De Omnibus Dubitandum Est.

This is an article written by Roderick Blyth on 15 September 2010 and constitutes what he describes as a damascene moment for him. It is particularly pertinent today I think because it demonstrates where, precisely, the rot has set in and in doing so demonstrates that Pope Benedict XVI knew where it was and had a strategy to deal with it (through the catechism and his beautiful exposition of Jesus, for example).   ''On 9 September 2010 a BBC journalist called Mark Dowd presented an interesting survey of the different voices within the Catholic Church in Britain. In a passage dealing with the attitudes of the young, Mr.Dowd visited St.Benedict's Catholic School in Derby, and questioned two teenage students, shortly to form part of a delegation of young people who were to met the Pope, and then Father Joe Wheat, the Director of Youth Services in the Nottinghamshire Diocese.   'Here is the text of the interviews copied down as accurately as I could record them: 'Dowd: ...

Much of the talk among friends is of why God is allowing such a withering time for faithful Catholics. Despite the fact that this is incredibly difficult for all of us, that the faith seems to be daily mocked by those who are supposed to guard, teach and defend the faith, many of us seem to have rather a clear sense that, on some level, this has to happen. The wound needs to be cleansed before it can heal. What is clear is that the scum is really floating to the top. We know who is on what side, the battle lines are drawn ever clearer between those who love the Bride of Christ and those who want to change her into something else. Who will ever think  Austen Ivereigh objective or competent after this papacy is done? How can Cardinal Joseph Tobin ever think anyone will take him seriously again after his "nighty night baby" tweet? (A quick look at Twitter these days reveals how every one of his tweets is followed by derision). Who can believe anything Archbishop Paglia sa...

Catholic Youth Ministry's No. 1 Myth: Because Teens hate their parents, Catholic Youth Ministry must offer an environment free from the presence of parents. In reality, study after study has conclusively shown that parents, hands down, have a far greater impact on the spiritual life and faith practice of their own children than any youth minister could ever hope to have. This is the case even for teens who get involved in Youth Ministry efforts, mission, trips, and short-term service experiences. In the long run, teens will mimic their parents' faith practice. This is why stuff like this initiative from the CBEW is just straight up nonsense. We don't need to ask kids what they think, we need to teach them the faith - something that has been neglected for over forty years in this country. Catholic Youth Ministry needs to wake up and smell the coffee. It is complicit in a series of fundamental myths about teens, and because of this the teen retention rate is a co...

Does this look boring to you? This is a great piece in the Herald recently which feeds into my post on Youth Ministry . It begins with an honest and accurate appraisal of the situation as we all know it. Confirmation = The Sacrament of exit. My experience is that, although I do my best, the majority of them have already given up on the faith by this point. When we reduce the faith to another noisy "youth" thing (as we see it) we reduce its value to simply another "thing" competing for attention in an already over competitive world. But the faith is valuable because it is truth, all we really need do is have confidence in its majesty and authority and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit. As I said yesterday, if it is authentic, young people will quickly discern that. In the Herald, Pastor Iuventus writes: While the introduction of evening and vigil Masses may have been intended for those who work on Sunday morning, we have lost our sense of Sabbath, of a Day...

I've had a version of this email a couple of times now: Dear CYMFED supporter, Do you know about Fr. Timothy Radcliffe the radical homosexual activist which CYMFED is promoting at Flame 2, the youth event for thousands of young people in the UK? If not see here and also here . It is shocking what the organisers were thinking of when they put this event together, have they no shame? Please protest to CYMFED for promoting this filth to our young people. It appears James Preece has also received a version of it because he has blogged about it here . And I agree with the broader point he makes in his post: There are a hundred more worthwhile things you could do for young people than send them along to hear the usual nonsense from the same people who were failing to inspire them two decades ago. But I can't write a stark condemnation of an event for the reason requested in the email. First of all, I'm not particularly a CYMFED supporter. Certainly when my oldest so...

Fr. Ed Tomlinson posted this little video on FB today: I have to say my feelings are of dismay rather than anger or disappointment. This is Anglican, but that's not to say things like this haven't happened in the Catholic Church.  Apparently, the Diocese of Exeter held a 'taster' for the Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage, which included Mass celebrated by 'bishop' John Ford of Plymouth. The explanation is that 'Having used bubbles earlier to consider their beauty, uniqueness and specialness - just like us - filled with breath which ultimately goes right back to God, we were encouraged to blow bubbles as the holy elements are raised, and fill the sacred space with light, airy prayer-filled bubbles...' The Anglican Blogger Cranmer has commented  as follows: His Grace is so convulsed with incredulity, he can scarcely type. He is so used to writing about those who inhabit the metaphorical Westminster Bubble that it had completely escaped hi...

Flame ; Twitter is alive with positive feedback about this youth event, which took place on Saturday 24th March, with 8,000 young Catholics at Wembley Arena.  My oldest son, William, went along with his school and had a great time. He also found he knew lots of other people there who were attending with parishes or as part of their confirmation programme this year. I came across this post from a Youth Worker on Twitter.  It struck me as a feeling I clearly remember, returning from an inspiring week in Lourdes or retreat at Walsingham House. Parish worship seems dreadfully drab by comparison, lack-lustre and dull. ​​Thankfully, William returned animated with talk of vocation, and was able to immediately immerse himself in the beauty of the Mass at our fantastic parish Church Our Lady of Lourdes  on Sunday morning...He was then hungry to return to the Church to take part in Vespers & Benediction in the evening, which he raved about afterwards! Th...