Inter-Religious Dialogue - Giving Reasons for the Hope You Have

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15
It seems a long time now since the Holy Father was will us, but the memory of his joyful presence is very much still alive in our hearts. I had a truly blessed time with my family watching Pope Benedict's visit on Sky News, and attending the Mass at Cofton Park, where John Henry Newman was beatified.
On my way back to London from Birmingham after the Pope's visit, I took a taxi from my parents home to the train station. The taxi driver was Muslim and he asked me if I usually make this early trip to the station. I told him that I had been visiting my family, and had come to welcome the Pope, who had been beatifying an Englishman called John Henry Newman. He was very inquisitive, so I talked for the whole journey about the Pope and Newman. I talked about Deacon Sullivan's miracle which was a result of Newman's intercession. He asked me lots of questions, enquiring what the miracle was, and what beatification meant.
It was a moment of mutual respect between faiths, a friendly conversation was exchanged between us both. I dont think he will neccessary decide to become Catholic from our conversation, but I enjoyed sharing my faith with him and the joy I had seeing the Pope in England beatifying Cardinal Newman.

James Coulborn

The Post Papal Visit Era

We are now in the aftermath of the Papal visit.

I was not born when Pope John Paul II came to these shores, but even now people still talk about it. I am very sure that in 30 years time I will still remember this visit. I feel it is a duty for us to remember it, to take from it all that Pope Benedict XVI came to give us. He came to call us all to be saints, to stand up for what we believe. To stop the ever incresing tide of aggressive Atheism and Secularisation of England, which is, after all, Our Lady's Dowry. When he was at Westminster Abbey he very deliberately spoke of St Thomas More who died for the faith, At Hyde Park he told us we must all follow our Vocation to sainthood and at Cofton Park he extolled the virtues of Cardinal Newman. Now I say it is time to take up the banner once and for all. To fight the persecution which is, sometimes subtly, all around us. To stop abhorrent practices such as Abortion, Euthanasia and contraception, to be united in our Faith and be proud of it.

Who's with me?

Conor Carroll

Woad-Painted Savage Meets the Pope in London

Boris Johnson describes his feelings on the "honour and privilege" of being asked to meet the Pope at Heathrow:

"I felt like a woad-painted savage suddenly confronted by an effulgent vision from Rome and called upon to explain the religious back-sliding of the tribe. "

I think that just about sums up the moral situation of London society in 2010.

As Frodo found out when he sat down to eat with Captain Faramir, real holiness in another brings out the sense of the barbarian in oneself. Some will be moved to conversion by this realisation. We could pray Boris (baptised a Roman Catholic) is one of them.

The Good Shepherd Provides Good Shepherds

A tale of three shepherds.

The first is Canon James Morrow, RIP, who died this morning. A great pro-life Priest who would probably have been willing to lay down his life for the Pope. And maybe he did, since he began his calvary as the Pope arrived in Scotland to media vitriol. Please pray for the repose of his soul.

The second is Fr Stephen Langridge, Parish Priest Extraordinaire who has distributed is it 6,000, is it 9,000(?) tickets for Hyde Park. An island of sanity in a mad beaurocratic nightmare, whatever the figures we reckon he and his team responsible for about 10%of the Hyde PArk Vigil attendees being able to get tickets. Fr Langridge for Bishop.

The third is Pope Benedict XVI. He has won over the most vitriolic commentators and silenced many others. Not through a "charm offensive" just through courage, truth and love.

Thanks be to God for so many good shepherds in a world of wolves.

Pope Arrives to Great Joy and the Media Struggle to Find the Nay-Sayers

The poor BBC. They do their best to find someone, anyone, who doesn't appreciate the Pope's teaching on moral issues or who wants to protest against his visit. But time after time they find Catholics who are just delighted he is here and happy to accept his words. My favourite is the mother of baby Maria who Pope Benedict kissed. "What does this mean to you?" asked the reporter. "It means I have to make changes in my life. It means she has been blessed by the Pope and now I must have her Christened." The reporter probes further, asking if as a young catholic Marzena finds it difficult to accept the Pope's teaching on moral issues. No she relies if something is good he says so, if something is bad he says so. He makes things very clear.

Oh well, here's wishing you worse luck next time BBC. Cheers!

Clare McCullough

He Can't Wait And Neither Can We!

I can't wait to undertake my trip to the United Kingdom in a week's time and I send heartfelt wishes to the people of Britain.

Pope Benedict XVI

Quoted in The Telegraph 9the September 2010

Be There to Support the Pope!

The Papal visit is now just over 6 weeks away. I haven’t seen any real mention of it in the secular media for a little while. Perhaps it is the calm before the storm. We have to expect the “storm” to come and be ready for it. This is the time to witness to our faith, and the time to become modern day martyrs in defence of our faith and our spiritual father, Pope Benedict XVI.

In the next couple of months friends and work colleagues will naturally talk about the Pope coming. They will probably complain about the cost of his visit and possibly bring up the abuses and blame the Pope for (as the media have portrayed it) trying to cover them up. This is possibly the best natural opportunity to evangelise and witness to our faith that we may ever get. Let's make sure we do not miss out. Take advantage of these conversations. Let your colleagues know your beliefs and why you have them. Defend the Pope and Catholicism. Invite them to listen to, or watch, the Pope, or at least try to convey his message to them yourself.

But most importantly show your support for the Pope. Go and see him and listen to him. This is the first time in 28 years a Pope has been to England, and the first State visit to England of a Pope ever. It doesn’t happen very often, so let's make sure we can look back with good memories, because we have done our bit to make his trip as successful as possible.

Conor Carroll
(P.S. There are still parishes with spare tickets. Ask around before they are all gone! Editor)