24: Faith gives hope to Cameroon’s suffering people
In recent weeks we’ve been raising awareness of a long-running Anglophone conflict in Cameroon that has seen almost a million people displaced. Tragically, many thousands have suffered brutal atrocities – perpetrated by both sides – and at least 3,500 people have been killed. As if this wasn’t enough, a million children have been unable to attend school for four years due to an enforced boycot...
14m Aug 12, 2021
14m
23: The Church and Cameroon's Anglophone Crisis
The Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon is taking a toll on the country and its people. It’s a long-running conflict, with its roots in colonial times, that is often overlooked by the rest of the world. There’s no real end in sight and the human cost is severe. Almost one million people have been internally displaced, there are frequent reports of atrocities such as kidnappings and use of torture an...
13m Aug 04, 2021
13m
23: The Church and Cameroon's Anglophone Crisis
The Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon is taking a toll on the country and its people. It’s a long-running conflict, with its roots in colonial times, that is often overlooked by the rest of the world. There’s no real end in sight and the human cost is severe. Almost one million people have been internally displaced, there are frequent reports of atrocities such as kidnappings and use of torture an...
13m Aug 04, 2021
13m
22: Bishop thanks the elderly for their fidelity to the Catholic Church
Pope Francis has given us a new annual day to raise up grandparents and the elderly that will be celebrated, this year, on Sunday 25 July. So, naturally, the focus of this ‘Catholic News’ podcast falls on the older generation – the “Intensive Prayer Units” of the Church as our guest Bishop David Oakley puts it! Bishop Oakley is the chair of the Bishops’ Committee for Marriage and Family Lif...
19m Jul 07, 2021
19m
21: Emotional not just physical scars in Gaza
Our focus falls on the Holy Land and particularly Gaza for this podcast as we reflect on the 11-day conflict in May 2021 that had such a devastating impact on the region – particularly on the people of Gaza. Just weeks after a rather fragile ceasefire, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa visited the small strip of Palestinian land from 14 – 17 June. On ...
24m Jun 25, 2021
24m
19: Gaza priest on the escalating violence in the Holy Land
The tension in the Holy Land between Israel and Palestine has escalated alarmingly with the tangible fear of all-out war and death and destruction already in the air. The Gaza Strip – that beleaguered Palestinian territory on the east coast of the Mediterranean bordering Israel and Egypt – is bearing the brunt of the conflict. Gaza is suffering daily and nightly bombings, rockets are al...
10m May 13, 2021
10m
18: Archbishop ready to welcome Pope Francis to Iraq's Nineveh Plains
Today sees us bring forth the final interview of our four-podcast series looking forward to the historic visit of Pope Francis to Iraq – the first of any pope to the country. Our guest is the Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Hadiab-Erbil – Archbishop Nizar Semaan. Archbishop Nizar was ordained Archbishop in his home city of Qaraqosh in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in 2019. The...
19m Mar 03, 2021
19m
17: Cardinal recalls his visit to Iraq at the height of the ISIS offensive
In just a week’s time, Pope Francis will touch down in Baghdad for his historic visit to Iraq – the first of any Pope to the country. The Holy Father has a busy schedule and will travel the length of Iraq to stand in solidarity with the country’s Christians and, under the theme of the visit ‘You are all brothers’, all Iraqis. Cardinal Vincent Nichols visited Erbil in the north in April...
21m Mar 01, 2021
21m
16: Archbishop of Erbil on the historic visit of Pope Francis to Iraq
Our ‘Catholic News’ podcast episodes are coming thick and fast from COVID-19 lockdown and today we’re carrying on from where we left off last time. Our focus remains on Pope Francis and his historic visit to the Iraq – the first by any pope to the country. Last time we looked to the capital Baghdad and the Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, Cardinal Louis Sako. For this podcast, we head...
24m Feb 24, 2021
24m
15: Patriarch on Pope's historic first visit to Iraq
Pope Francis will travel to the Middle East for his first oversees trip since the outbreak of Covid-19. The Holy Father will make an historic journey to Iraq, the first ever Papal Visit to the country, from 5 – 8 March 2021. The Pope will travel the country, south to north, visiting a people who have suffered greatly in recent decades. It’s a visit for the Christians, certainly, but it’s...
