LMS One-Day Conference 9 June 2012

On Saturday 9th June 2012, the Latin Mass Society is holding a one-day conference at Regent Hall, Oxford Street, London.

It's the first time the LMS has organised a one-day conference, and they have invited some excellent speakers. The conference is aimed principally at ordinary LMS members, although non-members are very welcome to join them.

For those who would like to attend Mass, there will be a Low Mass at St. James' Church, Spanish Place (which is very close to the conference venue.)

Doors open for registration and browsing of stalls at 10am, and the first talk, by Dr. John Rao (Director of the Roman Forum) starts at 11am. Stuart McCullough (Good Counsel Network) is the second speaker. After lunch, Fr. John Zuhlsdorf (WDTPRS), Fr. Tim Finigan (Hermeneutic of Continuity) and John Hunwicke are due to speak.

Admission is by ticket only, but these can be obtained by phoning the LMS office, sending a cheque or booking online. Further details can be found on the LMS website.

It is an impressive line-up, and I am really looking forward to it (though I wish it could have been at the beginning of half term rather than the end!)

Another Plug...

I'm delighted to see that Jane Mossendew of the Catholic Oasis has had a pamphlet published by the Catholic Truth Society. Called Gardening for God, it's a spiritual and practical guide to gardening.

I love the idea of a prayer garden. Unfortunately I am not good gardener material - not so much a lack of green-fingers as possession of positively black ones. It took me quite a while to realise that the red-flowered pot plant I had was losing its flowers and leaves because of the gastronomic activities of my cat, Sylvester! I have no idea how the Monsignori would react to a pot plant, but I suspect that they would view it as the latest thing in salad bars...

Although I am not a gardener, I am very happy to enjoy the fruits of other people's labours, so I would encourage all you gardening enthusiasts out there to get Jane's pamphlet...

Time For A Plug...

To my consternation and everlasting shame, I realise that I have failed to include the excellent Etheldreda's Place on my blogroll. Written by Supertradmum, it is truly a Traditional Catholic Blog, and well-worth reading.

My only excuse is that I didn't realise she wasn't on the blogroll because she was in my Google Reader list...

Something To Celebrate...

It seems that the Irish Parliament voted overwhelmingly to reject a Bill which would have allowed the abortion up to birth to save the life of the mother.

It can be seen in the UK how that law would have degenerated. From being to save the the "life" of the mother it would have morphed into saving the "mental health" of the mother... and would actually come to mean whenever a mother wanted it.

The defeat is truly good news, which, surprisingly, doesn't seem to have hit the mainstream media...

Twitch of the mantilla to those wonderful Sisters of the Gospel of Life (more of those "proper" sisters I've been on about!)

More "Proper" Nuns...

I've written very briefly about the feminist-fruitcakes of the LCWR (I can't bear to describe their antics, but Fr. Z has plenty of examples.)

The problem is that it's the nutcases which attract attention. There are plenty of religious sisters who do wonderful work, and the ones who are faithful to the Church's Magisterium tend to be the orders which are flourishing. They also tend to be the orders which don't attract much in the way of media attention: "Nuns faithful to vows!" and "Sisters do good work for poor!" aren't the most gripping of headlines...

But we do need to make sure that these "proper" nuns get their share of attention, especially when it comes to promoting their charitable work.

This evening after Mass we had a visit from a Sister of St. Elisabeth's Convent, Belarus. The charitable works covered by this order of Orthodox Nuns are truly remarkable - they seem to help everyone from drug and alcohol addicts to orphans, from sufferers of mental disorders to ex-prisoners. As well as practical assistance, they offer spiritual support and prayer too.

If you want to support the work of the St. Elisabeth Convent, do have a look at their website and especially their online shop.

Credit Where It's Due...

I have been quick enough to criticise the Catholic Education Service of England & Wales in the past, and feel, in the light of recent events, that I ought to send some positive comments its way.

The CESEW is coming under fire for daring to encourage support in Catholic schools for the petition in favour of the traditional view of marriage.

Secularists are getting their collective knickers in a twist because the Catholic Education Service is daring to advise Catholic schools to support Catholic teaching on marriage.*

I can see why they would be shocked. After all, the CESEW hasn't exactly made a name for itself speaking up for Church teaching in the past. I detect a sense of outrage among the secularists that this body should suddenly "go native" and revert to orthodox Catholicism. Maybe getting rid of Oona Stannard wasn't just cosmetic.

Before I get a spate of comments telling me how bigoted the stance of the Catholic Church is against equality for gays, I would just like to point out that civil partnerships already give homosexual couples every legal protection and advantage (or lack of it) afforded to heterosexual couples. This is not about equal rights for gays. This is about the right for people to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman for the purposes of procreation and bringing up of children. This right is under attack: if the secularists get their way it will be illegal for faith schools to teach this.

Megan Moore and Michael Merrick have each written excellent posts on this topic. Do check them out

*Actually it's not just Catholic teaching. It affects the whole of society...