Catholic News

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 the Catholics of England. Above all we have the Holy Scriptures and prayer.

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.

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.

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.

"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 their country.

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 remember, but we pray for those who have died. We believe our prayers can help them, just as their prayers can help us."

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 the challenges facing the the Christian communities in the Middle East.

A new Archbishop has been ordained in Mosul. The city, in the north of Iraq, is undergoing major reconstruction after the ousting of daesh militants who overran Mosul in 2014 bringing widespread destruction.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols joined other church leaders in central London for a rally to call for an end to knife crime, to demand action and to stand alongside young people, families and communities affected by the scourge of violent crime.

It's 190 years since the Catholic Relief Act came into force in England and Wales offering long-awaited legislation to allow Catholics to play their part in the public life of our countries.