Welcome to Saint Mary’s Church, Harborne, Birmingham, UK.
Order of St. Augustine.
Archdiocese of Birmingham
“Before all else, live together in harmony, being of one mind and one heart on the way to God.” St. Augustine.
INDEX
St. Mary’s Special Feature Pages
Each week we aim to highlight a Special Feature that
is connected to our web site or is Church-related.
(You may have to click the triangle to start the video
and turn on the volume at the volume symbol.)
Bishop Robert Barron: (USA)
“Friends, in light of the recent scandals, I know many people are wondering whether they should remain in the Catholic Church. And I totally get that; the outrage is warranted. But in this time of crisis, I beg you not to flee, but to fight--not violently, with the weapons of the world, but with the weapons of the Spirit. We need you.” (See below for a message from Bishop John Keenan.)
Why (you should) Remain Catholic. (with all this scandal)
Some thoughts from Bishop John Keenan (Scotland) on this week's news: (31st August 2018.)
In this time of sadness, anger and anxiety in the Church over the various news stories about abuse, from Philadelphia, form Ireland and from archbishop Vigano's letter we need to dig deep into our resources of faith in God, Our Father, in Jesus His Son, Redeemer of the World, and in His assurance to be in and with His Church always, tlll the end of time.
Today we see more than ever how we are called to be a Church in continual reformation. While the story and the search for the correct diagnosis and the right solutions goes on, Bishop Barron's words allow the supernatural dimension to cast some welcome light on things.
Summary.
1. It is clearly diabolical in origin – a masterpiece of the Devil to undermine every aspect of the Church’s evangelising mission.
2. We must always keep our focus on the victims and what they have suffered. Don’t be side-tracked away from that.
3. We must petition the Vatican for a lay-led investigation into who knew what about the McCarrick affair. Archbishops Vigano’s testimony is valuable, but only one piece of the jigsaw. The Vatican must authorise the opening of all relevant files and correspondence.
4. Christ the King now wishes to purify his Church, and he wants to use the laity in their kingly role to lead that. Forensic experts, etc.
5. The causes of sexual abuse are complex and can’t be reduced to any one thing. Clericalism is certainly a factor, but also homosexuality, since 80% of cases involve male-male abuse. However, this is not an excuse to conduct a witch-hunt against priests who experience same sex attraction, many of whom are good men.
Maybe you are wondering about the background to the video and message below?
There have been recently explosive charges made by a former Papal Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, that the sexual abuse of boys and young men by Archbishop Theodore McCarrick may have been covered up by high ranking Church officials, including Pope Francis himself.
