Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum”, is to meet with bishops of England and Wales. At the invitation of the Episcopal Conference of England and Wales (CBEW), the cardinal will dialogue with the bishops in the light of the Holy Father’s first Encyclical “Deus caritas est” on
how to promote the Catholic identity of the Church’s charitable organisations in a rapidly changing environment, characterised by challenges to the Church’s traditional outreach in this field.
While the Church in England and Wales has reached out to those in need in an efficacious way historical and cultural changes warrant a reflection upon the role of the bishop as the primordial locus for charitable activity.
Ah, the masters of understatement are back.
On 8 April at Birmingham ‘s Maryvale Institute, the president of “Cor Unum” will deliver a public lecture on the Church’s charitable activities.
What is Maryvale?
The Mission of Maryvale Institute is to be a leader in the provision of lifelong learning for all in Catholic Evangelisation, Catechesis, Theology, Philosophy and Religious Education in order to serve Christ’s mandate and his Church’s mission of Evangelisation in contemporary society. This provision is through a distinctive combination of the methodology of distance learning and critical engagement with the Word of God in Scripture and Tradition guided by the Church’s Magisterium. The work is carried out within an environment of Christian Faith, of academic and administrative quality, of open dialogue and the mutual valuing of the work, gifts and the personal and professional development of every member of the Institute.
One little flickering candle then – in Birmingham.
And in London? Is there a single place on the muddy banks of this river where we may gain a little lifelong learning in Catholic Evangelisation, Catechesis, or guided by the Church’s Magisterium serve Christ’s mandate and his Church’s mission of Evangelisation in contemporary society?
Cultural changes warrant a reflection upon the role of the bishop as the primordial locus for charitable activity.
I think we might do reflection on these cultural changes and on the bishop as the primordial locus for charitable activity on this blog. And I am going to tell my bishop that he is the primordial locus for charitable activity. I know he has at least as good an idea of what this means as I do. No bishop can be afraid, because he is bound to love the people to whom he is sent.