21m Feb 16, 2021
21m
14: The mission of the Church has always been to help people in need
Bishop William Kenney is one of the longest-serving bishop delegates of the Holy Land Co-ordination – an annual pilgrimage of Bishops to the lands of Christ. As such, he’s able to give us a brief history lesson at the start of our ‘Catholic News’ podcast and points out that he’s only missed one year in the past 17 – including the turbulent years of the Second Palestinian Intifada. Bishop...
9m Feb 01, 2021
9m
Listening to the Christians of the Holy Land
Having taken part in this year’s virtual ‘Holy Land Co-ordination’ pilgrimage, Bishop William Nolan, the Catholic Bishop of Galloway in Scotland, reflects that he is “sad but hopeful” after five days of remote meetings. A regular on the annual pilgrimage of Bishops to the Holy Land, a group that represents the Church in standing with the Christian community of the lands of Christ, Bishop No...
3m Jan 29, 2021
3m
13: Supporting the Church of the Holy Land
This excellent reflection from Bishop Nicholas Hudson, looking back on this year’s Holy Land Co-ordination, gives his thoughts on the virtual pilgrimage of bishops from around the world to the lands of Christ. The Holy Land Co-ordination is an annual pilgrimage to support the Christians and people of the region but this year was a remote gathering due to travel restrictions needed to combat...
6m Jan 29, 2021
6m
13: Resurrection not resuscitation for peace in the Holy Land, says Archbishop
Archbishop Patrick Kelly, retired Archbishop of Liverpool and former Chair of the Holy Land Co-ordination, is our guest for this ‘Catholic News’ podcast. He joins us to talk about his many pilgrimages to the lands of Christ and his ‘hope’ for peace in the Holy Land – something that, he believes, demands resurrection not resuscitation. Archbishop Patrick took part in a virtual 2021 Holy L...
18m Jan 25, 2021
18m
13: Holy Land Christians offer the model of a 'Servant Church'
On today’s ‘Catholic News’ podcast we’re joined by the long-term chair of what’s called the Holy Land Co-ordination – a prayerful annual pilgrimage of bishops from around the world to the land of Christ’s life and ministry. Bishop Declan Lang, Catholic Bishop of Clifton, like his fellow delegates, had to engage in this year’s pilgrimage remotely due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. The bish...
10m Jan 22, 2021
10m
Helping the Homeless this Christmas
It's winter and Christmas season is almost upon us. But the anticipation of the Coming of Christ - not to mention the festive cheer - is set, this year, to a backdrop of COVID-19 with many of us separated and isolated. So it'll be a different Christmas in households across England and Wales but let's not forget it's always a hard time of year for those without the warmth and shelter of a ho...
5m Dec 16, 2020
5m
Tackling Food Poverty
This 'Catholic News' podcast on food poverty was recorded just before the second national lockdown in England to tackle the spread of COVID-19. Food poverty is a real issue just now - especially as many have lost their jobs, the economy is stretched and job security is a major cause of anxiety. An increasing number of people rely on food banks to feed their families. Catholic charities, ...
10m Nov 06, 2020
10m
Tackling Food Poverty
This 'Catholic News' podcast on food poverty was recorded just before the second national lockdown in England to tackle the spread of COVID-19.   Food poverty is a real issue just now - especially as many have lost their jobs, the economy is stretched and job security is a major cause of anxiety. An increasing number of people rely on food banks to feed their families.   Catholic ...
10m Nov 06, 2020
10m
13: COVID-19 and the Skills of Good Citizenship
Catholic Social Teaching is often described as the ‘jewel in the crown’ for Catholics. At this time when communities are coming together to act in solidarity to battle the spread of COVID-19, Catholic Social Teaching would seem more relevant than ever. Churches are closed, friends are separated, the elderly and vulnerable are self-isolating - some away from their families - and the rest of us a...
3m Apr 16, 2020
3m
12: COVID19: No public worship, self-isolation and social distancing
Our latest podcast again features Professor Jim McManus who's Hertfordshire County Council's Director of Public Health and a key contributor to the Catholic Church's Healthcare Reference Group. Now, sadly, we've had to suspend public acts of worship, Jim gives us an update and offers some dos and don'ts when it comes to self-isolation and social distancing. We talk about how we can all stay saf...
