The value of every human person...

...including those with mental impairment. Baroness Hollins spoke of this at a meeting of The Keys, the Catholic Writers' Guild. As always, we began with Mass at St Mary Moorfields, our Guild church. It was the feast of St Benedict, and Fr Peter Newby preached about him, and how the foundation of the Benedictine Order allowed a Christian life and culture to surmount the collapse of the old Roman Empire and  usher in new chapters of history...as always, a friendly and convivial time over dinner, and then we gathered for the talk from Baroness Hollins.  This focused on her work with adults with learning difficulties - specifically, on the provision of illustrated books for those who cannot read, assisting them with specific issues relating to their health and welfare and daily struggles. She also spoke on the latest ghastly attempt to introduce legalised euthanasia - yet another Bill is being introduced in the House of Lords - and the need to oppose this with vigour.  Every human being has value.

With a warm and lively group such as The Keys, together for Mass and for a meal and for discussion of deep things centred on practical Christian care,  there is a sense in which one can see how a Christian culture can indeed trascend a collapsing one. There is a  "culture of death" in our country and the Western world - Baroness Hollins used the phrase - and the voice of Christian hope speaks with clarity, opening up towards something new...