As of this week...

...British birth certificates will deliberately be allowed to state inaccurate information. A woman with no biological connection with a child can be registered as its "father". The idea is to make lesbians feel comfortable. If one of them has a child, she can register the other as a parent. The child's father will not be registered at all.

If a birth certificate isn't to give accurate information, what is it for?

When a lesbian partnership breaks up and there is a battle over the custody of the child (yes, it has been known), will the victor be encouraged to put a new name, retrospectively, on the birth certificate? Will it not be regarded as "discrimination" if she cannot? And why stop at just one new name? This might become a serial process. And some ladies might like to register two or three new partners at once. Others might want a flexible approach with "optional parenting", registering a partner in order to assert the status of a relationship, but recognising that the lady concerned might grow to dislike the child and wish to abandon her "parent" status in due course.

Once the decision has been made to turn a birth certificate into a feelgood item for lesbians, then the possibilities are practically limitless.

What is happening to our country? Collective insanity, viewed with a mixture of inertia and bewilderment, makes for a very uncertain future.

But just think how busy lawyers will be in a few years' time, as the court cases mount up and people demand to know who their real parents are, why they have been stigmatised by a certificate, etc etc...

This evening...

...I intend to settle with a mug of tea to enjoy the latest DVD from Mary's Dowry Productions: it's "St Cuthbert of Steyning", set in Sussex which is one of the most glorious parts of England and one of the corners of the earth that I love best. I'll learn about the England of Saxon days, and relish views of the South Downs where Bogle feet have often tramped with joy... Mary's Dowry Productions is doing a terrific job bringing our history alive, and its DVDs are warmly recommended.

Anxiety...

...can haunt you. I was anxious about something, couldn't get it out of my mind. Morning Mass. The lady in front of me had a lovely picture of the Pope in her prayer-book, vaguely reassurring. We get good numbers of weekday Mass in our local parish - it's a big church but felt quite full, and this is suburbia on a Bank Holiday Monday. I was suddenly struck by the consoling words of the prayer after the Our Father, in which the priest prays that we may be delivered "from all anxiety". Never felt the impact of that before. And then, chatting after Mass, some one said "if you are anxious, you should hold on to that prayer that is said following the Our Father..." and quoted it. Golly. Is our parish telepathic?. I cycled home feeling quite different.

Note the date!

Interested in history? Come with Auntie on a Catholic History Walk. Date: September 24th. Time: 6.30pm. Meeting Point: steps of Westminster Cathedral. This is the first in a series of Walks sponsored by Continuity. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for a walk of about 1-2 hours. We plan to finish in a pub. You'll learn about Westminster's history... the abbey founded by our last Saxon king before the Norman Conquest...the draining of the Thames marshes around Thorney Island... a cathedral built on the site of a former prison...a Royal escape on the horse ferry across the river...and more...

This evening...

..after a domestic sort of day and tea with Mother, I settled with some sewing and the beautiful DVDs of World Youth Day 08 given to me in Sydney during my recent trip. All the time in Australia I asked people about WYD: was it rated a success, were numbers up to expectations, what sorts of people came, did it all have any lasting effect? Media coverage in Britain was of course poor ('no sex, no story', so as they couldn't find lots of young people denouncing the Church's teachings on that subject, they contented themselves with a few references to clerical abuse and generally ignored the whole thing). And there's only so much you can get from the Internet. The Sydney diocese has produced books, DVDs, etc that bring the thing alive.

Filing away some mementoes from my trip brought a rush of pictures across my mind: a lovely evening at Melbourne's Catholic Central bookshop, next to St Francis Church - and a memory of dropping into that church, packed for a Saturday evening Mass...an afternoon cookery session making honey-toffee apples for St Bartholomew's Day at the Sydney diocesan adult Education Centre, lots of fun and laughter with young mums...a crowded evening session at the Centre with a wonderful atmosphere and sense of friendship... in Melbourne, chatting to Dr Tracey Rowland of the John Paul II Institute , a longstanding friend... a lecture at the Caroline Chisholm Library...dinner with Bishop Peter Elliott, who has known Jamie and me for over 30 years...

A whistle-stop description...

...of the trip to Australia and New Zealand isn't either easy to write or perhaps hugely interesting to read, but: highlights included opening the new bookshop for Freedom Publishing at the Thomas More Centre in Whitehorse Road, Balwyn, Melbourne, and a book-launch at Portico Books in central Sydney...it was a delight to stay with old friends and to have long talks over many things, and I loved my visit to St Dominic's at Flemington, where Fr Peter Joseph is parish priest (Mass at 9am on an ordinary weekday brought a good-sized congregation that wouldn't have disgraced a Sunday) and to Brisbane where we stayed with journalist Tess Livingstone, author of a fine biography of Cardinal George Pell...in Melbourne we were guests of the indefatible Denise Cameron, nurse, crusader, and campaigner for humanitarian causes, and her warm welcome and generous care of us was simply magnificent...in Sydney we visited the cathedral (fine statue of the great John Paul, and a couple of obliging fellow-visitors kindly took my picture there - they promised to email it to me, so if they are reading this, here's a gentle reminder...)

