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Catholic Union Head of Public Affairs, James Somerville-Meikle, writes:
Spare a thought for the Church of England. In the past few weeks their finances and church attendance figures have been the subject of reports in the Times as well as front cover in the Spectator magazine. Reports about cuts to clergy and parishes in favour of middle management have been rebutted by the Archbishop of Canterbury in an article out this week. And yet given the shock caused by the pandemic, it would almost be strange if radical change wasn’t being considered, as it is for so many other groups and organisations. What’s also clear is that the Church of England is far from being alone in the challenges it faces. Catholic churches and religious orders across the country have found their finances turned on their head and plans blown of course. The Catholic Church in this country will sooner or later have to confront the question of the day – how do we build back better from this pandemic? Whatever the rebuilding work looks like, it’s clear the role of the laity will likely to be more important than ever. Let’s hope our efforts attract slightly less press coverage than the Church of England!
BBC
Jesuits and BBC offer Lenten refection. The Jesuits and the BBC are teaming up in Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday next week, to provide a daily reflection on “Knowing Jesus”. More information about the series can be found here.
In case you missed it… Read our analysis of the number of Catholic commentators to appear on BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day in 2020 here.
COVID
Judicial Review on Scottish church closures. The Scottish Government is facing a Judicial Review over the closure of churches after religious leaders launched legal proceedings. Scottish judge, Lord Braid, has now granted full permission for a substantive hearing next month. In a letter to the Catholic Union, Scottish Communities Secretary, Aileen Campbell, said “it is difficult to say with any degree of certainty where an individual has contracted the virus”, putting further pressure on the Scottish Government to lift the ban.
Cardinal’s message on vaccines. Following his Covid vaccination, Cardinal Vincent Nichols has reported a short video message praising those involved in the vaccine rollout and encouraging others to come forward and get their jab when it is their turn. The Cardinal joins Sir Elton John and Sir Michael Caine in the list of famous faces who have been promoting take up of vaccines this week. Sadly the Cardinal does not appear in their video which went viral this week.
New focus on care for the elderly. The Pontifical Academy for Life has said a new attitude and approach towards the elderly are needed in today's world in the wake of the pandemic. The new document, entitled Old Age: Our Future. The Elderly After the Pandemic calls on us to make sure the needs of older people are met, and their gifts appreciated.
World Day of the Sick. Bishop Paul Mason said that World Day of the Sick 2021 has been given special significance by the extraordinary and challenging times through which we are living. The theme for the event this year on 11 February is taken from the Gospel passage in which Jesus warns against hypocrisy and urges us to practise what we preach. We are specifically called to remember that we “are all brothers”. Read more here.
Where next for universities? Catholic commentator, Colin Brazier, considered where the pandemic has left our academic institutions and their students in the wake of the pandemic. The Catholic Herald has a write up here.
LIFE
Maternity leave for politicians gets political. The Government’s Maternity Bill risks writing "extreme gender ideology" into law by referring to a “person” rather than a “woman”, MPs have complained. Draft legislation introduced to Parliament to enable to Attorney General, Suella Braverman, to take maternity leave, refers to a “person” taking maternity leave from work, rather than a “woman”. Joanna Cherry, an SNP MP, suggested the choice of wording was a “reflection of the ideological language which is now seen across schools, universities and the NHS, which bans use of the word woman.” Catholic Union President Sir Edward Leigh also raised the matter in the House of Commons.
Catholics raise concerns about at-home abortions. The Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales and the Catholic Medical Association have both contributed to the Government’s consultation on whether or not to make “at-home” abortions permanent. The existing, temporary, measures were introduced at the beginning of the pandemic last year in light of pressure on healthcare services and social distancing requirements. Campaign group Right to Life has more information about the proposed changes on their website here.
Pippa Knight. The Anscombe Bioethics Centre has issued a press statement and summary about the case of this five year old girl on their website here. The facts of the case are contained in this judgment, which is currently the subject of an appeal.
Let’s talk about organ donation. Following the introduction of an opt-out system for organ donation in England in May 2020, NHS Blood and Transplant have launched ‘Leave Them Certain’, a campaign which aims to encourage individuals to talk to their families and loved ones about their organ donation decisions. The Catholic Bishops have welcomed the initiative here.
