The Hermeneutic of Continuity

It was quite late when I wrote my post yesterday  so I took the trouble this morning to read through the Judgement that was handed down by Lord Justice Munby and Mr Justice Beatson. ( Case No: CO/4594/2010 in the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division Administrative Court.) The case was between Eunice and Owen Johns as claimants, and Derby City Council as defendant, with the Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening on the side of the defendant. The Johns had been deemed by Derby City Council to be unsuitable as foster parents essentially because of their beliefs. These are summarised in the Facts section of the judgement as: "they believe that sexual relations other than those within marriage between one man and one woman are morally wrong." (n.4) They were appealing the decision at the High Court - the appeal failed. One of the crucial paragraphs is n.93 which has been fairly summarised by various newspapers as indicating that laws protecting people ...

The March 2011 issue of The Portal is now online. It features a report of a meeting which Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane had with Cardinal Levada, a report on the ordination of Fr David Silk, and an article about Edward King who was prosecuted under anti-ritualist laws. The crimes of which he was accused included: the use of lighted candles on the altar; facing “eastward”; mixing water and wine in the chalice; reciting the Agnus Dei; making the sign of the Cross in blessing; and making a ceremony of cleansing the Communion vessels after the service. The Ordinary, Fr Keith Newton, writes about Lent for those preparing to be received into full communion at Easter, Joanna Bogle has a piece about Blessed Jermyn Gardiner, the last martyr to die under King Henry VIII, and there is a good series of short answers by Fr Mark Woodruff to common questions and objections raised to the Ordinariate. The screen grab above is from the new Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham Google map...

Experienced foster parents Eunice and Owen Johns have been told today that their beliefs are inimical to the interests of children. They were not willing to say that the practice of homosexuality was a positive thing. The landmark judgement of the High Court means that Christians who hold to traditional Christian moral teaching on sexual ethics are now not considered suitable foster parents in Britian. (See: article by the Christian Legal Centre .) The Judges were obviously concerned to avoid being accused of discriminating against Christians and so they ruled: That there is no religious discrimination against the Johns because they were being excluded from fostering due to their moral views on sexual ethics and not their Christian beliefs It seems that their Lordships want to rule on what we ought to believe as Christians. Andrea Minichiello Williams of the Christian Legal Centre is right when she says that "Britain is now leading Europe in intolerance against religious beli...

Photo credit: Ivane Goliadze at Panoramio On a column near the village of Katschki in West Georgia, not far from the city of Chiatura, a Church was constructed, probably between the 6th and 8th centuries, on the site of a pagan temple. An Orthodox priest, Fr Maxim, has lived in the Church for 18 years. He is quoted as saying: Since I was a child I dreamed of settling on the top of this pillar as other hermits did in ancient times. When I came here with my friends I envied the monk who had lived there long ago – now I am here too I am happy. The Church it is currently being restored by some volunteers. It does look a bit of a mess but I have seen a Church in Cyprus in no better a state and without the need to climb a rusty ladder to get to it. Thanks to the Daily Mail for this extraordinary story: The high church: Chapel that really IS that little bit closer to God . See also the article at the Meglaithic Portal for some more images. Thanks to that site, I got the latitude and...

The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible has been in print for some years. A new edition, the "Anglicized New Revised Standard Version" with the Grail Psalms is to be published on 3 March. (See: Amazon UK ) The Publishers' product description is as follows: A new edition of the Bible aimed especially at Roman Catholics, including both the anglicized Catholic text of the NRSV translation, and the much loved Grail Psalms. For years, Catholics have been waiting for a Bible including both the NRSV Bible and the Grail Psalms. Now, it is here at last. The NRSV is increasingly becoming the most popular translation among Catholics, and it will be used in the new edition of the Lectionary which is coming soon. The much loved Grail Psalms are already in wide liturgical use, and will continue to be. This Bible also includes additional features such as Mass Readings and maps. It is understandable for the publisher to make claims such as "Catholics have been waiting...