And then on to NZ for some family time, which included a visit up the Sky Tower, the highest building in the Southern Hemisphere, and trips out into the lovely springtime countryside...and meals and talk and a log fire and glorious views over Auckland's magnificent harbours...

What to read...

...on the flight to Australia? I am taking George Weigel's Letters to a Young Catholic, and Piers Paul Read's latest novel, and also - for the return journey when I'll be getting into back-to-school mode, some study material for my Maryvale degree.

News of where I'll be speaking in Australia - various Catholic bookshops in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane - see here.

Most Australians are well up on news about Britain, but here's a summary of various news snippets which I'm keeping in mind in case I'm asked about my country: an exam set by a local authority in Britain this week had, as one of its tests, getting to a bus stop and getting on a bus (can this really be true?; one in five Europeans will be Moslem by the middle of this century; current information shows have a massive problem with drunkeness in the 11-15 year-old age group, a rising rate of violent crime, and soaring rates of sexually-transmitted diseases among the young; planned new legislation may place restrictions on Catholics speaking openly about the Church's teachings and Catholic groups promoting a Christian lifestyle.

The Thames Valley...

...and the glorious sweep of its fields and woods, bathed in summer sunshine. The Oratory School with its Newman tradition and its sense of confidence, pictures of boys at sporting activities, Cadet parades, theatre, music, a Corpus Christi procession...panels lisiting School Captains going back 150 years...

We were there for the Evangelium conference, a great Catholic gathering sponsored by the CTS. Vast crowd of young adults,packed talks, great reverence at Mass(Latin chant,some good hymns) and a roar of young voices for the "I confess..." and the Creed and the Our Father, somehow very moving. Excellent talks from, among others, Dr Tom Pink of Kings College, London, Fr Brian Harrison,Fr Tim Finigan, Fr Andrew Pinsent, Jack Valero of Opus Dei...Young people everywhere, talking and laughing, enjoying the lovely grounds, packing out the talks and workshops, singing Night Prayer in the beautiful chapel, chattering to a terrific volume over meals in the dining-hall...a volunteer concert in the evening, glorious violin music, some Irish Ballads,a teenage singer... Auntie rounded things off leading community singing ("Pack up your troubles...")

This was the second year for this event: the 2008 conference, planned as a once-off, proved so hugely popular that organisers offered another, and it drew even larger crowds. Theme:"Explaining the Catholic Faith in the Modern World". I was impressed by the quality - as well as the quantity! - of the young people present, drawn from a wide variety of jobs and backgrounds and professions, showing a lively and intelligent commitment to the faith. A good number from some of the notable new Movements in the Church (Youth 2000, Neo-Catechumenate, FAITH) with a great ability to relax and integrate together. An underlying seriousness, a recognition that things may get tough for Christians in Britain in the next years. For all the joy and laughter and intellectual stimulus, there was an underlying sobriety in the way certain things were discussed. I came home inspired, encouraged, thoughtful.

New book...

...produced as a practical response to Pope Benedict's call for a "Year for Priests" under the patronage of St John Vianney. How much do you know about St John Vianney's life? Few Catholics know very much, except that he was a very holy parish priest in rural France and that he fasted and prayed a lot and there were many miracles...now it's time for you to read the whole story, which is a very touching one and with useful messages for today.

The book is available from St Paul Publications and you can order it here

A good holiday read, also useful for schools, for parish catechists...

An interesting...

juxtaposition. Just seen this news item about the planned new EU "equality" regulations and what they could mean for Christians.

Then I read the Pope's Mission Prayer Intention for August:

His mission intention is: That those Christians who are discriminated against and persecuted in many Countries because of the name of Christ may have their human rights, equality and religious freedom recognized, in order to be able to live and profess their own faith freely.

A wonderful, wonderful ...

...day at the Faith Movement's Summer Session, packed out with young people (they had to turn some away simply because there wasn't enough accomodation)and bathed in hot sunshine. An excellent talk from Bishop Patrick O'Dononhue, who recieved warm sustained applause following his clear affirmation of Christian teachings centred on the theme of faith, hope, and love.. Lively talk over supper. Young people streaming to the chapel for evening prayer. Young priests and young seminarians. The delightful Sisters of the Gospel of Life who somehow always seem to be joyful and are such great fun to be with...

