tagged articles with: family

Future of Catholic weddings in Britain in doubt, MPs and Peers told

THE future of Roman Catholic weddings in England and Wales is now in doubt because of David Cameron’s gay marriage bill, the church’s chief legal adviser on the issue has disclosed. Prof Christopher McCrudden said that there are serious questions over whether the 120-year-old legal basis on which 8,500 Catholic weddings a year are performed can even “survive” the passage of the bill currently before Parliament.

New Archbishop of Canterbury challenges David Cameron on gay marriage

The new Archbishop of Canterbury will issue a challenge to David Cameron by voicing opposition to gay marriage on the eve of the first parliamentary vote on the controversial new law. In his first official day as leader of the Church of England, the Rt Rev Justin Welby is expected to say that marriage should remain “between a man and a woman”.

The Marriage Debate: the nature of things

A proposal to change this truth about marriage in civil law is less a threat to religion than it is an affront to human reason and the common good of society. It means we are all to pretend to accept something we know is physically impossible. The Legislature might just as well repeal the law of gravity.” 

Anti-gay marriage protesters march in Paris

Thousands converge on Eiffel Tower to protest against François Hollande's plan to legalise gay marriage and adoption. Demonstrators take part in a protest against gay marriage in Paris that was strongly backed the Catholic church. 

Same-sex marriage could threaten religious freedom in England.

More than 1,000 priests have signed a letter voicing alarm that same-sex marriage could threaten religious freedom in a way last seen during “centuries of persecution” of Roman Catholics in England.

Focus on conflict in Papal speech to diplomats

Benedict strongly appealed for an end to the bloodshed in Syria saying that the conflict will “know no victors but only vanquished if it continues.” He called on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to “commit themselves to peaceful coexistence within the framework of two sovereign states,” a solution which remained far from reality in 2012.

Gay marriage: Catholics urged to write to MPs

The leader of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales has urged parishioners to write to their MPs “as soon as possible” urging them to block the Government’s same-sex marriage plans. 

UK high on OECD's family breakdown table

The UK has one of the highest rates of family breakdown in the Western world, with just 68.9% of children living with both parents, research suggests. The UK comes fourth in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s table, behind Belgium, Latvia and Estonia.

Feast of the Holy Family: The Heart of the Church

On the Sunday after the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas, we consider the family.  Now when we hear the title of the celebration, the Feast of the Holy Family, we are inclined to just dismiss the possibility that our families can be like the Holy Family.

Politicians face 'test of civilisation' over elderly care, says Archbishop

POLITICIANS will fail a “fundamental test of civilised society” if they do not find a solution to funding care for the elderly, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales had warned.

Don’t use marriage as a ‘political football’, Archbishop tells George Osborne

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has warned George Osborne against a “foolish” attempt to use marriage as a “political football”.

French Catholic Church pro-marriage prayer provokes gay rights row

Roman Catholic congregations in churches across France prayed for traditional marriage on Wednesday, provoking accusations of homophobia from gay rights groups as Paris prepares to legalize same-sex matrimony.

Story of sisters who help victims of family violence becomes a documentary

The congregation of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd have launched an initiative to support women and children experiencing domestic abuse. The numbers are shocking. In Taiwan in 2008 alone there were 75,438 cases known to the government, in 2009, the number rose to 83,728, in 2010 98,720

Sally Read: Outfoxed by God

For almost all of her 40 years, a Suffolk-born psychiatric nurse-turned published poet and passionate atheist felt little but contempt for Catholicism. But then, in less than a year, after a springtime epiphany she was received into the Church. This is her journey.

Will it be grandparents who save the faith?

“The faith of our forefathers is hanging in the balance, especially in the western world. Grandparents have a special role to play in passing it on to their grandchildren. If we don’t act now, it may be too late, as quite often our own children have little knowledge of the faith. I truly believe that grandparents are being called at this moment in history.

Korea: Thousands protest against abortion

Participants urged the government to abolish Article 14 of the Mother and Child Health Act, which was passed in 1973, saying the clause encourages women to have abortions. According to Article 14, abortion can be performed in cases of pregnancy by rape or incest, certain kinds of genetic, mental, or physical conditions, or danger to the mother’s health. 

The benefits of family-oriented policies

An Expert Group Meeting on “Good Practices in Family Policy Making”, will be held in New York from 15 to 17 May 2012. The main issues to be discussed will be family policy making, work-family balance, recent trends in family poverty and social exclusion, anti-poverty family-focused policies, as well as social integration and intergenerational solidarity.

Teaching Your Kids To Cook

Angela, our North East England reporter, writes: "This is a good follow-on article to the one about Food Banks Goggossip puplished recently. It touches on the ways that family life has changed in our own lifetime. A very good video with Jamie Oliver, the English chef, explores the dangers of modern day eating habits in both America and England.

Church leaders ready to fight for traditional marriage

International Women's Day

International Women's Day (8 March) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day.

Anglican Archbishop says “Cameron is a dictator if he says yes to gay marriage”

In March the British government will start an in depth consultation on gay marriage and PM David Cameron has already declared he wants it to be an important part of his mandate. But now it is not just the Catholic Church protesting to the English government against gay marriage. The Anglican Archbishop of York John Sentamu also warned David Cameron: “Do not legalize gay marriage.”

