Do we need a new public theology?
"There's such a need for good public theology," tweeted Fr Gregory Platten, Vicar of All Saints Church, London, N20. "Increasingly struck by how much theology is written for theologians alone:…
Moral relativity
Death penalty: Pope Francis hasn’t changed the teaching; he just ‘developed doctrine’
One of the more curious aspects of Roman Catholic apologetics is its inability to answer certain specific questions to which it should have ready answers: 1. What is the content of Sacred Tradition? This seems kind of important since Sacred…
If the Pope can honour a pro-abortion activist, why not bless Durex?
It is being widely reported that Pope Francis has bestowed the title of Commander in the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great upon pro-abortion activist Lilianne Ploumen, sometime…
We need to focus on religious literacy – before it’s too late
"For religion to be taken seriously there needs to be an improvement in religious literacy across the media," wrote the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby last year. The context was…
Is it time for a Good News Day?
Let's survey the news today: there's a boycott, a ban, another ban, yet another ban, a blunder, a bereavement, a crisis, a dilemma, sex and drugs, suicide, murder, theft, envy,…
Government to establish ‘Commission for Countering Extremism’ – Be afraid. Be very afraid
"A commission for countering extremism will be established to support the government in stamping out extremist ideology in all its forms, both across society and on the internet, so it…
Same-sex marriage/blessing confronts Church of England with "a structural flaw of fatal proportions"
We have reached Chapter 5 in the great Anglican sexuality saga: 'Church of England parishes consider first step to break away over sexuality'. It isn't clear what the dénouement…
Bastille Day terror: you can't counter Jihad with a Twitter Crusade
Here we go again. You clearly don't need a SIG Sauer MCX semi-automatic rifle or a suicide belt packed with explosives, ball bearings, nails, screws and bolts to massacre…
Tina Beattie, abortion morality, and the Catholic bishops in office but not in power
This is a guest post by Cardinal Mary Clarence. __________________________________ As is now well known, Professor Tina Beattie of Roehampton University and a member of CAFOD’s (Catholic Association for Overseas…
Gender identity and the plastic nature of self-definition
One school in Brighton (Brighton College) has decided to allow its students to decide for themselves whether they wish to dress as a boy or as a girl, irrespective…
Third Sunday of Advent: rejoice in the recognition of Jesus
Today is Gaudete Sunday: into the season of waiting, preparing and expecting, we inject a note of delight and good cheer: 'Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I…
Elizabeth II becomes our longest-reigning monarch – God Save The Queen!
Today, 9th September 2015, sometime around 5.30pm, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II becomes the longest-reigning monarch in British history, beating the record previously set by her great-great grandmother Queen…
Lower than ermine? Why is Ann Widdecombe not in the House of Lords?
One of these is in the House of Lords and oughtn't to be; and one isn't but really, really ought to be. One wonders why. Michelle Mone OBE (left)…
Tweeting the truth in love: Justin Welby affirms an unpalatable article of faith
We have a blogging, vlogging and tweeting Archbishop of Canterbury. He's on Flickr, too. Justin Welby has fathomed that the medium is the message: the social network is the…
Homophobia, Islamophobia and the triumph of ideological 'Truth'
Christianophobia has never really caught on. Perhaps it is a clumsy etymological construction: three syllables before '-ophobia' is at least one phonetic unit too many, and it isn't at…
If we can 'pardon' past convictions for gross indecency, why not heresy?
The Royal Pardon is usually reserved for those who, having once been convicted of a criminal act, are subsequently discovered to have been innocent of the offence and so…
Since when has knowing what lesbians do been a British value?
The task of education is to impart knowledge - especially of that which might develop literacy and numeracy, for without proficiency in words and numbers one may be muted…
Pope Francis moves Rome toward reason and experience
As the headlines of "failure", "setback", "disappointment" and "dismay" spread throughout those parts of world which view just about everything the Church does as a failure or setback, or…
Christians are called to be 'non-violent extremists'
We have been here before. In fact, the illiberal proposal raises its portentous head with such frequency that it feels almost teleologically predetermined. From Labour's assault on "hate speech"…
Politics and Religion at the Conservative Party Conference
Melanie Phillips writes: I chaired a most interesting fringe meeting discussion this lunchtime at the Tory party conference on the intersection between religion and politics. Unfortunately Sajid Javid, the Secretary…