What do you call a country in which abortion rates average around 200,000 a year?

What do you call a country in which abortion inducing pills are as available as sweets?

What do you call a country that deliberately undermines Marriage and encourages divorce?

What do you call a country that actively promotes homosexual behaviour?

What do you call a country that promotes policies that encourage the persecution of the poor and vulnerable?

What do you call a country that far from being able to bring itself to condemn vice, condemns those who do so?

Well, you call that country the United Kingdom. Edmund Adamu, a senior adviser to Archbishop Vincent Nichols has eloquently described the moral condition of the United Kingdom and he has caught the headlines, describing the UK as...


"A selfish, hedonistic wasteland" and "the geopolitical epicentre of the culture of death".
Unfortunately, what has also caught the headlines is that the man he advises, the Archbishop of Westmins…

According to The Guardian, the Church can do nothing right. Even when Her members humbly accept the reality of the abuse scandal of the Irish Church, denounce it publicly and insist that the perpetrators of the crimes face civil justice, the newspaper manages to create another scandal by reading in-between the lines, the words of the new Archbishop. This is the great difference between the World and the Church, you see. When the World sins, the Church calls for mercy, not revenge. When members of the Church sin, the World wants their heads on spikes. It is understandable.
People expect the Bride of Christ to be spotless and pure. People should expect that, perhaps. Yet, the reality of fallen human nature is not lost on priests and religious either. The damage done by those who abused their authority to the lives of those who now suffer as a result is devastating. To the Church, the wound is an open sore. To the World it is a scandal and rightly so. See below, however, at how the Archbi…

Courtesy of CNA

My emphases in yellow, bold...

'Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster is being accused of defying Vatican guidelines on homosexual civil partnerships. In response, he says he is simply trying to defend the “profound human good” of traditional marriage.

“We’ve got to find the ways of speaking to people about the positive values of marriage as it’s always been understood, while not getting boxed off by somehow being accused of being homophobic,” Archbishop Nichols told CNA on Dec. 1 in Rome. [In other words, we have to preach the Gospel without causing anyone any offense.]

“The convictions about marriage mean that this is not something that the Church has invented nor the State has invented. And therefore it is not, as it were, at the disposal of the Church nor the State, if you like, to change,” he said.

The Church believes that marriage is “part of what is best in human nature,” he added.

Archbishop Nichols recently came under fire from some Catholics for the w…

A commenter has asked for more information about the Forum in Religion entitled 'Good Life in Hard Times' at the LSE, at which Archbishop Vincent Nichols will be speaking. Here you go...

'At a London School of Economics 'Forum in Religion' public lecture on Wednesday 2 March 2011, Archbishop Vincent Nichols will be speaking about the importance of religious freedom, and arguing that promoting religious freedom increases our capacity to do good in the public square.He will also be drawing out some implications from Catholic social teaching for a richer understanding of human dignity and the role of the state and the market in serving human needs.To be held at the LSE's Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building at 6.30pm on Wednesday 2 March 2011. the event is free and open to all but a ticket is required. Entry is on a first come, first served basis.Date: Wednesday 2 March 2011
Time: 6.30-8pm
Venue: Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building
Speaker: Archbisho…

The Telegraph has interviewed Archbishop Vincent Nichols in Lourdes...
Standing in the shade of a magnolia tree in the garden of the Gallia Londres, a four-star hotel in Lourdes, Archbishop Vincent Nichols is deep in conversation with two teenagers.They are among a group of 800 pilgrims from the diocese of Westminster whom he has brought with him to the French market town that is home to one of the most important shrines in the Christian world.However, their discussion is devoted not to spiritual questions, but to the forthcoming football season. The Liverpool-supporting archbishop has been trying, unsuccessfully, to persuade the young pilgrims of the error of their ways in following Chelsea.Archbishop Nichols is a rare Church leader, equally comfortable talking about the transcendental as the trivial. It is a different scenario from only a matter of weeks ago, when he was drawn into the child abuse scandal that had engulfed the Irish Catholic Church. Despite condemning the catalogue o…

Updated: By no means a great recording, but here it is...


