Vocations, child protection, the defence of marriage and ‘a preferential option for
the young’: those were amongst the most pressing issues discussed by the Catholic
bishops of England and Wales at their twice yearly meeting which concluded in the
northern city of Leeds on Thursday. Participants at the four day meeting, which opened
on Monday, St George’s Day, heard from the nuncio to Britain, Archbishop Antonio Mennini
and a number of other speakers who outlined some of the key challenges facing the
Church today. As the bishops headed back to their home dioceses, Philippa Hitchen
spoke with the vice president of the bishops’ conference, Archbishop Peter Smith of
Southwark to find out more ...