Bishops in England and Wales condemn abortion ads on TV

The Catholic Bishops' Conference in England and Wales has condemned TV ads promoting abortion services that recently aired throughout the United Kingdom, charging that the “exploitative promotion” of abortion is not “in the interests of the health or psychological well-being of women.”

Marie Stopes International, a self-described non-profit organization for sexual and reproductive health, will run TV ads for abortion services throughout the U.K. as part of their “Are you late?” campaign which is set to air until June 4.

“We hope the new ‘Are you late?’ campaign will encourage people to talk about abortion more openly and honestly, and empower women to make confident, informed choices about their sexual health,” said Dana Hovig, CEO of Marie Stopes International on May 20.

On Thursday, a spokesperson for the bishops condemned the ads, stating that “services which offer or refer for abortion - whether commercial or not-for-profit organizations - should not be allowed to advertise on broadcast media.”

“Abortion is not a consumer service,” the spokesperson added. “To present it as such erodes respect for life and is highly misleading and damaging to women, who may feel pressured into making a quick decision, which can never be revoked.”

“Moreover, to allow the broadcasting advertising of abortion-referral services is, in effect, to allow the exploitative promotion of these services and is not in the interests of the health or psychological well-being of women.

“The Bishops of England and Wales encourage and support women to make informed choices about their emotional, psychological and physical well-being,” the statement continued, adding that the bishops “support a number of charities which do this, in particular the organization called ‘LIFE’ which offers confidential information, counseling and practical help and support for women contemplating abortion, suffering after pregnancy loss or struggling to cope after abortion.”

John Smeaton, director for the U.K.-based Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), likewise condemned the ad campaign, charging that “Marie Stopes may claim to be a non-profit organization, but they have a financial interest in drumming up demand for abortion.”

Smeaton added that the pro-abortion organization has a history of displaying a “cavalier attitude to obeying legal restrictions regarding abortion, and has been implicated in illegal abortions overseas.”

“Although Marie Stopes claims to be a charity helping women,” he noted, “its huge multi-national revenue means it can afford TV advertising, which is hugely expensive. This creates an unfair playing field, as pro-life groups simply cannot afford any such advertising.”

“Allowing abortion to be advertised on TV will lead to more unborn babies being killed and to more women and girls suffering the after-effects of abortion,” Smeaton underscored. “Abortion ads will trivialize abortion. It is an insult to the hundreds of women hurt by abortion every day. Such ads are offensive and will mislead viewers about the reality of abortion.”

The ads have already been banned in Northern Ireland, where the United Kingdom's Abortion Act of 1967 does not apply.

(CNA)

Welcome

Congratulations to Charlotte Beezer who was received into the church and confirmed at mass on Sunday morning. A big welcome from the whole Parish.

Parish Walking Group

On Saturday the Parish Walking Group enjoyed a great day out in the Lake District. Led by Peter & Sue we walked from Skelwith Bridge via Elterwater to Coniston. We were blessed with wall to wall sunshine the whole day and the English countryside, beautiful at any time of year, is especially stunning in May with lambs in the fields, carpets of bluebells in the woods and the scent of wild garlic all around. After the walk we had time for refreshments in one of Coniston's many cafes, tea rooms or pubs. To end a perfect day we heard the most welcome news of Blackpool's promotion on the bus on the way home!

Our next walk will be on Saturday 19th June.

Guiding in St Wulstan's & St Edmund's Parish

Help needed!

There are Rainbow, Brownie & Guide groups active in our Parish. Guiding is open to any female age 5 or over. We provide a wide range of activities at our weekly meetings and at other events such as days out and camps. We are in need of extra adults to allow us to continue to run these groups. We need ladies aged 18 to 55 who are willing to train as guiders and any other adults willing to be helpers (CRB checks will be required).

If you are able to help please contact Angela Cole.

General Election: A message from the Bishops of England and Wales

Shortly we will be choosing our next Government. It is an important responsibility and all Catholics should use their vote.

There are questions to be asked about the party you are considering voting for, and about the particular candidate. This message sets out some of the considerations we should all have in mind when making those choices. As Bishops we are not advocating any particular political party. That is not our role.