If you agree with the sentiments of this er, letter-song, sign it in the comments section. I've got the melody but the vocals aren't necessary yet. I've no time to lay the track down at the moment.  If you agree with it, sign it and we'll send it as an email.  It is just a letter that rhymes...well, just about...


Ecclesia Dei/An Open Letter to Archbishop Vincent Nichols

Dear Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Your Grace, We would like to make a plea, today So here it is an open letter We really hope you get it Please help to bring about a change
We're gravely concerned By some issues, Your Grace And we would like you to listen today Holy Church
She needs a mission Some are falling into schism Put these heretics please back in their place
Because this is the Ecclesia Dei Ah yes and this is what you need to say, say: “Holy Church is a Hospital for sinners, Our Lord didn’t come for winners But She’s also the School for Saints”
Yes, He…

Archbishop Vincent Nichols has defended the teaching of the Church, appealing for Catholics to take a stand against the Government's plan to allow abortion ads on TV. Elena Curti take note, the new Archbishop may be media savvy, but at least that means Church teaching gets into the papers.Frankly, I don't care what his motives are. He can become Pope as far as I'm concerned, as long as he's teaching the Magisterium of the Church.

Courtesy of Times Online

The new Archbishop of Westminster wants the 4.2 million Roman Catholics in England and Wales to take a stand against proposals to allow abortion services to advertise on television and radio.

The Most Rev Vincent Nichols, who will be installed as the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales next month, is also calling for protests against any relaxation of the rules on condom advertisements.

Last month, in an attempt to cut Britain's soaring teenage pregnancy rate, the Committee of Advertising…

In an 11th hour bid to rescue the institution of marriage from destruction, Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, this week labelled as 'criminally insane' by liberal moderate Nick Clegg, is in dialogue with the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow and is said to have asked for 'reinforcements' in the battle for marriage.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow said of the move, "The Archbishop and I had a mutually respectful dialogue over strategies that could be put in place to restore good sense in the marriage debate in England. One idea that has been floated is that of using the influence the Orthodox Church has with Vladimir Putin to apply diplomatic and international pressure on London."

The option remains - and is yet to be ruled out - for Russia to turn her nuclear warheads on Westminster in a last ditch attempt to save the institution treasured by Churches in East and West alike. Both men feel that in order to save marriage - therefore civilization - the risk…

It is saddening to hear this from The Catholic Herald...

'The High Court has ruled that the Diocese of Westminster acted lawfully over the appointment of trustees to a prominent west London Catholic school.The Court of Appeal handed down a majority judgment (full text) about the governing body of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School today, ruling that the Diocese of Westminster acted within the law when it refused to re-appoint two parents as foundation governors. The judges also ruled that the appointment of Paul Barber, the diocesan education director, to the schools’ governing body was legal.The Vaughan Parents’ Action Group described the judgment as disappointing.'
The whole affair leaves a rather bitter taste in the mouth, doesn't it? Can it really be that there are 'victors' in the Diocesan camp rejoicing over the outcome of this Court dispute? Is Oona Stannard wearing an even wider grin today than she was in that photograph with archetypal political villain,…

"What was the First Commandment again?" I'm joking, of course. I understand the spiritual leader of Catholics in England and Wales was not actually worshipping a strange god. However, I prefer the Benedictine method of inter-faith dialogue..."Hey, pagans! Come to Papa!"

That said, I'm not sure Rome is going to like this. Let's write and tell them about it before the Ad Limina Apostolorum in January. Here's Archbishop Vincent Nichols's speech. As one commentator on Damian Thompson's blog mentioned, Our Blessed Lord is conveniently omitted from the ecumenical hand of friendship engagement.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols – visit to the Hindu Mandir Neasden
21 November 2009

Dear brothers and sisters,

Let me thank you first of all for the generous invitation and warm welcome that I have received in your unique and beautiful Mandir. I thank your spiritual leader, Sadhu Yogvivek Swami and the trustees of the Mandir for their invitation, especially as it fa…

The Telegraph reports that Archbishop Vincent Nichols is concerned that vuvuzelas, blamed for ruining the usual respectful silence of football matches, could be used during the Papal Visit to the UK. Tatchell, Hitchens, Fry and Dawkins have apparently all responded by letter to the Archbishop, saying, "Thanks Archbishop! Great idea!"

