Pastoral priorities for the Church in England and Wales
In the northern English city of Leeds, Catholic Church leaders have just concluded
a plenary meeting looking at how to become more effective players on the national
stage, striving to bring Christian values to the heart of a very secular society.
At the four day encounter, held at the picturesque Hinsley Hall pastoral centre, discussions
focused on encouraging lay and religious vocations within the Catholic community,
on supporting the growing numbers of poor and vulnerable in Britain today, on advocating
for peace and justice in the Holy Land, but also on the latest revelations of sexual
abuse at Ealing Abbey in London and - last but not least - on celebrations next year
to mark Queen Elisabeth’s diamond jubilee. To take a find out more, Philippa Hitchen
spoke with the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Vincent Nichols
of Westminster…