There are limits to what any Government can do on its own. On their own, targets, rules and regulations cannot improve the quality of our shared life. People do that. They do it by choosing the common good rather than pure self interest. We are all responsible and we need to put our moral values to work in a spirit of neighbourliness and mutual support. That is what happens in a crisis, but we need to see it every day as well. We depend on each other. And we need a Government that draws out what is best in all of us, and which aims to serve the common good.

So the fundamental question we each need to ask ourselves in deciding who to vote for is not who will best serve me, but who will best serve the common good of all of us.

This is about restoring trust at the heart of our society: trust in each other and in our institutions to do the right thing by choice, not by constraint.

In early March 2010 we published a pamphlet “Choosing the Common Good” which explores these ideas more fully. We encourage you to study and discuss it. It can be obtained from Alive Publishing or downloaded from catholicchurch.org.uk.

On this link we note some specific issues and questions which we believe are particularly important. We encourage you to ask Parliamentary candidates where they stand on these issues. You will also be able to download this as a PDF.

We also ask you to pray for God’s guidance on the choices we all make, and for His guidance for our future Government and for all those who are called to serve society as Members of Parliament.

(CBCE&W)

How to Live Holy Week

Easter is fast approaching... however it is not too late to prepare yourself spiritually during these last few days of Lent! Here are some tips to help you the make the most of Holy Week:

* Go to Confession: Easter is traditionally the time that Catholics make sure they make a good confession in preparation to receive Communion on Easter Sunday. Click here to read about the need to make an annual confession.
* Attend an Easter Triduum: The Easter Triduum is a series of Holy Week services, beginning on the evening of Holy Thursday, and ending Easter Day, commemorating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here is a beautiful reflection, by Pope Benedict XVI, on the Holy Triduum of Easter in 2009.
* Penance on Good Friday: On Good Friday, Catholics should remember to fast and to abstain from meat. It is also a good idea to commemorate the Lord's Passion on this day, by praying the Way of the Cross at your parish.

A Day in the life of a Priest.

Christianity is not just a matter of moral rules, Pope says at Rome's seminary

Pope Benedict XVI delivered an address to students at Rome's pontifical seminary on Friday evening, February 12, emphasizing that "Christianity is not moralism."

Reflecting on the 15th chapter of St. John's Gospel, the Holy Father said that believers must recognize the great gift of God's grace, and allow the mystery of God's presence to "penetrate our minds and our hearts"-- thus learning to abide in God's love. The next step, the Pope continued, is to recognize how God's grace produces results. "It is not we who must produce this great fruit," the Pope said. God's action-- the divine gift-- precedes human action.

Pope Benedict cited the words of Christ to his disciples: "I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father." Here, the Pontiff explained, God is done something entirely new: "God has allowed Himself to be seen in the face of Christ."

Unfortunately, the Pope observed, many people today still do not know Christ. He asked his audience to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in order to help these people see the face of Christ. In those prayers, the Pope said, it is important to seek not one's own goals but the will of God. Thus, he concluded, prayer involves a "process of slow purification, of liberation from ourselves."

POPE SPEAKS OF FORTHCOMING APOSTOLIC TRIP TO GREAT BRITAIN

At midday today Benedict XVI received prelates from the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, who have just completed their "ad limina" visit.

The Pope noted how, "even amid the pressures of a secular age, there are many signs of living faith and devotion among the Catholics of England and Wales" in which context he mentioned "the enthusiasm generated by the visit of the relics of St. Therese, the interest aroused by the prospect of Cardinal Newman's beatification and the eagerness of young people to take part in pilgrimages and World Youth Days.

"On the occasion of my forthcoming apostolic visit to Great Britain ", he added, "I shall be able to witness that faith for myself and, as Successor of Peter, to strengthen and confirm it. During the months of preparation that lie ahead, be sure to encourage the Catholics of England and Wales in their devotion, and assure them that the Pope constantly remembers them in his prayers and holds them in his heart.

"Your country", the Pope told the bishops, "is well known for its firm commitment to equality of opportunity for all members of society. Yet", he noted, "the effect of some of the legislation designed to achieve this goal has been to impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs".

The Holy Father also urged the prelates "to ensure that the Church's moral teaching be always presented in its entirety and convincingly defended. Fidelity to the Gospel in no way restricts the freedom of others; on the contrary, it serves their freedom by offering them the truth".

"If the full saving message of Christ is to be presented effectively and convincingly to the world, the Catholic community in your country needs to speak with a united voice".

