By John Battle, Commission ChairOur human story has always been a story of ‘people on the move’ as is well reflected in both the history of evolution and the Biblical tradition. Initially people are thought to have emerged from the Rift Valley in Africa some 2 million years ago (though anthropologists today recognise some 15-20 […]
Catholic Social Thought
aspects of catholic social thought
18 Apr – Join the SPARK Community!
By Kathy Shaw, SPARK Outreach & Engagement Manager The Catholic Church has a history of social teaching. It goes back centuries – impacting on all aspects of our work and family life. In 1892 Pope Leo XIII outlined a ‘just social order’ in response to a lack of basic employee rights and an increasing tendency […]
11 Apr – Wanted! New Members for the J&P Commission
We are looking for new people to join the Leeds Diocese Justice & Peace Commission. Anyone living in the Leeds Diocese who is interested in changing the world could serve as a Commission member! Our activity levels are starting to increase. However. we can only do more if we have more people helping to devise, […]
30 Mar – Romero Lecture 2023
The Commission co-organised a presentation of this year’s Romero Lecture, in partnership with Leeds Trinity University and held there on 21 March. The talk was given by Peggy Healy. She is a former Maryknoll sister who was working in Central America when St Oscar Romero was assassinated. The 3 Maryknoll sisters and the accompanying lay […]
23 Mar – Check out our podcasts!
Trying to keep up with technology is not always easy (if you are over 35). Since the end of January we have been dipping our toe in the podcasting world. We currently have 4 podcasts that you can listen to on our Buzzsprout podcasting website. But don’t leave it too long before taking a look. […]
16 Mar – SPARK Social Justice sponsors places at Sustainability Conference
Live in the Leeds Diocese, concerned about our climate emergency and aged 18-30?SPARK Social Justice is sponsoring people for the full cost of attending the 2023 National Justice & Peace Network (NJPN) Conference. The conference fees are £225 and SPARK will pay directly for your ticket. Rail travel to the nearest station will also be […]
09 Mar – Leeds Trinity announces online Lecture Series
Leeds Trinity University have organised a series of open online Lectures for 2023 with the series title “Beyond the Dark Clouds”. They are all examining where we can find hope in today’s world. They have been organised by the office of the Director of Catholic Mission at Leeds University, Dr Ann Marie Mealey (who is […]
07 Mar – Seeing with Prophetic Imagination
It’s taken a while to sort out, but you can now listen to the talkstalk given by David McLoughlin at our Day of Reflection held in October 2022. This day was titled ‘Has the Church become a ‘Not for Prophets’ organisation? In this first talk, David explores what is meant by the ‘prophetic imagination’. You […]
12 Feb – Catholic Mission at Leeds Trinity University
By Dr Ann Marie Mealey, Director of Catholic Mission at LTU and J&P Commission memberSince Leeds Trinity was founded by the Cross and Passion Sisters in 1966 as two Catholic Teacher Training Colleges, it is clear that the vision for what was then known as Trinity and All Saints College was one of transformation of […]
05 Feb – Responding to the Cry of the Poor Today
Every year the Romero Trust organise a short lecture tour with a visiting speaker with personal connections to St Oscar Romero or El Salvador. This year the speaker will be Peggy Healy and we are delighted that, in partnership with Leeds Trinity University, we will be hosting a presentation of her talk at Leeds Trinity […]
29 Jan – Laudato Si: What more can we do?
On the 17 January we held our first Zoom conversation of 2023. It was with the Rt. Rev. John Arnold, Bishop of Salford. Bishop John is the lead on Climate Change for the Bishops’ Conference and he is also a trustee of CAFOD. He was in conversation with Commission Chair, John Battle, about the importance […]
15 Jan – A visit to the Faslane Peace Camp
By David Kelly, Vice Chair, Scottish Campaign for Nuclear DisarmamentLast year was the fortieth anniversary of the Faslane Peace camp, situated across the road from the home of Britain’s nuclear submarine fleet. The four submarines that are equipped with Trident nuclear missiles, have been joined by the seven nuclear powered submarines of the Astute class, […]
09 Jan – Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, RIP
By Dr Ann Marie Mealey, Commission member and Director of Catholic Mission – Leeds Trinity University(This article was fist published as a blogpost by Leeds Trinity University)We are saddened to learn of the death of Pope Emeritus XVI. This news will sadden those who had a deep appreciation of his theological writings and those who had […]
A CHRISTMAS OF DISCONTENT?
In the current climate of strikes and the cost-of-living crisis we could do a lot worse than reflect on some of the thoughts of Cardinal Manning in the late nineteenth century. He was influential in the foundational document on Catholic Social Teaching, Rerum Novarum (Rights and Duties of Capital and Labour), published in 1891. During the […]
15 Nov – SPARK Advent Action
By Katherine Hogg, SPARK Project Manager This Advent, join SPARK Social Justice for an act of kindness in the community. We will be meeting men and women seeking asylum at one of the Conversation Clubs in the city. We are also going to St Vincent’s Centre to join in their organised Christmas Kindness volunteering on […]
27 Oct – Exploring Prophecy: Our Day of Shared Reflection in Harrogate
By Joe Burns, Commission MemberIt seems like there are not so many people who are labelled as ‘prophets’ in our times. That was one of the reasons why we decided to organise a Day of Reflection to explore what the prophets in Scripture were all about and where we see prophets in our own time. […]