| The virtuous way out of crisis Free Although the main political parties are close in many areas of policy, the forthcoming general election is clearly regarded by the Catholic bishops of England and Wales as a watershed, and therefore as a suitable moment for some national stocktaking. ... | Downsizing the BBC |
|
Features
 Peace through common humanityIgnatius KaigamaSectarian violence in the city of Jos in central Nigeria has left up to 1,000 dead over the last decade. In the latest outbreak last month, at least 300 people were killed. Here, the Archbishop of Jos identifies the causes of the unrest and makes a powerful case for continuing his dialogue with Islamic leaders... | Alive in usDaniel McCarthyForgiveness is a gift freely received and to be given freely. Lenten practices help us to mature in our way of life by cultivating humility before God and service towards our neighbour. When love of God and neighbour are fully integrated, we start to love as God loves us in Christ...
|
Against celibacyHans KüngThe Church in Germany and in Ireland is engulfed in a clerical sex-abuse scandal. The leader of the German Church maintains that abuse has nothing to do with clerical celibacy, homosexuality or church teaching. Here a leading Catholic theologian refutes these claims ...
| Blueprint for a good lifeThis week the Catholic bishops of England and Wales released their pre-election document, ‘Choosing the Common Good’, written in the light of Catholic Social Teaching and the key issues that affect life in contemporary Britain. Here we publish edited extracts...
|
Everyone has a part to playClare WardLater this year, Pope Benedict XVI will visit Great Britain, and the spotlight will be on the Catholic Church with far more intensity than usual. Parishes are here invited to consider how they can prepare for the visit and witness to the joy of the faith...
|  Joined-up thinkerMichael J. SandelPhilosopher Michael Sandel, one of the main inspirations behind Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, was in London last week meeting a community organisation. He spoke to James Roberts about democracy, justice and solidarity... |
‘A variety of ways of belonging’Christopher LambLast weekend saw the publication of major research into the attitudes of young Catholics and their faith. The findings unveiled at a national congress on youth ministry pose major challenges for the Church but also some reassurance`...
| Struggle for resolutionTom WrightTom Wright continues his series of Lenten reflections based on the Psalms with an
examination of the dissonant undertow encountered on the Easter journey...
|
|
|
|
Columnists
 Christopher Howse‘Teaching the Hail Mary to your daughter would doubtless be grounds for her to be taken into care’  Clifford Longley‘The mood in the Westminster village is not changing as fast as that in the country’
|
Books and arts
Laudanum, Fantasy, friendship Free
The English Opium Eater: a biography of Thomas De Quincey
Robert Morrison
The story of Thomas De Quincey and his friend Ann of Oxford Street is one of the most haunting episodes in his memoir Confessions of an English Opium Eater. The stubborn young runaway, ... |
|
|
|
Can the Church support abuse victims on its own terms?
Elena Curti
The clear message that emerged from the symposium on child sexual abuse held in Rome from ... Is the Church too slow in recognising that academies are the future for Catholic schools?
Christopher Lamb
According to the chairman of governors at the Cardinal Vaughan School, west London, one ... Goodwin the scapegoat
Elena Curti
There was an old Sixties TV series, Branded, about a disgraced soldier that always began ...
|
|