17m Mar 20, 2020
17m
11: Coronavirus - What Catholics need to know about COVID-19
There's an understandable level of anxiety generated whenever anyone talks about Coronavirus and the global impact of COVID-19. But what is always needed is clear information and a sensible approach to containing, delaying and coping with the virus. Professor Jim McManus joins us today to discuss COVID-19 and how we can all do our bit to combat the spread and keep ourselves safe - especially th...
19m Mar 14, 2020
19m
10: Epiphany: Following the stellar arrangements
We're into the new year and it's well worth remembering that Christmas doesn't end on Boxing Day as everyone looks to move on rather too quickly. Canon Christopher Thomas concludes our series of six Advent and Christmas reflections by looking at what is revealed to us at the great Feast of the Epiphany - namely God incarnate as Jesus Christ, dwelling among us. Of course the magi - the wise men ...
5m Jan 05, 2020
5m
9: Christmas: How silently the wondrous gift is given
As Advent - the great season of anticipation and preparation - draws to a close we arrive at the crib to celebrate Christ among us - the Word made flesh. Canon Christopher Thomas offers us a thought-provoking Christmas reflection. Silence lies at the heart of the ultimate Christmas gift, yet to speak of silence means to destroy it - to take away the peace.
6m Dec 24, 2019
6m
8: Advent: Trust in God and each other
Trust is in relatively short supply these days. As we arrive at the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, we look at the extraordinary bonds of trust we see in the Nativity story. Joseph trusted Mary, Mary trusted God - both turned away from the judgements of society.
5m Dec 21, 2019
5m
7: Advent: How well do we know Jesus?
For the Third Sunday of Advent Peter and John The Baptist come into focus for Canon Christopher Thomas in his Advent reflection. Peter's confidence and John's doubts stem from the extent to which they 'know' Jesus. Jesus is the one we come to worship - week in, week out. We have great tools for this - the generations of Catholics who have gone before us, the lives of the saints, our history as ...
5m Dec 14, 2019
5m
6: Advent: As Christians we are heaven's exiles
For Advent 2019, as the Church enters a new year, we're bringing you four seasonal reflections from Canon Christopher Thomas, General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. Second Sunday of Advent.
4m Dec 08, 2019
4m
5: Advent: Seeking God in your own high places
For Advent 2019, as the Church enters a new year, we're bringing you four seasonal reflections from Canon Christopher Thomas, General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. First Sunday of Advent.
4m Dec 01, 2019
4m
4: Plenary Press Conference - General Election 2019
Archbishop John Wilson, the Catholic Archbishop of Southwark, spoke to journalists assembled in London for the post-Bishops' plenary meeting press conference. The media gathering focused on the forthcoming General Election and a number of matters concerning human dignity and justice. The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales met in Leeds from 25-28 November 2019.
13m Nov 29, 2019
13m
3: No Chaplains - No Army
"No chaplains, no army" is a quote attributed to General Sir Peter de la Billière - commander of British forces during the first Gulf War in the early 1990s. It's a sentiment that aptly highlights the high regard in which military chaplains are held. Whether serving in the army, navy or air force, they really are indispensible to the service men and women who put themselves in harm's way for th...
10m Nov 15, 2019
10m
2: Forces Bishop on why it's important we remember our war dead
The Catholic Bishop of the Forces, the Right Reverend Paul Mason, spoke to us on Armistice Day 2019. He was speaking after a Mass of remembrance in Westminster Cathedral. "It's important to give honour to those who have given of themselves so we can live and enjoy the freedoms that we do. It's not just a question of remembering. For us, as Catholics, it's so important that not only do we rememb...
4m Nov 11, 2019
4m
1: Understanding the Christians of the Middle East
For today's Catholic News podcast we turn our attention to the Middle East - the region of Christ's birth, ministry, death and resurrection. Our studio guest is an experienced commentator on regional realities. Ziad El-Sayegh is the Policies and Communications advisor to the Middle East Council of Churches and has been in the UK talking to some of our bishops about the work of the council and t...
16m Oct 28, 2019
16m