Catholic Church

Prisoners, exiles and missionaries: the bishops Elizabeth deposed

between 1534 and 1554, there were two people claiming to be bishop of worcester and two to be bishop of salisbury; and between 1559 and 1585...
Jack Scarisbrick

Like physicists, we're looking for a theory of everything

it was gratifying to learn that my favourite delicacy as a child, caramel-coated popcorn called cracker jack, is still being sold. each box ...
Fr George Rutler

I grew up in Mum and Dad's sweetshop. It was as magical as it sounds

christmas, as we know, is a time for reflection: a chance to recall years gone by, and to wallow for a few precious hours in our own remembr...
Michael Simkins

Both English and cosmopolitan: the glory of Farm Street Church

this has been an anniversary year for the jesuits’ church at farm street in london – july 31 marked the 175th anniversary of the laying of t...
Stephen Withnell

Digital detoxes rarely work. Here are ten things that do

i wonder how many people will wake up on christmas morning to find some new piece of tech in their stocking? i won’t, and not just because i...
Sister Catherine Wybourne

Gavin Ashenden: Why I'm becoming a Catholic

in the early 1980s, as a young anglican priest i became a smuggler. i crossed the iron curtain with bibles, books and medicines for orthodox...
The Catholic Herald

Traffic jams, Christmas trees and banana beer: December in Kinshasa

christmas is in the air in kinshasa. giant illuminated christmas trees stand in front of hotels and big supermarkets owned by indian, lebane...
Antoine Roger Lokongo

Democracy is in retreat – but heroic activists are emerging

jesus christ was a refugee who grew up to become a dissident. of course he is much more than that – he is god incarnate, emmanuel – but as w...
Benedict Rogers

'The ways deep, the weather sharp': A journey in the Magi's footsteps

as a child i found it hard to believe that the world east of bethlehem was real at all. this was a region where fire might fall from heaven ...
Peter Hitchens

The undefeated light: Joseph Ratzinger on the true meaning of Christmas

this christmas reflection by joseph ratzinger was first published in the bavarian catholic journal hochland (1959/60: 97–100). it has been t...
The Catholic Herald