Street preachers and social-media posters are arrested, held, stripped of their phones, bailed — and then told no further action will be taken. The State loses nearly every case it brings. It does not need to win: the process is the punishment. Fr. Lewis examines an English constabulary that has been told, has paid, and goes on doing it, and asks who is left defending free speech, and why the defence was funded by atheists while the churches watched.

As we step into 2026, the Canons Regular of the Sacred Heart of Jesus begin our annual Donations Campaign — a moment each year when we invite friends, benefactors, and all who share our mission to stand with us in sustaining the pastoral, educational, and charitable work entrusted to our care. This is not simply a fundraising effort. It is a renewal of shared responsibility for the life of the Church, and for the people who rely on us for sacramental ministry, spiritual accompaniment, and practical support.