"It is the truth revealed through Scripture and Tradition and articulated by the Church's Magisterium that sets us free", Benedict XVI explained. "Cardinal Newman realised this, and he left us an outstanding example of faithfulness to revealed truth by following that 'kindly light' wherever it led him, even at considerable personal cost. Great writers and communicators of his stature and integrity are needed in the Church today, and it is my hope that devotion to him will inspire many to follow in his footsteps.

"In this 'Annus Sacerdotalis', I urge you to hold up to your priests his example of dedication to prayer, pastoral sensitivity towards the needs of his flock, and passion for preaching the Gospel. You yourselves should set a similar example. Be close to your priests, and rekindle their sense of the enormous privilege and joy of standing among the people of God as 'alter Christus'".

And he went on: "Encourage the lay faithful to express their appreciation of the priests who serve them, and to recognise the difficulties they sometimes face on account of their declining numbers and increasing pressures. ... Help them to avoid any temptation to view the clergy as mere functionaries but rather to rejoice in the gift of priestly ministry, a gift that can never be taken for granted".

The Pope concluded by referring to ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue, calling for generosity "in implementing the provisions of the Apostolic Constitution 'Anglicanorum Coetibus', so as to assist those groups of Anglicans who wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. I am convinced that, if given a warm and open-hearted welcome, such groups will be a blessing for the entire Church".

(VIS)

Emeritus Bishop O'Donoghue - Video Interviews in Retirement

Since Bishop Patrick retireed in May he has been living in the Parish of Bantry in Cork. He recently recorded a few clips with different messages which can be found here.

Education Sunday 2010

Education Sunday takes place on 31 January. The theme for 2010 is Called to Serve.

Message from Bishop Malcolm McMahon

"The elusive factor that often characterises our schools is referred to as ethos. Ethos is a term that is difficult to get hold of. It is expressed in the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural threads that run through the whole of education, the subjects that are taught and the way they are delivered, the way school is managed, the behaviour of the staff and children, the quality of the school dinners, the refereeing on the football pitch. The relationship which the teacher has with the individual pupil or student is usually a unique forum in which the young person is guided in discovery of the truth beyond the bare facts of the subject to that which is Truth itself. An awesome responsibility!

"The teacher in a Catholic School has a special role because for them the child or student is not just a person to be trained for life but someone who has been created by God to reach a fulfilment which is beyond our imaginings. For a person to take on responsibility for our young people and become a teacher is more than finding a job which is personally satisfying, it is to become a partner in God’s plan for a better world."

Bishop Malcolm McMahon,
Chairman, Catholic Education Service for England and Wales

(CCEW)

Ad Limina 2010: Bishops of England and Wales meet with Pope Benedict

Some of you may be aware that the Bishops of England and Wales are currently on their Ad Limina visit at the Vatican. Details of the visit can be found here. But today as i read the Vatican Information Service bulletin i came accross the following:

The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:
Bishop Michael Gregory Campbell O.S.A. of Lancaster.

Thank You

A BIG Thank You to Charlotte O’Halloran, who after many years has handed in her keys to St Edmund’s, which she has been selflessly available to open up and lock up, for all our liturgies. Other demands on Charlotte’s time have inevitably taken over now, but we are very grateful for her many years of loyal service.

Pope blesses lambs, renewing Vatican tradition

In keeping with an ancient tradition, Pope Benedict XVI blessed two lambs on January 21, the feast of St. Agnes. The wool from those lambs will be used to make the palliums that are conferred upon new metropolitan archbishops.

The pallium, a white woolen vestment, is worn by archbishops during liturgical celebrations. Every year on June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Pope presents the pallium to each prelate who has been named as an archbishop during the preceding year. The presentation of the pallium is a symbol of the communion among the metropolitan churches around the world.

The blessing of the lambs is traditionally done on January 21, the feast of St. Agnes-- a 4th-century martyr whose symbol is a lamb. The lambs are raised by Trappist monks, and when they are shorn their wool is woven into the white vestments.

Report of Pope summoning Irish bishops to Rome

The Irish Catholic newspaper is reporting that Pope Benedict has summoned the Irish bishops to Rome to discuss the content of the Ryan and Murphy reports, which examined the abuse of children by priests and religious. The Vatican meetings will reportedly take place on February 15 and 16. Prior to that timme, the Irish bishops will hold an emergency general meeting.

