Correspondence The Chairman had prepared a short summary of points from the last meeting for Archbishop Peter Smith, copied to his own Archbishop Bernard Longley, and also to the Cardinal via his sectary. There had been no acknowledgement, but he hoped to meet with Archbishop Longley and with the Cardinal’s secretary and find out if […]
Tag: same sex marriage
Summary proceedings of the Parliamentary & Public Affairs Committee 8th April 2014
Chairman’s Announcements The chairman welcomed a new member of the committee, Patricia Stoat as per last month’s announcement. Correspondence The chairman referred to a letter to the Daily Telegraph from Jim Dobbin, Sir Edward Leigh and others on the benefits of marriage to society. He noted the government was, belatedly, introducing a modest transferable tax […]
BIshop Egan on Secularism
The following is a text of a lecture given by the Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Rev’d Philip Egan, at KIng’s College London. It is pithy and to the point. Bishop Egan – secularism March 2014
Summary of the Parliamentary & Public Affairs Committee Meeting – 11th February 2014
Chairman’s Announcements David O’Mahony, a CU Council Member, was elected a member of the Committee. Correspondence The chairman had written to Jane Spencer at the Department of Health about the dangers of mitochondrial donations and the lack of an ethical framework. He asked for details of the advice received by the government. He received a […]
Summary of the Parliamentary & Public Affairs Committee 17th December 2013
Chairman’s Announcements Mrs Josephine Robinson, a former Chairman (sic) of the Association of Catholic Women was elected to the Committee. Correspondence A letter had been written to the Prime Minister and the Dept. of Health regarding the proposal to allow the production of embryos with two mothers and one father (hoping to prevent mitochondrial disease […]
Marriage Statistics in the United Kingdom
CU Vice Chairman John Barrie writes: Dear Members It was brought to my attention only yesterday, Monday 9th December 2013, that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has a consultation which expires next Tuesday 17th December 2013, concerning the desirability of merging statistics for same sex couples and for opposite sex couples and for civil […]
Summary of the Parliamentary & Public Affairs Committee 22nd October 2013
Chairman’s Announcements The Committee for 2013-2014 was announced. The Officers of the Committee remain as before, although Angela Gracey has retired and Rosalind Bearcroft, together with Stuart Sexton, is vice chair. There are presently three vacancies and names were sought to fill these. Lord Falconer is now in the Shadow Cabinet so will not be […]
“The Narrow Gate” – A Reflection by the Archbishop of Westminster
Following the passing of legislation regarding same sex marriage, the Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Rev’d Vincent Nichols, has published a reflection on marriage and its true meaning, as well as the Church’s view on civil partnerships and the consequences of same sex marriage. The full text is available here
Summary of the Parliamentary & Public Affairs Committee Meeting 16th July 2013
Chairman’s Announcements An outline report was given of a meeting held in late June between the Catholic Union, represented by Robert Rigby and John Barrie and the Bishops’ Conference, represented by Mgr Marcus Stock and Charles Wookey. During the course of the meeting, it was suggested that the Catholic Union should consult other Catholic bodies […]
Summary of the Parliamentary & Public Affairs Committee, 18th June 2013
Chairman’s Announcements The Chairman congratulated Sir Edward Leigh MP, upon his Knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours earlier in the month. He also mentioned that he had been advised of the names of three Catholic MPs, Paul Maynard, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Sarah Teather whom it would be helpful to invite to PPAC meetings and/or receive […]