'Although himself an avid football fan, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, is worried that the forthcoming Papal visit could be marred by vuvuzelas. "I have had enough of them already," says the Archbishop of Westminster. "I hope they stay in South Africa. Personally, I think the football would be more enjoyable without this constant cacophony." He is concerned that some people have got into the habit of using the plastic horns during the World Cup in South Africa and might not be able to resist using them when Pope Benedict XVI, pictured, addresses crowds in Britain. T…

(Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)

May God grant his Grace widsom, piety, zeal for Christ and His Church and make the message of Salvation known to the whole land. Click here for the installation on BBC in I-player which is available soon. I watched the 'second half' live, with obligatory commentators.

The Mass was very beautiful and full of tender moments, such as the handover from Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor. The Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Faustino Sainz Munoz, gave the Apostolic Blessing of Pope Benedict XVI in a fine speech. Cardinal Cormac gave a speech wishing his successor all the best in a somewhat more informal and jovial manner.

The music was excellent and the Te Deum Laudamus at the end was sublime. Packed Cathedral. Great BBC coverage, when all is said and done. Beautiful camera-angles which really brought home the majesty of Westminster Cathedral. It was a nice touch that he prayed at the Tomb of Cardinal Hume. As well as that, I'd have liked to have seen him pra…

According to new reports, outspoken Bishops of England and Wales are to face the prospect of G4S tagging and 24-hour satellite surveillance as more of the Conference come forward to declare their reticence to endorse 'same-sex marriage' or to remain silent on the issue - even daring to voice opposition.

Readers will notice how both of the dangerous personalities pictured above have 'hook' type accessories in close proximity to their arms.  This is because they both constitute a threat to national security. The level is currently a shade between orange and red, but looks like red.

This is it.

REAL THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY
But the question is: are they equally as dangerous?

Are they equally as dangerous?

The Sun newspaper reported just two days ago that 'dangerous criminals' are to be tracked from space and monitored 24-hours a day. Some are worried that once certain views are criminalised then that person could be you and that if you don't agree with what …

I thought it was worthwhile revisiting this now infamous interview with BBC's HARDtalk in the light of the survey on how Humanae Vitae has been received by the laity, since Bishops decided to stop teaching it in 1968.
S. And yet you and the Pope are sticking to a deeply traditional, small "conservative" line. Therefore the disconnect between the general population and the Roman Catholic church appears to be getting wider. Does that not worry you?

N. Well no, what would worry me more frankly is to try and refashion a message simply to suit a time. I think there is if you like a critical distance to be held between how the church struggles to understand a revealed truth and how a society is moving. If they're too close there's no light. If they're too far apart there's no light.

S. There's no church. If they're too far apart frankly there's no church.

N. There might be no church. That's true.

S. There'll be nobody in the pews.

N.…

I found this video on the YouTube channel of someone called JackValero500. The video is of His Grace, Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, answering questions after a lecture given by His Grace at the Thomas More Institute. It was at this lecture that His Grace described as 'mischievous' those miscreants who had misunderstood the nuanced position that His Grace adopted on Civil Partnerships. I agree with His Grace that the whole Church must now move on (because to keep going back to His Grace's nuanced view on Civil Partnerships is embarrassing for us all) and resist Government plans to change the definition of marriage.

I am interested by His Grace's advice. At one point in the video, His Grace seems to say that it is the role of the laity to ensure that every MP knows the Catholic position and therefore their constituent's position on this vital moral issue of the day. Archbishop Vincent Nichols suggested that it was important for the Bishops to 'do th…