MIGRATION
Pressure to close Napier Barracks increases. Ministers have fended off criticism from MPs over housing asylum seekers at Napier Barracks, insisting it is safe, secure and is better value than hotels - and failing to clarify how long it will be used. Minister Chris Philp was put on the spot in the Commons this week by Folkestone MP (and Catholic), Damian Collins, in the wake of a serious fire at the Folkestone site a fortnight ago.
Meanwhile… Church leaders have written an open letter to the Home Secretary calling for the Napier Barracks to close. The letter has been signed by more than 30 leaders from across denominations, including the Bishop of Dover, Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, who was previously Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons.
Prefab accommodation plans scrapped. The Home Office has scrapped plans for temporary accommodation for about 200 asylum seekers. Construction of the prefabricated-style units beside Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre in Bedfordshire began late last year. The proposed camp had attracted intense criticism from local residents and religious leaders, and the Government seems to have listened to concerns…
ORGAN DONATION
Let’s talk about organ donation. Following the introduction of an opt-out system for organ donation in England in May 2020, NHS Blood and Transplant have launched ‘Leave Them Certain’, a campaign which aims to encourage individuals to talk to their families and loved ones about their organ donation decisions. The Catholic Bishops have welcomed the initiative here.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Church leaders call for Scottish Hate Crime Bill rethink. Catholic and Evangelical church leaders are urging the Scottish Government to drop part of its proposed Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill to allow time for “detailed consideration of crucial provisions.” The Bill, which would potentially criminalise any criticism of Transgender ideology has been criticised by the Catholic Church, the Free Church of Scotland and the Evangelical Alliance.
Last summer… Catholic Union Head of Public Affairs, James Somerville-Meikle, set out concerns about the Hate Crime Bill in August last year. Full piece on the Conservative Home blog here.
Freedom of expression for believers under threat. The Catholic Union has warned that freedom of expression is under threat from an increasing failure to accept the legitimacy of different views in society. It follows the Catholic Union submitting evidence to the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) on a wide range of matters concerning freedom of expression. The Catholic Union has used the opportunity of the JCHR inquiry to state that freedom of expression should include the expression of views based on or inspired by the teachings of the Catholic faith.
Australia moves to ban “conversion therapy”. The state of Victoria in Australia has recently passed legislation that outlaws the use of psychological or spiritual interventions to attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. See a commentary in First Things blog here.
VATICAN
Annual Papal Address to Holy See Ambassadors. The Pope addressed members of the Vatican diplomatic corps this week. The Pope spoke about various crises, of health, of politics, an economic and social crisis, and "perhaps most serious of all", a crisis of human relationships seen across the world. The full text of the Address can be found here.
EVENTS
Tuesday 16 February at 4pm
Women's Voices in a Weary World. Las Casas Institute/Georgetown University international dialogue on women's voices and influence. See here for details and registration.
Thursday 18 February at 6.30pm
Universal Basic Income? Inspired by Pope Francis’s invitation to talk about a Universal Basic Income, Catholic Voices are hosting a webinar on this topic. Speakers include Bishop John Arnold, Austen Ivereigh, and Ruth Kelly. More information here.
Friday 19 February at 5pm
Newman and the Limits of Dogma. Online lecture by Professor Eamon Duffy. For more details and to register please visit: https://2021newmanlecture.eventbrite.com.
Friday 19 February at 6pm
The President's faith: Joe Biden's Catholicism. Tablet Webinar with Prof. Massimo Faggioli. For tickets (£12.50), see here.
CATHOLIC UNION EVENT:
Thursday 25 February at 6.30pm
Theology and the Scandals of Abuse. A Catholic Union webinar with Fr Michael Holman SJ who will address the question – “Were there features of our life together which somehow contributed to a culture in which abuse could happen and also be covered up by some Church authorities?” No need to register. A Zoom link will be circulated shortly before the event.
Saturday 27 February at 10.30am - 3pm
Happiness in a Time of Pandemic. An online retreat organised by St Mary Moorfields with Abbot Christopher Jamieson OSB. See here for details.
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