'Miracle Cure' attributed to Cardinal Newman

American deacon, Jack Sullivan, claims to have been cured of debilitating back pain through the intervention of the late Cardinal John Henry Newman.


Newman was a 19th Century English Bishop, who converted to Catholicism from the Church of England at the age of 44.


He is respected as a theologian and for his work with the poor.


The miracle has been accepted by the Vatican and puts Newman on the path to Sainthood.

Read more here.


For learning resources and information about miracles click here.

Are all views and beliefs equally valid or should we be able to say, 'You are wrong'?

Moral Relativism has long been a popular view; appealing as it is tolerant, does not preach and avoids us having to argue why our view is better than someone else's.

However, what should we do when we are faced with something that we really do feel is absolutely wrong?

Nick Griffin, leader of the BNP, has controversial views on immigration, religion and sexuality. Are these views just as valid as anyone else's, as Relativism may suggest, or is he actually wrong?

Read more here.

Commedian Frank Skinner reveals his concerns about the challenges facing modern Catholicism

'I really feel there is a God. I know atheism is extremely fashionable nowadays but I just can’t kick this believing thing. I must say that I have a lot of time for atheists. I respect anyone who gives this most momentous question a good deal of thought, whatever conclusion they finally arrive at.
I’m less keen on the glut of bandwagon atheists who’ve just unquestioningly joined in because they think the atheist label makes them sound clever and grown-up.'

Frank Skinner

Read more here.

Science that sounds like science fiction with a bit of God thrown in!

The Hadron Collider has been beset by difficulties and accidents. Some of those involved have made the extraordinary suggestion that something is stopping the Hadron Collider from being successful - something from the future... or maybe something from somewhere entirely different.



Read the full article here.

Interpreting The Bible

How the Bible is to be read and understood is by no means a simple matter.

There are a number of different ways of approaching the Bible and different Christian denominations will advocate one method over another.

This matter is further complicated by the huge variety of types of literature in the Bible, the different authors and the huge timescale over which the different books were written.

Some propose the Bible must be taken literally. This creates problems however as there are apparant contradictions and it also, for example, is very difficult to make this compatible with a scientific view of the world.

Others will suggest that many of the Biblical books should be read as myths that still, however, contain truths about God's relationship with humanity. While this may explain some of the contradictions and be compatible with science it does mean that the meaning of these myths is based on human judgement and could vary from person to person or denomination to denomination.

Read more here and here.

Is religious experience a link to the Divine or a trick of the mind?

The University of Wales in Lampeter houses the Religious Experience Research Centre that has records of thousands of spiritual, religious or unexplained experiences.

Many claim these experiences have rational explanations connected to brain activity while others believe they may be a genuine experience of the spiritual or divine.

Find out more in a short article from the Metro here.

Visit the Religious Experince Research Centre here to take their survey.

Can religious people help lead the fight to save the environment?

Some believe that religion may prove a positive factor in what may be humankind's biggest challenge because it teaches moderation rather then over indulgance.

Read more here.

Philosophy and Religion in Films

Many films use philosophical and Theological concepts in their underlying plots.

The Matrix has strong links to Plato's Cave, Signs deals with faith and Minority Report raises the issue of free will.

A list of such films are here.

Have you seen any films that appear to have such an influence?

Pope Benedict XVI believes there is no incompatibility between faith and reason, or religion and science

In March 2009 the Pope reinforced his view that the theory of evolution is compatible with a Christian understanding of humankind.

Read more here.

Why we are born to believe in God

A recent newspaper article suggests that humans are programmed to believe in God because, researchers claim, it gives them a better chance of survival. Read more here.

No Change to Euthanasia Law

A move to make it legal to help a terminally ill person to die has been defeated in the House of Lords.

Read more here.

There are many disabled people who do not want the law to change.

Click here.

Is it okay to do something just because everyone else is doing it?

It's very easy to condemn what we might see as immoral behaviour but what would you do in the same situation?

Read more here.

Teenagers and Belief in God

A recent survey suggests that 66% of UK teenagers do not believe in God and 59% think religion has a negative influence in the world.

Why do you think this might be the case?

Read more here.

Do you think this survey is representative of the people you know?

Compare this to the rising popularity of A Level Religious Studies in recent years - here.

BNP secures two European seats

BNP leader Nick Griffin has been elected to the European Parliament as the party won its first two seats.
Mr Griffin was elected for the North West region while Andrew Brons picked up another BNP seat in Yorkshire and Humber, where it won 10% of the vote.
Mr Griffin said the BNP was not racist, but won votes because it "spoke openly about the problem of immigration."
Labour's Harriet Harman described the result as "terrible" while Tory leader David Cameron said he was "sickened".

BNP leader Nick Griffin is attacked by egg throwers. Is this an appropriate way to make a political protest?

Do you think the BNP party sould be allowed to exist, even if it is, as some people claim, racist?

Should people be allowed to vote for the BNP, and if not, what would be the wider implications of this?

Read more here.

Can you believe in God and the Theory of Evolution? Largest U. K. survey to date.

There are many, such as Richard Dawkins, who argue that belief in God is irrational in the light of modern evolutionary science. Others like Keith Ward however believe there is no problem in accepting a scientific view of creation and evolution and also believing in God.

See what the survey reveals about attitudes in the U. K. here.

US abortion doctor is shot dead

Is this the justified killing of a murderer of unborn children or the ruthless murder of an innocent man doing a valuable job?

Given that the Catholic Church is against abortion what do you think they may say about this?

Read more here.

Abortion numbers 'fall slightly'
The number of abortions performed in England and Wales has fallen by 1.6%, official figures show.
There were 195,296 abortions in 2008, compared with 198,499 the year before - the first fall in three years and the largest since 1999.
The abortion rates for under 16s and under 18s were also lower than in 2007, the Department of Health data showed.
It comes after a fairly large rise last year, prompting some experts to suggest the 200,000 mark would be passed.

To read more click here

MP Expenses Row

'Duck island' claim MP to retire
David Cameron: 'It does make me unbelievably angry' - courtesy of GMTV
A Tory MP is to retire after admitting he claimed a £1,645 "duck island" on expenses - as two Labour ministers face questions over capital gains tax.

This is one of many examples of MPs making outrageous expenses claims.

However many of these claim did not actually break any rules.

Does that mean they were right to make the claims?

What do you think...?

Find out more by following the link.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8060563.stm