British Catholics take to the streets for Corpus Christi processions

Source: Catholic Herald
posted Monday, 30 May 2016

A passerby genuflects as the Corpus Christi procession passes through London (Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk)

Bishops took part in processions in London, Oxford, Sheffield and South Wales

Churches around Britain held Blessed Sacrament processions yesterday for the transferred Feast of Corpus Christi.

In London, a procession was led by Archbishop Mennini, the apostolic nuncio. It started at Our Lady of the Assumption, Warwick Street and ended at St James’s, Spanish Place.

This is the third consecutive year that the procession has taken place. Last year, Cardinal Vincent Nichols was present.

An international procession took place from St Patrick’s, Soho, to St Giles-in-the-fields where Benediction was given. Along the way, volunteers handed out leaflets explaining to passers-by what the procession was about.

Bishop Ralph Heskett of of Hallam led the procession from St Marie’s Cathedral, Sheffield, while Bishop-Elect Paul Mason, Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark, led a procession from St John the Baptist, Westerham.

A procession also took place at Neath Abbey in South Wales, led by Bishop Tom Burns of Menevia.

In Oxford, a Pontifical High Mass for Corpus Christi, celebrated by Bishop Robert Byrne, was followed by a procession through the streets. The procession stopped at Blackfriars, where Fr Robert Ombres OP preached a sermon, and finished at the Catholic Chaplaincy.

In Ramsgate, a procession attracted more than 350 people. Fr Marcus Holden, the parish priest of Ramsgate and Minster, said the turnout was “amazing”. He tweeted: “a great witness and act of loving devotion. Deo Gratias!”

In England and Wales: The CHURCH converts 2012

Contrary to what the Iglesia ni Cristo (a cult founded by Felix Manalo in the Philippines in 1914) circulated unfounded rumors among themselves, the Catholic Church-- which is the TRUE CHURCH OF CHRIST  according to their official magazine called PASUGO April 1966, p. 46, received many new converts to the Church during this Easter 2012. 

Over 3,500 adults received into the Church in England and Wales

Photo Source: Catholic Herald UK

UK, Catholic Herald UK - More than 3,500 adults were received into the Catholic Church in England and Wales last week.

They included 1,397 catechumens, who had prepared to be baptised, and 1,843 candidates, who had already baptised in another Christian tradition.

The largest numbers were in the dioceses of Westminster (734), Southwark (481), Brentwood (333), Birmingham (255) and Portsmouth (206). The total of 3,695 also included those who had joined the ordinariate. Easter is the traditional time for reception of new members of the Church through the Rite of the Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), the liturgical and catechetical process for adults joining the Church.

Bishop Kieran Conry of Arundel and Brighton, chairman of the Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said many of those who went through the RCIA said they first became interested in the Catholic Church through a family member or friend.

Royal row breaks out in UK over anti-Catholic legislation

British Parliament Building (Source: CNA)

London, England, (CNA/EWTN News).- In the week of the Royal Wedding, a centuries-old law banning British monarchs from becoming or marrying a Catholic is sparking an international row in the United Kingdom.

London’s Daily Telegraph reported on April 25 that plans to abolish the 1701 Act of Settlement have been ditched because of "significant objections" from the Church of England.

Now the First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, has written to the British Government asking for urgent clarification.

"I recently wrote to the Prime Minister (David Cameron) calling for the abolition of all discrimination contained in the Act of Settlement, including its blatant discrimination towards Catholics, which is completely unacceptable in a modern society. I am deeply concerned at these reports that this much-needed and long overdue reform has been shelved by the UK Government," Salmond wrote.

Catholic monarch ban 'must be axed'

(UKPA)

Royal succession rules banning Roman Catholics from succeeding to the throne should be scrapped, the Prime Minister has said.

David Cameron said Catholics should be able to become King or Queen, or marry the heir to the throne, but warned that changing the 1701 Act of Settlement would take time.

He has said he would also like to scrap the law giving preference to male heirs, which has come under increased pressure with the upcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Mr Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg are in discussions with other Commonwealth leaders about how to secure a change across the nations where the Queen is the monarch.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think that it's right to discuss both sets of changes but I think we have to recognise that the Queen is not only the Queen of the United Kingdom but also many other jurisdictions as well.

"So discussions have to take place between the UK Government and other governments around the world and also with the Palace in order to bring this about."

He added: "In principle I think both changes should be made, in principle I'm of that view. But it will take time because it's not just our decision, it's the decision of others as well."

British PM: End law against Catholic monarchs

London, Catholic Culture - Prime Minister David Cameron has told BBC that he is working to end the 1701 act that prohibits Catholics from becoming the monarch of the United Kingdom.

“The Queen is not only the Queen of the United Kingdom but also many other jurisdictions as well,” he said. “So discussions have to take place between the UK Government and other governments around the world and also with the palace in order to bring this about.”

“But it will take time because it's not just our decision, it's the decision of others as well.”

UK's Anti-Catholic royal law may be changed

The Royal Couple (CNN News)

It's not just a religious "discriminatory" law but to be precise, the present UK Law on Succession to the Throne is anti-Catholic.  This anti-Catholic bigotry in UK's Law can be traced to King Henry VIII who break from the Catholic Church declaring himself as Head of the Church of England after Pope Clement refused to allow him divorce. Thus banning any Catholic to succeed to the British throne. -CD2000

UK's 'discriminatory' royal law may be changed

London, England (CNN) -- The British government has accepted that laws surrounding succession to the throne could be "discriminatory" and that "discussions have started" to change them, CNN has learned.

Current rules state older daughters are overlooked in favor of the first-born son, and non-Protestants are banned from assuming the throne.

The development comes as Britain gears up for the royal wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William -- second-in-line to the throne as the eldest son of the heir to the throne, Prince Charles.

As the wedding preparations gather speed it was almost inevitable the couple would be asked about their hopes for children.

Prince William told ITN: "I think we'll take it one step at a time. We'll sort of get over the marriage first and then maybe look at the kids. But obviously we want a family so we'll have to start thinking about that."

It's the most simple of wishes for any engaged couple but, if you're second in line to become king, and head of state for the Commonwealth countries as well, the first born could spark a constitutional crisis.