Click on the links (above) for other pages of information.
Extract from the prophetic words of Cardinal John Henry Newman, the famous ‘Biglietto Speech’ given in Rome when he was about to be made a Cardinal by Pope Leo XIII
Liberalism in religion is the doctrine that there is no positive truth in religion, but that one creed is as good as another, and this is the teaching which is gaining substance and force daily. It is inconsistent with any recognition of any religion, as true. It teaches that all are to be tolerated, for all are matters of opinion. Revealed religion is not a truth, but a sentiment and a taste; not an objective fact, not miraculous; and it is the right of each individual to make it say just what strikes his fancy. Devotion is not necessarily founded on faith. Men may go to Protestant Churches and to Catholic, may get good from both and belong to neither. They may fraternise together in spiritual thoughts and feelings, without having any views at all of doctrine in common, or seeing the need of them. Since, then, religion is so personal a peculiarity and so private a possession, we must of necessity ignore it in the intercourse of man with man. If a man puts on a new religion every morning, what is that to you? It is as impertinent to think about a man's religion as about his sources of income or his management of his family. Religion is in no sense the bond of society.
Hitherto the civil Power has been Christian. Even in countries separated from the Church, as in my own, the dictum was in force, when I was young, that: "Christianity was the law of the land". Now, everywhere that goodly framework of society, which is the creation of Christianity, is throwing off Christianity. The dictum to which I have referred, with a hundred others which followed upon it, is gone, or is going everywhere; and, by the end of the century, unless the Almighty interferes, it will be forgotten. Hitherto, it has been considered that religion alone, with its supernatural sanctions, was strong enough to secure submission of the masses of our population to law and order; now the Philosophers and Politicians are bent on satisfying this problem without the aid of Christianity. Instead of the Church's authority and teaching, they would substitute first of all a universal and a thoroughly secular education, calculated to bring home to every individual that to be orderly, industrious, and sober, is his personal interest. Then, for great working principles to take the place of religion, for the use of the masses thus carefully educated, it provides—the broad fundamental ethical truths, of justice, benevolence, veracity, and the like; proved experience; and those natural laws which exist and act spontaneously in society, and in social matters, whether physical or psychological; for instance, in government, trade, finance, sanitary experiments, and the intercourse of nations. As to Religion, it is a private luxury, which a man may have if he will; but which of course he must pay for, and which he must not obtrude upon others, or indulge in to their annoyance.
A newspaper for the Islamic community in Birmingham urges the Muslim population to get into the Pope’s Mass “to tell the Pope just what they think of him after his insults against the Prophet Mohammed… to challenge these evil words of this evil Pope…”
MP Khalid Mahmood fears that this call may be an incitement to violence.
Pray for the Holy Father, that he will be welcomed by all men of good will. The Pope makes every effort to meet with inter-faith and ecumenical groups during his Apostolic Visits
The official investigations into the Catholic Church in Ireland, announced by the Holy Father a few months ago, are to begin in the Autumn. Every diocese, religious house and establishment will be investigated. The investigating teams will be led by: Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor (retired Abp.of Westminster) for Armagh; Cardinal O’Malley (Abp.of Boston) for Dublin; Arch-bishop Collins (of Toronto) for Cashel & Emly; Arch-bishop Prendergast (of Ottowa) for Tuam. Pray for healing and renewal.
Cardinal O’Brien and church leaders all over the UK invite Christians to sign a ‘Declaration of Christian Conscience’ to state
WE BELIEVE
That protecting human life, protecting marriage, and protecting freedom of conscience are foundational for creating and maintaining strong families, caring communities, and a just society.
WE INVITE
Christians of all denominations who subscribe to the historic Christian faith to sign the Westminster 2010 Declaration of Christian Concience.
WE CALL
Upon all parliamentary candidates to pledge that they will ‘respect, uphold and protect the right of Christians to hold and express Christian beliefs and act according to Christian conscience’.
Sign up in the Church Porch today, or online. For further info see www.westminster2010.org.uk
Sacramentum Caritatis
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20070222_sacramentum-caritatis_en.html#Actuosa_participatio
Sacrosanctum Consilium
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html
Caritas in Veritate
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate_en.html
Spe Salve
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html
Deus Caritas Est
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est_en.html
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