The event was happening in the magnificent surroundings of Woldingham School, and Auntie was among many day-visitors who arrived and got swept up into the activities...a good number of young families - including several couples who met through the Faith Movement - were picknicking and talking and playing and chatting and laughing on the great lawns, with children running about...young relatives greeted me and I was soon accompanying a three-year old to explore the fabulous grounds: he has just discovered the joys of rolling down a grassy hillside and in this glorious occupation somehow captured the joy of a true summer's day.

We lingered long on the lawn after supper, us middle-aged types and marrieds-with-babies, and while roars of laughter and applause rang out from an evidently hugely successful Talent Show and Concert taking place in the panelled library beyond the mullioned windows, we drank gin-and-tonic and swapped news and cuddled babies. Dusk fell and a great moon shone out. A beautiful statue of the Sacred Heart, arms outstretched, stands illuminated on the lawn, shedding light on us as we talked. It was good to chat to Fr Patrick Burke, visiting from Rome, and to the Treloar family, long-time friends and fellow-campaigners on various issues over the years. As we left, young people were still talking on the terrace in the warm summer night. "The Church is alive, and the Church is young".

Do you care about AIDS victims? Then read...

...this report about President George W. Bush..

Real practical help which has saved huge numbers of lives. Have you read about it in the media? Seen it mentioned on TV? No, nor have I.

Find out...

...about Freedom Publishing,the group organising the Bogle tour of Australia's eastern states....click here. They have the most wonderful array of books (you can order by email) and are very energetic and enterprising...a great team and it will be a priviledge to work with them.

While planning the trip to the other side of the world, Auntie is also busy with work here at home - one book at proof stage, another that will come to fruition while I am away (Deo Gratias for email!), another currently with the printer...Tomorrow I am off to the Faith Movement summer session, which will be a joy, a cure for the gloom that descends when I look at what is happening in our poor country just now.

A sample twirl through one day's news this week revealed the following: a teenage suicide following cruel remarks posted by schoolchums on the internet; the adoption of a baby, created via artificial insemnination, by two homosexuals (both currently in other "civil partnershps" with other men, but planning to divorce these); a report showing that large numbers of boys and girls entering secondary school cannot read; statistics showing the huge numbers of completely drunken teenagers rushed unconscious to hospital each weekend.

NOTE this date ...and come along and join in!

....September 24th. This is the feast of Our Lady of Ransom/Our Lady of Walsingham. A glorious and most important feast-day here in England. To mark it, we are launching something new:

CONTINUITY Walks and Talks, starting on September 24th, at 6.30pm. Meet in front of Westminster Cathedral. A guided History Walk around Westminster, finishing in a pub. The Walk will last approx one and a half hours. No need to book - just turn up. Wear comfortable shoes. We'll be doing the walk whatever the weather, so come dressed appropriately. Bring some money for the pub. Bring enthusiasm,your Rosary, good walking ability, and a friend or two.

The Continuity Movement is committed to the revival of the Catholic Faith in England. Westminster is gloriously rich in history - you'll be learning not only about Edward the Confessor and the Abbey and the monks, but also about the centuries before and after, about Thorney Island and the Saxons, about a 17th century Catholic monarch and an escape across the Thames from the Horseferry Road, about a Duke's Sister and the care of orphans, about a prison and wasteland where a great Cathedral would one day arise where a Pope would visit...

This Walk is aimed at anyone who is interested. For non-Londoners: nearest station and Tube is VICTORIA - to find the Cathedral just walk down Victoria Street and it's on your right! You can also get there easily from St James Park tube - follow the signs.

NOTE: Meet at Westminster Cathedral, not Abbey (tho' we'll be walking that way too).

The beauty of England...

..the countryside, the sea washing up against a pebbly beach, a village church with flowers and ribbons around the gate for a wedding, rain descending in a white mist over Exmoor...it all ought to feel timeless and secure, yet somehow it has a fragility about it, a vulnerable feeling. It's not just the terrible bashing that rural life has had in the past five to ten years - the destruction of family farms, the closure of village schools, the drunken louts gathering in towns to shriek and vomit and fight on weekend evenings. It's an underlying sense of a loss of confidence in this way of life: an are-we-allowed-to-celebrate-this? feeling over old customs and traditions, a loneliness in the recognition that things which ought to be natural and accepted now need to be defended (and against who? Usually not an external enemy).

At the practical level, our weekend was fun - camping in a damp field, cooking bacon-and-eggs on an open stove, an overcrowded church with damp families at Mass and spilling out into the porch, a glorious concert in a packed hall at a successful Music Festival. We had happy family gatherings, went blackberry-picking on a suddenly glorious afternoon, tea in a cottage garden, talk of riding-lessons and recipes for fruit-cake and golly-haven't-you-grown with a newly tall young relative...

But there's a sadness in Britain at the moment, and it's not because of economic matters, or even the war in Afghanistan, or a sense of futility about the hopelessness of the present Government. There's something deeper, a loss of confidence in the joy of the essence of things...