This is the fourth of a series of articles outlining Pope St. John Paul II's thought on human embodiment and sexuality.  'The very "core" of choosing a person must be personal.' (Love and Responsibility, 116)

Fr. Philip Bochanski, the Executive Director of Courage, addresses this challenging question in this short clip. Please feel free to forward this to others or to post the video on social media.

"The 8th amendment did not create a right to life for the unborn child – it merely acknowledged that such a right exists, has always existed, and will always exist. What Irish voters did yesterday is a tragedy of historic proportions. However, a wrong does not become right simply because a majority support it. We are so proud of all of those who stood with us in this campaign – our supporters, our donors, our families, and our loved ones. This campaign took a huge personal toll on all of us who were involved, and we have been so grateful for their support. The unborn child no longer has a right to life recognised by the Irish state. Shortly, legislation will be introduced that will allow babies to be killed in our country. We will oppose that legislation. If and when abortion clinics are opened in Ireland, because of the inability of the Government to keep their promise about a GP led service, we will oppose that as well. Every time an unborn child has his or her life ended in Ireland, we will oppose that, and make our voices known." Abortion was wrong yesterday. It remains wrong today. The constitution has changed, but the facts have not.

Lourdes Hospitalité - The pre pilgrimage meeting will take place on 17th June at 2pm in St Ninian’s hall, Gourock. All pilgrims coming to Lourdes on the Diocesan pilgrimage are invited to attend. If you wish to book a place on the bus to the airport and are unable to attend please contact Anne Louise on 01475 638132

Youth to Lourdes 2018: Our next group meeting is on Sunday May 27th at St. Mirin’s Chaplaincy Centre beginning at 2pm. Please bear in mind that all monies should be paid before or at this meeting.

Bishop Robert Barron speaks at Google HQ about religion and the opening up of the mind. Bishop Barron is the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Bishop Barron is a #1 Amazon bestselling author and has published numerous books, essays, and articles on theology and the spiritual life, in addition to his regular YouTube videos (@wordonfirevideo). Bishop Barron discusses how our minds restlessly seek, and how religion, at its best, never shuts down the mind, but opens it up. He explores the nature of "beatitudo", following the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas to conclude that wealth, power, pleasure, and honor will never satisfy, but only God can satisfy the infinite desires of our hearts

On Friday 25th May we will be streaming the Angelus live from Scots College Rome, where a few of our seminarians will lead the Angelus for the intention of saving the 8th amendment & for the protection of all the unborn babies & mothers in Ireland.

Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, has issued a pastoral message to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Armagh on the right to life of the unborn. The message, titled Love Them Both,  Archbishop Martin added, ‘To be against abortion is not simply “a Catholic thing”. The innate dignity of every human life is a value for the whole of society – for people of all faiths and none.

Every Mass is meant to be another Pentecost. If Pentecost can be understood as the power God unleashes in our experience of the worship of the Mass and through our adoration and reception of the Eucharistic Mystery of the Blessed Sacrament, then what is this Holy Spirit, this Spirit that unleashes heavenly gifts and imbues disciples with vigorous strength for mission?

Saturday Vigil of Prayer - starting today at 3pm - see image for details - all welcome St Columba Church 74 Hopehill Road Glasgow, G20 7HH

Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews & Edinburgh is inviting people from across Scotland – and beyond – to join him on Sunday 3 June for the annual St Margaret’s Summer Pilgrimage in Dunfermline. “St Margaret is the Pearl of Scotland and a remarkable example of everyday holiness. Her daily pursuit of virtue transformed not only the life of her family but the life of this nation for the next thousand years,” said the Archbishop in a promotional video issued 14 May. “She is a great reminder that it is saints and saintliness that change the world for the better. Her example and intercession can now help us to do likewise.”  

Community of the Adorers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Montmartre OSB situated here in Largs, Ayrshire. We are currently working on promoting our retreat accommodation services in Scotland.

Precision of terms in the field hospital by Ann Schneible  During my tenure as a journalist in Rome, I had the opportunity to cover the 2014 and 2015 Synods on the Family, and one of the topics of discussion was the Catholic Church's languagesurrounding certain pastoral matters, particularly homosexuality. It wasn't a question of Latin vs. modern languages that we were concerned with. Rather, it was the magisterium's mode of expression (best translated by the Italian word "linguaggio") when addressing this topic: specifically, the terms "objectively" and "intrinsically disordered" used to describe same-sex attractions (SSA) and same-sex intimate acts, respectively. In today's cultural climate, where it is becoming increasingly easy to (even inadvertently) close someone off to constructive dialogue with the wrong word, these terms present a significant pastoral and communications challenge.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Recruitment Campaign -Diocese of Paisley  ​​​​​​​ The SSVP are holding a Recruitment Campaign and inviting parishioners to join the Society.  The SSVP, as part of an ongoing Recruitment Campaign, have published information leaflets and posters which will be available in those parishes where the SSVP currently operate. For more details on how parishioners can to get involved, please speak to a local SSVP member or your parish Priest.

Compassionate Inverclyde Project - This Spring, the Catholic primary schools in Inverclyde have been involved in the High Five Programme.  The concept of being kind is explored with children of Primaries1, 2 and 3, using various books targeted at that age group and introducing the Kindness Bear.

MARRIAGE MATTERS (www.twoinoneflesh.org.uk) Seventh Sunday of Easter The Ascension (Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 1John 4: 11-16 John 17: 11-19) Strive for unity Since even before we married, we have worked to bring about unity in our love relationship.

MARRIAGE MATTERS (www.twoinoneflesh.org.uk) Sixth Sunday of Easter (Acts of the Apostles10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 1 John 4:7-10 15:9-17)           Called to reflect God’s love ”Love one another as I have loved you”.  With these words Jesus spells out God’s plan for marriage.

Today we hear from Mark O'Donnell from the Diocese of Motherwell ahead of his ordination to the diaconate on Sunday. Check back tomorrow and all this week for another interview ahead of the Ordination Mass on Sunday.

In 2018 we will reach the centenary of the 1918 Education Act. This was the Act that saw Catholic schools transfer from Diocesan control to State governance. The Bishops’ Conference plans to use this centenary to celebrate the positive impact that this very important partnership between Church and State has had for Scotland.