The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy in England and Wales has welcomed the statements in the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia concerning “the unchanging teaching of Christ and His Church regarding marriage, the family, and human sexuality”.
The group of priests and deacons said in a statement: “Our members are heartened that the exhortation calls for a return to the wisdom of Humanae Vitae, defence of the ‘inalienable rights’ of the unborn child, re-affirmation of the role of parents as the primary educators of their children, and warning of an encroaching ‘gender ideology’.”
The confraternity was founded in Britain in October 2010, in response to the state visit to Britain of Pope Benedict XVI, “for the sanctification and support of priests, and in promotion of priestly life, holiness and mission by fidelity, formation and fraternity”. There are groups in America, Australia and Ireland as well as Britain. Before the family synod all four groups pledged their “unwavering fidelity” to the traditional Church teaching on marriage and sexuality, stressing “the importance of upholding the Church’s traditional discipline regarding the reception of the sacraments, and that doctrine and practice must remain firmly and inseparably in harmony”.
The statement on Amoris Laetitia mentioned those “in irregular unions” and “in problematic marital circumstances” as a particular focus of pastoral concern, who “need to be brought closer to Christ and his Church … without losing sight of the fact that certain situations constitute objective and public states of sin”.
The statement ends: “The Church’s pastors must never neglect the call to repentance, and the need to avoid scandal which would cause the weak to fall, while accompanying their people with kindness and understanding.”
Catholic charities ‘hit hard by local government cuts’
Catholic charities have been hit by cuts in local government funding, and because of parish decline they are no longer able to rely on volunteers, according to a report published this week by the religion and society think tank Theos.
The long-running sex abuse scandal in the Church has had “a significant negative impact” on Catholic charities – but this has been countered by “the Francis factor”, the popularity of the current Pope.
The result of financial cuts is that social action charities have to work with fewer resources “on an ever-expanding range of issues previously under the remit of local government or other agencies”.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, praised the report for highlighting “how Catholic charities are called to imitate Christ in their work with the vulnerable and marginalised”.
The report covered six charities: Apostleship of the Sea, Caritas Archdiocese of Birmingham, Father Hudson’s Care, Retrouvaille, the St Vincent de Paul Society and Worldwide Marriage Encounter. The report found that all six were strongly committed to Catholic social teaching on social justice and family life.
Rise in Old Masses over Easter
There has been a record rise in numbers attending Extraordinary Form Masses over Easter, according to the Latin Mass Society.
Across Britain more than 200 older form Masses, celebrated according to the 1962 Missal, took place over Holy Week. These included Easter Sunday Masses at both Norwich and Portsmouth cathedrals. The LMS said attendance in major parishes such as Warrington and Preston were up by at least 20 per cent from last year.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.