As our own cultural moment in the United States has included some prominent conversions to Catholicism, what might we learn from some of the more prominent converts in British Catholic history?
United Kingdom
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
Remembering David Lodge, the ‘agnostic Catholic’ who captured the post-Vatican II zeitgeist
David Lodge’s novels—as well as his many works of nonfiction—made him an important figure in 20th-century British literature. He also captured well the angst of many lay Catholics in the aftermath of Vatican II.
Posted inPolitics & Society, The Weekly Dispatch
In England and Wales, a bill to legalize assisted suicide faces Catholic opposition
U.K. faith leaders oppose the assisted dying bill: “We believe that a truly compassionate response to the end of life lies in the provision of high-quality palliative care services to all who need them.”
Posted inPolitics & Society, Short Take
I am a Catholic member of the U.K. Labour Party. Assisted suicide is not the answer.
Since launching a campaign within the Labour Party against legalized suicide, I’ve been met with the refrain, “Your only allies are the Tories.”
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
‘Irish Patriots’ and Ulster loyalists find a shared scapegoat in Northern Ireland: Immigrants
Loyalist paramilitaries played a central role in organizing the unrest in Belfast, but it was a surprise on both sides of the northern Irish border when they were joined by self-proclaimed “Irish patriots” from the Republic of Ireland.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
The British Fulton Sheen: What Catholics should know about C. C. Martindale, S.J.
C. C. Martindale, S.J., played an important role in the life of the Catholic Church in Great Britain in the 20th century—and brought more than a few seekers along with him.
Posted inPolitics & Society, The Weekly Dispatch
U.K. Catholics denounce anti-migrant violence following deadly attack on Taylor Swift-themed dance class
Rioting was sparked by a knife attack at a dance studio in Southport on July 29. Three children were killed and other children and adults injured and seriously wounded.
Posted inArts & Culture, Dispatches
Reclaiming faith’s place in culture: A celebration of sacred art joins Edinburgh’s festival season
The Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts seeks to reclaim a place for Christian faith in human culture and put faith back into the festival season.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Conservatives are racing toward a catastrophic defeat in U.K.’s July 4 election
Some polls are going as far to predict that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak might lose his own seat on July 4. He would be the first Conservative prime minister to suffer such a humiliation.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Analysis: Britain’s bizarre, costly and cruel plan to deport migrants to Rwanda
Condemned by the Jesuit Refugee Service UK as a “cruel plan” that “violates human dignity,” the policy authorizes deporting people who come to the United Kingdom in search of safety to Rwanda.