Decline in RC Numbers

This should concern us all, because they are not the only mainline denomination this is happening to. How to stem the flow needs a complex answer, but we should ask ourselves how do we attract people to the priesthood/minisrty? And more importantly, is God telling us something and we are not listening?

I'm Back

Well it's not as if I have been away, but what with having had a twenty-four hour flu bug and what with busying around helping prepare for Christmas it does feel like that.Of course in the meantime we have seen Nick Clegg declare his agnosticism and Tony Blair become a Roman Catholic. Contentious subjects, but at the risk of taking an unusal stand for a Christian I have no problem with a political leader being an agnostic or athiest. Well I admit I would rather they were Christian, but equally I prefer to judge them first on their capabilities and ability to do their job, and would prefer them to any candidate who talked the talk but didn't walk the walk, so to speak.As for Blair becoming a Roman Catholic! Well his record in the past seems to be contradictory, but still, one sinner who repenteth eh.

Paul Burgin
(Jt CPF Co'Ordinator)

Church, Gays, and IVF

Its a tough issue, and I mentioned how I have felt about this here, but this does need careful consideration, it is important to recognise the need for both male and female role models in a childs life, and it should be held to a free vote in the House of Commons.

Paul Burgin (Jt CPF Co'Ordinator)

Vatican Start Performance Related Pay!

One can see the merits of this, but is this what the Church should be doing? As the much used phrase goes, "What would Jesus do?"

Priest convicted of involvment in Argentina's Dirty War, Thirty Years Ago

As a non Roman Catholic I have wondered how awful it must be for a priest to remain silent on some of the things said to him in the confessional box. However, in these circumstances, given the regime involved and given the strict rules of confession within the Roman Catholic Church, I don't know how this priest can sleep at night!

Paul Burgin
(Jt CPF Co'Ordinator)

Catholics Vs Amnesty International

This is one of those arguments which is risky to get involved with because it is very emotive, although that shouldn't really stop anyone.
If there is something at the core of Catholic teaching and in Amnesty's mission it's the sanctity of human life and the right for human beings to live in dignity and love, this is a Catch 22 situation for some. On one hand it is an experience too horrible for words for a woman to find she is pregnant as a result of being raped. On the other there is the value of human life even when it is in the womb.
There are no hard and fast solutions as such and it's one we all need to hold in prayer and deal with in a sensitive and thoughtful manner