Pope John Paul's would-be assassin released from prison, may face military service

Mehmet Ali Agca, who attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II on May 13, 1981, has been released from a Turkish prison. After spending 19 years in an Italian prison for the attempted assassination, Agca served a 10-year sentence in Turkey for the murder of a journalist.

Mr. Agca has been taken to a military academy to evaluate his readiness for mandatory military service. “Agca is shocked and disappointed that he might be conscripted into military service,” said his attorney. “He says it is against his religious and philosophical beliefs to bear arms. There will also be difficulties in protecting Mehmet Ali Agca’s life where thousands of people carry weapons.”

(CWN)

STATEMENT FROM THE BISHOP OF LANCASTER REGARDING THE EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI

“We have been horrified and saddened by the pictures of mass destruction and human suffering due to the earthquake in Haiti earlier this week. I am sure the Diocese of Lancaster joins me in their thoughts and prayers for all the deceased, the injured and homeless.
We pray that practical help will soon be available to all the distressed in Haiti, and we ask Almighty God to look down with mercy on this nation who have been so grievously afflicted.”

Rt Rev Michael G Campbell OSA
Bishop of Lancaster

Pope's representative to Haiti gives first-hand account of destruction

Speaking with the Vatican's Fides news agency, the Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, described the devastation in the streets of the capital Port-au-Prince. He reported on what he had observed of the situation of religious and government officials in the area and described widespread destruction.

Archbishop Auza stated his observations of the situation in the capital to Fides, saying, "Port-au-Prince is totally devastated. The cathedral, the archbishop's office, all of the big churches, all of the seminaries have been reduced to rubble."

The nuncio said that the resident priest at that cathedral had informed him of the likely death of Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot as he was buried under rubble along with hundreds of priests and seminarians. Other news reports confirmed that the archbishop did pass away in the earthquake.

Auza reported that many government buildings had been razed. All of the Ministry buildings but one were on the ground, as were the Presidential Palace and the schools.

"Parliament with the Senators, the schools with the children, the supermarkets were reduced to nothing," the nuncio stated.

The nuncio had made his way across the city to see the Haitian President and "express his condolences and solidarity" and found that, because they had been outdoors, he and his family had been saved although their home had crumbled.

People who live in front of the collapsed U.N. headquarters had reported to Auza that the head of that mission, Hedi Annabi, was trapped inside with hundreds of others.

The nuncio said that he had returned to his residence later in the morning to find "Priests and Sisters in the street, no longer with homes. The Rector of the seminary saved himself, as did the Dean of studies, but the seminarians are under the rubble. You hear yells everywhere from underneath the rubble."

"The CIFOR (according to Fides, an institute of study for religious men and women) collapsed with students inside that were participating in a conference. The office of the nuncio resisted (the earthquake), there was no one injured, but all of us are in shock!" he said.

"So many things were broken, including the tabernacle, but we are more fortunate than others. Many relatives of the personnel are dead, their houses destroyed. Everyone is asking for help. We will have a problem with water and food before long. We cannot go inside and stay there for very long because the ground continues to shake, so we're camping out in the yard."

(CNA)

Pope visits cardinal injured during Christmas Eve incident

Pope Benedict XVI visited Cardinal Roger Etchegaray in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Friday evening, January 9. Cardinal Etchegaray is recovering from a broken hip that he suffered during the confusion that broke out when a woman leapt over a crowd barrier to confront the Pope during the procession before Mass on Christmas Eve.

After the short conversation, Cardinal Etchegaray—who required a hip replacement—took a few steps to accompany the Holy Father to the door. The French cardinal, who is 87, expected to be released from the hospital next week.

Romance without Regret – Embracing the Virtue of Chastity

In an age in which the media tell young people that they cannot – and need not – control themselves sexually, Jason & Crystalina Evert’s message is challenging, entertaining, encouraging and healing. To get the healthy and correct Catholic perspective on living chastely join them at one of these venues – Sunday 10^th January 7-9pm at Ladyewell Shrine, Fernyhalgh Lane, Fulwood, Preston, or Wednesday 13^th January 7-9pm at The Education Centre, Balmoral Road, Lancaster. To book a place contact Sean & Clare on claremackey@btinternet.com or Tel 07966 087485.