Is there any place for Catholics in politics? Can Catholics make a worthwhile contribution to politics? These are some of the questions that a group of 8 Catholic interns have been pondering all year.Listen to John Waters' report: The interns have been taking part in the Catholic Parliamentary Internship scheme, which has been operating since 2003.“The Scheme is run by the Bishops Conference of England and Wales. It runs every year, offering recent graduates the chance to work either for Catholic Members of Parliament or in Parliamentary relations roles for agencies of the Catholic Church such as Cafod or Caritas,” explained Faith Anderson.Anderson has spent her year working for the Caritas agency, being involved in social action within England and Wales and lobbying on behalf of Catholic charities.Meanwhile Tom Burke has been working as a researcher for a Catholic Member of Parliament.“My role is to help my MP make decisions on how he votes.”Illustrati...
Is there any place for Catholics in politics? Can Catholics make a worthwhile contribution to politics? These are some of the questions that a group of 8 Catholic interns have been pondering all year.
Listen to John Waters' report:
The interns have been taking part in the Catholic Parliamentary Internship scheme, which has been operating since 2003.
“The Scheme is run by the Bishops Conference of England and Wales. It runs every year, offering recent graduates the chance to work either for Catholic Members of Parliament or in Parliamentary relations roles for agencies of the Catholic Church such as Cafod or Caritas,” explained Faith Anderson.
Anderson has spent her year working for the Caritas agency, being involved in social action within England and Wales and lobbying on behalf of Catholic charities.
Meanwhile Tom Burke has been working as a researcher for a Catholic Member of Parliament.
“My role is to help my MP make decisions on how he votes.”
Illustrating how faith works together with political decision making, Burk explains “As a Catholic you can bring the church’s social teaching into the decision making process, either overtly or subtly. You don’t have to explain your catholicity, but it’s definitely there when you make the decision.”
Both Anderson and Burk have been on visitation to Rome for a week, along with the other Catholic interns.
Summing up what each of them have gained through the internship scheme, both were appreciative of the chance to combine their faith and their work.
“It’s been great to find work which, although it isn’t explicitly spiritual, does integrate your faith,” says Burke.
“Part of the scheme also involves living in a Catholic community and meeting senior Catholics, so you learn about your faith as part of your work. It’s given me hope that I can integrate my faith and my work throughout my life,” says Anderson.
And is this a good time for Catholics to be politically active? Tom Burke thinks so.
“With the internet, so much information readily available and politicians so accessible these days, this is a fantastic time to be involved!”
null / Credit: Peter Hermes Furian via ShutterstockACI Prensa Staff, Apr 19, 2024 / 15:00 pm (CNA).The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) on April 19 condemned the kidnapping and murder of a catechist in Burkina Faso, West Africa.In a news brief, ACN informed ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, that catechist Edouard Yougbare was kidnapped on Thursday night by "terrorists, and his lifeless body was found near Zigni this morning."According to other local sources, along with Yougbare, who was a member of Saatenga parish in Fada Gourma, Burkina Faso, more people were kidnapped and murdered."We are heartbroken by the loss of Yougbare. He served his community faithfully and his death is a devastating blow for the people of Saatenga," lamented Spaniard María Lozano, press and public relations director of ACN International."Catechists in Burkina Faso are on the front lines, risking their lives for the good of their people. Just two months ago, ano...
Pope Francis addresses the faithful at his Wednesday general audience on March 27, 2024. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Apr 19, 2024 / 10:07 am (CNA).In the latest move in Pope Francis' reform of the Vatican judiciary, the pope issued a new motu proprio on Friday on the retirement age and benefits for cardinal judges and magistrates in the Vatican's court system.The April 19 motu proprio states that Vatican magistrates will retire at the end of the judicial year in which they turn 75 and cardinal judges at the age of 80, unless Pope Francis asks them to remain in office beyond the age limit.Magistrates and judges who wish to resign from office before the retirement age can only do so with the approval of the pope.The pope also has the prerogative to dismiss magistrates unable to fulfill their duties at any time. Upon the termination of their duties, magistrates will retain the rights to assistance and welfare provided to Vatican citizens and employees.The motu proprio, wh...
Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski of Krakow announced on April 14, 2024, the decision to begin the process of beatification and canonization of Helena Agnieszka Kmiec, a young lay missionary murdered in Bolivia in 2017. / Credit: The Helena Kmiec FoundationACI Prensa Staff, Apr 19, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski of Krakow, Poland, announced the decision to begin the process of beatification and canonization of Helena Agnieszka Kmiec, a young lay missionary murdered in Bolivia in 2017.The prelate said that after the preliminary phase began in December 2022, he made the decision to officially open the process for Kmiec after having consulted the Polish Bishops' Conference and receiving the go-ahead from the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints."With this edict I call on all those who have any document, letter, or information about the Servant of God, both positive and negative, to send them to the Metropolitan Curia of Krakow before June 30," the archbish...
