Saturday 28 February 2009

On the Cathedra

For the first time, Bishop Campbell this afternoon used the cathedra - the Bishop's chair. Only the Diocesan Bishop and the local Metropolitan (in our case, the Archbishop of Liverpool) may use this chair, which is a symbol of the Bishop's authority to teach in his Diocese; visiting and assistant bishops are not entitled to use the cathedra. Bishop Campbell, however, is the Coadjutor Bishop, and so has ordinary authority within this Diocese. Over the coming years we will become well used to seeing him here.

The Bishop was at the Cathedral for the Rite of Election and Affirmation, a diocesan service for those who are seeking to be baptised or received into full communion with the Catholic Church at Easter. The Blog will feature a full report on this event during the next week.