration in November.
All this and more below.
Pope Benedict's third Encyclical Letter
Caritas in Veritate
The third Encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy is about the Church's social teaching and focuses on human development in charity and truth. The Pope argues that charity is at the heart of the Church's social doctrine where every responsibility and every commitment spelt out by that doctrine is derived from love.
The Encyclical, addressed to Catholics and people of good will, opens with the words "Charity in truth, to which Jesus Christ bore witness by his earthly life and especially by his death and resurrection, is the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity."
News
Here are a few Summer news stories not covered in other areas of this newsletter. For all our latest news, click here.
31 July 09
Bishop Philip Pargeter's resignation accepted by Pope Benedict XVI
Click for more.
17 July 09
Catholic Parliamentary Internship scheme celebrates fifth anniversary
Click for more.
16 July 09
Archbishop Vincent Nichols writes in The Daily Telegraph on assisted suicide
Click for more.
10 July 09
Catholic Church calls for compassion for suicide victims and their families
Click for more.
Visit our Media Centre.
New Bishop of the Forces
Pope Benedict XVI has announced that Monsignor Richard Moth, currently Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Southwark, will be the next Bishop of the Forces.
Richard Moth served for five years as a Territorial Army chaplain attached to 217 General Hospital RAMC (V).
Bishop-elect Richard will be ordained bishop on Tuesday 29 September 2009.
Click here for the full story.
Click for podcast interview.
Click for images of Mgr Moth on Flickr.
Legislation and Public Policy
Bishops respond to proposed EU Equal Treatment Directive
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, jointly with the Catholic Scottish Bishops' Conference, has submitted a response to a UK consultation on the European Commission's proposal for an Equal Treatment Directive.
The aim of the proposed European Commission Directive is to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation outside the areas of employment and vocational training. The UK Government Equalities Office launched the consultation exercise at the beginning of May; the consultation period closed on 28 July. The results of the consultation will help the UK Government formulate its position as one of 27 Member States negotiating the text, along with the European Commission (its author) and the European Parliament.
Comment on the Debbie Purdy judgment from Archbishop Smith
Archbishop Peter Smith of CardiffArchbishop Peter Smith, Chair of the Bishops' Conference Department of Christian Responsibility and Citizenship and Archbishop of Cardiff, has commented on the Law Lords' decision requiring the Director of Public Prosecutions to publish an offence-specific policy statement clarifying the law on assisted suicide.
"Aspects of this judgement are of concern. We will be studying it with great care and taking expert legal advice about its possible implications. But its immediate effect is limited and should not be overstated. The law prohibiting assistance in suicide remains in force, and there will be no blanket immunity from prosecution. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) will be required to spell out in specific guidance the factors he will consider in deciding whether or not to prosecute in any particular case."
Click for full comment.
Visit our full Coroners' and Justice Bill section.
Visit our Legislation and Public Policy section.
Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE)
Home Mission Sunday and Little Way Week
In service of evangelisation in England and Wales
Home Mission Sunday will be celebrated on 20 September 2009 and is a day of prayer for the spreading of the Gospel in England and Wales.
Advance information and resources about the Sunday will be sent to every parish to coincide with this date. The resources have been created by the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE) and are themed, "They will know Him by the good works that you do". People of all ages are invited to consider how they can witness to their faith through service, being ever aware of the 'little' opportunities that present themselves to explain the reason for their actions - in response to the love of Christ. (1 Peter 3:15). There will be a second collection in support of the work of CASE. Whilst this collection is optional the Agency is part-funded by it and relies on diocesan support.
In October, as a follow up to Home Mission Sunday, a new Catholic mission initiative to promote Home Mission is being launched and resourced, inspired by the life and teaching about the 'little way' of St Thérèse of Lisieux. 'Little Way Week' will run from the 18 - 24 October 2009. As 'Patroness of the Missions', St Thérèse lived by this pathway which is a daily commitment to undertake small tasks with love. The week will start as the national tour of England and Wales of the relics of St Thérèse finishes.
In preparation for the Week resources are being provided to encourage and help Catholics to decide which seven small actions - one a day for a week - they will do to witness to their faith through service. Daily 'Little Way' ideas will be distributed by SMS text message.
More than 270,000 leaflets will be distributed to parishes and religious houses across England and Wales.
For more visit:
Home Mission Sunday
Little Way Week
World Mission Sunday
18th October 2009
The prayers and donations offered on World Mission Sunday help to support churches, hospitals, schools and vocations in countries where the Church is new, young or poor. It is the Catholic Community's chance to show its love and solidarity with its brothers and sisters; to support them in our shared mission of showing the love of God for all. Thanks to World Mission Sunday everyone can join with the whole Church in bringing spiritual and material help to those who need it most.
For more information visit the Missio website.
Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ)
Changing Face of Britain national event at Westminster Cathedral
Saturday, 7 November
Join CARJ on Saturday 7 November to show your support for ethnic diversity and racial justice issues at the national celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Catholic Association for Racial Justice.
CARJ is encouraging people from all the dioceses of England and Wales to participate. As it will be a bright and vibrant celebration of ethnic diversity, if people have a national dress or flag from their country of ethnic origin, they're invited to wear it and bring a flag to wave on the day. People are also invited to bring along their diocesan banners for the procession.
The Changing Face of Britain Coordinator in every diocese can be contacted for further details regarding transport advice and arrangements, as some dioceses will be organising coaches, to bring people from across the diocese, religious communities, schools, inter-denominational, inter-faith and civil society partners. The national celebration will include the Catholic community and people from other Christian denominations, other faith communities, MPs, local government, civic society, NGOs and the media.
For further information on the national celebration please contact:
Rosie Bairwal
Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ)
9 Henry Road, London N4 2LH
020 8802 8080
International
Bishop Patrick Lynch's address to the National Justice and Peace conference on migration
Bishop Patrick Lynch, Chair of the Office of Migration and Refugee Policy at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, addressed the 31st annual National Justice and Peace Conference on migration on 17 July.
His speech was entitled 'Our mission to, with and for migrants today: the context, the principles and the pastoral strategy'.
The Conference was held at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick (from 17-19 July) and the theme was 'On the Road Together, A-mazed by Migration'.
Click for more and to read/download the full text of Bishop Lynch's speech.
Faith in Health
Conference announced for Summer 2010
Following the success of the 2008 Faith in Health conference held at St Mary's University College, Twickenham, there will be a second conference for health and social care professionals in 2010.
Titled Beginnings and endings: Caring for the whole person, the conference will run from 24 to 26 June 2010 at Liverpool Hope University.
For more information email faithinhealth@cbcew.org.uk.
London 2012 Games
Christians united in the arena for More Than Gold
More Than Gold, the churches' 2012 Olympics and Paralympics charity, hosted its Games Engagement Conference at Wembley Stadium on Thursday 16th July 2009.
Around 300 Christian leaders from every denomination, Christian agency and missionary organisation gathered to begin the task of working together to mobilise volunteers, hospitality, community festivals, prayer, performing arts, chaplaincy and sports mission in the lead up to and during the 2012 Games.
See photos from the More Than Gold conference on our Flickr stream.
Liturgy
Cycle of Prayer
Looking ahead to September/October.
Racial Justice Day
Sunday 13 September [2nd Sunday in September]
Home Mission Day
Sunday 20 September [3rd Sunday in September]
World Mission Day
Sunday 18 October [penultimate Sunday in October]
The Harvest
Sunday 27 September [Sunday between 22-28 September]
or whenever Harvest Festivals are held.
Harvest Fast Day
Friday 2 October [1st Friday in October]
Click for more from the Liturgy Office of England and Wales.