An Adopted Boy's Immigrant Dream: To sail Home to Ethiopia.

In Italy, an otherwise happy 13-year-old Ethiopian boy set out last week from his adoptive home with perilous plans to journey by land and sea back to Africa. He headed south, adrift for five days in southern Italy, but ultimately didn't get too far.

Fruits of family prayers seen in children

Though praying as a family normally involves at least one parent and the children, and sometimes with elderly relatives such as grandparents joining in, some little ones can easily carry out the practice even in the absence of the senior family members as long as the habit has been instilled in them.

Holy Family, an Icon of the Domestic Church

The family is the first school of prayer where, from their infancy, children learn to perceive God thanks to the teaching and example of their parents. An authentically Christian education cannot neglect the experience of prayer.

US marriages slump to record low

Barely half of Americans - a record low - are currently married, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Census data. Just 51% of adult Americans are married, compared with 72% in 1960.

The Question of God in Today's World

 The Pontifical Council for the Laity is currently celebrating its twenty-fifth plenary assembly on the theme: "The Question of God in Today's World".Turning his attention to World Youth Day, Benedict XVI said: "An extraordinary cascade of light, joy and hope illuminated not only Madrid, but also Europe and the entire world, clearly re-establishing the importance of seeking God in today's world."

Girls' School Association head condemns 'moral abyss'

 Girls are growing up in a "moral abyss" where being  dressed in "mini-me" sexy clothing and wearing make-up is acceptable, a schools leader has said.

Crowded Earth: how many is too many?

 On October 31, the world's population is officially scheduled to hit seven billion -- a rise of two billion in less than a quarter century. Over six decades, the global fertility rate has roughly halved, and amounts to a statistical 2.5 children per woman today. "Despite alarmist predictions, historical increases in population have not been economically catastrophic," notes David Bloom, a professor in the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard.

Movie on importance of fatherhood wows at box office

“There is an opportunity for fathers to step up in our culture and take more of a spiritual role and to affirm and love their kids and to prepare them for what should be a Godly legacy among families,” Alex Kendrick, actor and director for “Courageous,” said.

Second chances: Remarriage and the Eucharist

Whether divorced and remarried Catholics can receive Communion is now firmly back in the spotlight after the 400 clerics backing the Austrian Priests’ Initiative said in their “Appeal to Disobedience” that they would not refuse Communion to remarried divorcees. Christian Wulff, a divorced and remarried Catholic, said he hoped the Church would soften its position on admitting people in his position to the sacraments.

Pope to Freiburg's youth: use your energy for the service of God

 The pope told the crowd, they shouldn't be afraid to recognize the hardships that exists in their lives. He asked them to stay away from temptations like, laziness or hesitations that may come when they're thinking of doing a good deed.

Meet ten amazing young Catholics

Cleaning up pre-riot: Six ways to prevent a repeat of London scene

 If the British riots disaster is not to be replicated elsewhere, here is a manifesto of advice. Ignore it at your smug peril. Michael present a very worthy six point program to avoid the recent London riots.

2011 Young Women in Public Affairs Award Recipients

We are re-posting the official announcement of the Zonta International relative to the five winners of the 2011 Young Women in Public Affairs Award (YWPA) from the US, Switzerland, India, Ghana and my daughter Arizza from the Philippines.

Scout boom as cash-strapped parents shun costly kids' clubs

Cash-strapped families are enrolling their children in the Scouts and Girl Guides in favour of costly after-school clubs, it has been revealed. The recession has driven a boom in membership, with the Scouts growing by almost 10 per cent since 2008, from 467,351 to 508,570.

9 things you shouldn't say to your child

We all say the wrong thing sometimes, leaving our kids feeling hurt, angry, or confused. Read on for some of the most common verbal missteps moms and dads make, and kinder, gentler alternatives. 'Leave me alone!' - 'You're so...' - 'Don't cry' - 'Why can't you be more like your sister?' - 'You know better than that!' - 'Stop or I'll give you something to cry about!' - 'Wait till daddy gets home!' - 'Great job!" or "Good girl!'

Archbishop Nichols: marriage is a public good

In his homily Archbishop Nichols explained that marriage was nevertheless the key to a successful family life and the happiness and security of children because it was the most successful framework “for the relationship of love of a man and a woman to become faithful, fruitful and permanent”.

IDS think-tank criticises coalition on family policies

The Centre for Social Justice said more needed to be done to tackle relationship breakdown. The government's record on supporting marriage and preventing family breakdown have been dubbed a failure.

"Moscow Demographic Summit: Family and the Future of Humankind

For the first time an international Pro-Life and Pro-Family event of this scale will take place in Russia. More than 1,000 participants are expected to take part in the Moscow Demographic Summit on June 29-30, 2011: 300 foreign guests, including top demography & family researchers, scientists and activists.

National Family Week 2011, Celebrating family life in the UK

National Family Week will take place from Monday, 30 May to Sunday, 5 June, and promoters say it will be bigger and better than ever. It aims to celebrate family life in the UK and connect millions of families with the organisations, good causes and services that support them. This year, the main events will be centred around the cities of London and Liverpool.