The Catholic Truth Society has started a blog called CTS Catholic Compass . One of the first posts was to give information about the cover for the new edition of the Roman Missal in English which will contain the new (corrected) translation of the Latin editio typica . (See:  New Missal's cover explained ) The Greek Cross on the front of the book, and the decorated edges do help to emphasise that this is a book for the Divine Liturgy in which we worship God and beseech Him to sanctify us. I am looking forward to further information about the Missal, and especially the illustrations that have been selected.

Ava is one month old and has contracted meningitis. Her father has asked me to pray for her. I am remembering her in the memento at Mass and will celebrate Mass for her on Monday. Ava's father was happy for me to request prayers here. So please - Rosaries, Masses, Novenas, Divine Mercy chaplet, Holy Communions ... If you are not able to do anything else, please take a moment right now to say a Hail Mary.

Don Paco of the Ite ad Thomam blog, has scanned hundreds of volumes for the Ite ad Thomam Out-of-Print Library . The amazing collection includes many text books would help you to earn that " Unreconstructed Ossified Manualist " mug: there are some real gems there. As well as the works of St Thomas, there is also Mansi's Sacrorum Conciliorum and the entire Dictionnaire de Théologie Catholique to give just a couple of examples. The files come with a request for donations - $10 per file or $500 for the whole collection.

From 9 March to 17 April, people all over the world will be praying and witnessing in a concerted pro-Life effort to bring awareness of the evil of abortion, to bring help and consolation to those who have been drawn into the culture of death, and to unite people who believe in the sanctity of human life 40 Days for Life is an international pro-life initiative which takes place in many locations around the world. It involves prayer, vigils and community action to draw attention to the evil of abortion and to help people to understand the sanctity of human life. In London, there will be a 40 day prayer vigil outside the Bedford Square BPAS clinic. The London group has its own 40 Days for Life blog  giving news about the event. The "Kick-Off Rally" will be on Tuesday 8 March from 7pm-8.30pm. The location for the rally is the northwest corner of Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3HP which is opposite BPAS Clinic. There will be a prayer vigil, followed by a social. You can indic...

The philosophy of forms and the theology of the body have been the focus of the first two talks at the Faith Theological Symposium at Ampleforth. Fr Stephen Boyle this morning looked at some different ways in which Pope John Paul's "theology of the body" audiences have been interpreted, and showed that his emphasis throughout on the problem of concupiscence gives no room for some of the exaggerated ways in which people have spoken about the body. This afternoon, Fr David Barrett will be speaking about St Hilary of Poitiers. He will soon be defending his doctorate on St Hilary so it will be good to hear from him about one of my favourite Fathers. I'm afraid that internet access is a bit restricted since I have to use a computer in the hospitality office (office hours only.) I had to make sure that my Catholic Herald comment got in on time this afternoon. Comment moderation and further blogging will have to wait until tomorrow.

St Conleth's Catholic Heritage have proposed observing a Holy Year for nuns. Here is the text of the post: Following the Holy Year for Priests, it is surely time to pray for consecrated women. Therefore, dear reader, we urge you to ask Ecclesiastical Authorities to dedicate a special year to give thanks to God for Nuns and to pray for Nuns and for more Nuns. What better way to do honour to St. Brigid? Please proclaim an Holy Year for Nuns! Ora pro populo, interveni pro clero, intercede pro devoto femineo sexu! The Latin text of the last line is from the Benedictus antiphon when the office is celebrated of the Blessed Virgin Mary on a Saturday. The full text is: Beata Dei Genitrix Maria, * Virgo perpetua, templum Domini, sacrarium Spiritus sancti: sola sine exemplo placuisti Domino nostro Jesu Christo: ora pro populo, interveni pro clero, intercede pro devoto femineo sexu. O Blessed Mary, Mother of God, perpetual Virgin, temple of the Lord, sanctuary of the Holy Ghost, wi...