CONTRACEPTIVES discussed in the fifth form, religious aetivity for infants, the encouraging of young people to live as well as pray Christian fives in and out of school, and an end to the mere imparting of religious knowledge. These new approaches to R.I. were called for by Fr. Nigel Lam n at a conference on religious teaching. held last weekend at the Cenacle Convent, Manchester.
Fr. Lam, who is Ecclesiastical Assistant to the Catholic Education Council. said that it was useless just to let adolescents read the Church's answer to sexual problems. They should be allowed to take part in frank discussions on birth prevention and divorce.
The old methods of religious teaching had produced splendid Catholics. but the arrival of TV and other external influences meant that young people needed the whole atmosphere of Catholicism M their classrooms.
"It is not enough." said Fr. Lam. "simply to impart doctrinal knowledge to young people. We must encourage them to put Christian Principles into practice. Those who oppose new trends in religious teaching are just not facing up to the realities of the present day."
Presentation planned for Mgr. Bickford
AT a ceremony on July 2, the golden jubilee in the priesthood of Mgr. Francis Bickford, parish priest in Edmonton, will he marked by a presentation to be made in the Westminster Cathedral Hall. The presentation will follow Capitular High Mass at 10.30 a.m., which it is hoped Mgr. Bickford will celebrate. The actual jubilee date is June 29.
Mgr. 'Bickford, who was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry as an Army Chaplain in the First World War, was made president of St. Edmund's College, Ware, in 1932, and was appointed Vicar General of the diocese shortly afterwards. He resigned from St. Edmund's in 1946. owing to ill-health. Ti 1958 Pope John created him a Protonotary Apostolic. at the request of Cardinal Godfrey.
Mgr. Bickford has indicated that he would above all be pleased if his brother priests would be kind enough to offer Mass for him on. or near, June 29. Contributions to the Jubilee Fund should he sent to Fr. Patrick Casey, 4 Es,,erton Gardens, Hendon, N.W.4.
Cardiff keeps Sunday 'X' ban
Catholic Herald Correepondent
THE ban on Sunday showing of "X" films remains in Cardiff. The city's Watch Committee agreed by one vote to refuse an application from cinema managers for the ban to be lifted.
The managers warned that unless "X" films were allowed to be screened some of the cinemas in the city would have to close on Sunday. They claimed that very few other local authorities in Great Britain prohibited entirely the showing of such films on Sunday.