Letters

Reasons for Hope

Anthony English

Contents - Jul 2012 - Buy a copy now Homily: Benedict XVI: Sts Peter and Paul and the priesthood - Pope Benedict XVI Religious Freedom: Prague's Cardinal Duka thanks Australians for helping religious prisoners - Peter Westmore News: The Church Around the World Campus Life: A new model for Catholic university chaplaincy in Brisbane - Br Barry Coldrey Obama and same-sex 'marriage': Shaking his fist at God - Babette Francis The climate alarmist 'religion' and Third World poverty - David Legates Benedict XVI calls for reform of US Catholic higher education - Hilary White Austrian Chancellor's son: How faith helped to survive the Nazis - Michelle Baumann Update: 'Jesus Abandoned' aid reaches the needy in Nigeria - Madonna Brosnan 'Born again': how to change from a nominal to a "living" Christian - Andrew Kania Benedict XVI: Grave threats to the Church's moral witness - Donald R. McClarey Letters: Papal infallibility - Peter D. Howard Letters: Reasons for Hope - Anthony English Letters: Transubstantiation - Frank Mobbs Letters: US religious women - Richard Congram Letters: Anti-Catholicism - Fr. M. Shadbolt Letters: Caritas - P.W. English Letters: Communion reception - Ken Bayliss Letters: Patron Saints - Fred Preshaw Books: ANSWERING THE ANTI-CATHOLIC CHALLENGE, by Robert M. Haddad - Angela Schumann (reviewer) Books: FR ALEXANDER MEN: Martyr of Atheism, by Michel Evdokimov - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: THE FACE OF GOD and THE TRUE ICON, by Paul Badde - Paul MacLeod Books: Order books from www.freedompublishing.com.au Letters: The Year of Grace and the New Evangelisation - Fr Dennis Byrnes

In Br Barry Coldrey's article on the annual "Reasons for Hope" retreat (May AD2000), the management of the "Veritas" Young Adult ministry at St Bernadette's, Castle Hill, was incorrectly attributed to me. Much as I'd like to take credit for organising that excellent group, the good work was done entirely by some fine people involved in that parish. I recall especially Mrs Christine de Stoop, who worked with others in the parish to present the true Catholic faith to many enthusiastic young people.

I have been honoured to be invited to give some talks at Veritas from time to time, and been blessed to have established some lifelong friendships as a result.

I did play some part with the initial discussions regarding the annual "Reasons for Hope" weekends, but I have to admit I was primarily more of a wet blanket. (I did, however, suggest the name). Matt Woodbury, whose brainchild it was, was sure it would attract many more young Catholics than I predicted, and I'm delighted to have been proven so wrong.

"Reasons for Hope", and other groups such as the Centre for Thomistic Studies, and Lumen Verum Apologetics, have continued to attract enthusiastic, intelligent and prayerful young Catholics keen to deepen their understanding of the faith.

There have been many friendships, good marriages and vocations to the priesthood and religious life from groups such as these. They have helped show how faith and reason work together. Clearly they have filled a vital need for young Catholics, and others interested in learning about the Catholic faith. It's been an honour to be involved with them.

ANTHONY ENGLISH
Ryde, NSW

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 25 No 6 (July 2012), p. 14