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Catholic Union Head of Public Affairs, James Somerville-Meikle, writes:
“We will look again in three weeks, and relax them [restrictions] if the evidence shows we are able to.” Those were the words from Boris Johnson on 23 March last year as he introduced the stay at home message and began what would become the first of three national lockdowns. The events of the past year have had an impact on almost every aspect of our lives. Actions that seemed unthinkable – such as banning public worship – became the reality, and human cost of this pandemic is worse than many people imagined with over 125,000 people in the UK having died from Covid so far. Our Bishops have rightly called for Tuesday 23 March to be a moment for prayer as well as reflection. It is a moment to grieve for those who have died, to give thanks for the acts of service and sacrifice we have seen throughout this pandemic, and to pray for healing as we begin to emerge from this dark time. There is truly a lot to pray for.
CENSUS
Tomorrow (21 March) is Census Day and analysts will be looking closely at the number of people who identify themselves as Christian. Hopefully, readers of this Briefing will choose to answer the voluntary question and will tick the "Christianity" box. There is no option to identify specifically as Catholic.
CHURCHES
Listed places of worship fund extended. The Government has announced it will be continuing with the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme for the next financial year on the same terms as before. The scheme provides grants towards VAT paid on repairs and maintenance to the nation's listed churches and cathedrals. More information about the scheme and how to apply for funding can be found here.
COVID
23 March: Day of Prayer and Reflection for first lockdown anniversary. Catholic Bishops in England and Wales have urged the faithful to make the National Day of Reflection on 23 March a day of prayer as well as a day of reflection for the victims of Covid. The anniversary of the first national lockdown, will be marked with a minute’s silence at midday. Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Malcolm McMahon "invite everyone to enter a church on this day, to reflect and pray in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament" . The Catholic Union is having a Mass said and is fully supporting this initiative which was spearheaded by cancer charity Marie Curie.
Churches across the UK open for Easter. Catholic Bishops in Northern Ireland announced a return to public worship from next week, with other Christian denominations expected to make similar announcements. The move follows the announcement from the Scottish Government that communal worship in Scotland can resume on 26 March. Public worship and prayer are already allowed in England and Wales, meaning churches across the UK will be able to open for Easter this year.
However… Despite efforts from a number of MPs and peers, including Catholic Union President Sir Edward Leigh, it looks unlikely that singing will be permitted in churches over Easter. Charles Cole has an interesting article on the importance of our choral tradition, read it here.
Do not resuscitate orders were used in care homes. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found that blanket orders not to resuscitate some care home residents were imposed at the start of the Covid pandemic. While examples of good practice were identified, the report found some people were not properly involved in decisions or were unaware that such an important decision about their care had been made.
HOMELESSNESS
Commons report on homeless. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee published a report this week into housing rough sleepers during the pandemic. The report praises the Government’s “Everyone In” scheme but also says the initiative has exposed gaps in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)’s approach to tackling rough sleeping. This week, the Government announced £212 million in funding for local councils to help them find permanent homes for rough sleepers after the pandemic.
INTEGRATED REVIEW PUBLISHED
Global Britain defined. This week the Government published its report on the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy. The report, entitled Global Britain in a Competitive Age, sets out the challenges likely to confront the UK over the next decade and how the Government plans to respond. Read the Catholic Union response here.
On international development spending… The report says that “we will return to our commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on development when the fiscal situation allows.”
On nuclear weapons… In 2010 the Government stated an intent to reduce our overall nuclear warhead stockpile from no more than 225 to no more than 180 by the mid-2020s. However, the report states that “in recognition of the evolving security environment, including the developing range of technological and doctrinal threats… the UK will move to an overall nuclear weapon stockpile of no more than 260 warheads.”
On human rights… The report says that the UK will work with allies to “defend universal human rights”. Support for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) is singled out, and the report recommits to implement the recommendations of the Bishop of Truro’s 2019 report into Christian persecution. It also commits to host an international ministerial conference in 2022 to agree steps to advance FoRB for all.
LIFE
Pippa Knight. Yesterday (19 March) the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal in the case of Pippa Knight, a five year old girl with very severe brain damage. The Court summarised her condition saying that she "is now totally dependent on mechanical ventilation and has respiratory instability with frequent desaturations requiring specialist nursing and physiotherapy interventions. She is doubly incontinent and has cortical blindness". All the clinicians and experts (though not Pippa's mother) agreed that continued treatment in the Evelina Hospital Intensive Care Unit was not in Pippa's best interests and the case was mostly concerned with whether there was a feasible option of continuing treatment at home. The Court upheld the trial judge's view that the chances of success of such an option were remote and in any event not in the best interests of the child. The result (barring a successful appeal to the Supreme Court) is that mechanical ventilation will be withdrawn and that Pippa will die.
The Court of Appeal's judgment is here and the response of Bishop John Sherrington is here. The earlier High Court judgment is here and sets out all the facts of this very sad case.
End of Life Companions. As we approach the anniversary of the first UK pandemic lockdown, the Centre for the Art of Dying Well at St Mary’s University is beginning a major new partnership with the Saint Vincent de Paul Society to train members and volunteers as End of Life Companions. The National Day of Reflection on 23 March is an important moment to remember the dead and the bereaved and the partnership will serve to further the Centre’s vision that no one should die alone if that is not their wish. For more details, see here.
Stormont backs Bill to protect disabled babies. Earlier this week, the Northern Ireland Assembly voted 48 to 12 in favour of the Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill at its second reading, in a move celebrated by disability rights campaigners across the UK. The private members’ bill led by Paul Givan MLA aims to prevent abortions up to full term on the grounds of non-fatal disability.
Brandon steps in. The UK Government has announced it will give the Northern Ireland secretary new powers to compel Stormont to implement abortion laws. Northern Ireland's abortion laws changed last March after Westminster acted during the absence of a devolved assembly. But the commissioning of full services has been stalled due to differences within the five-party executive. The move will see Northern Ireland Secretary, Brandon Lewis MP, lay new regulations in Parliament early next week.
MPs set to hear evidence on home abortions. Latest evidence will be presented to parliamentarians in Westminster in an event organised by Right to Life. The virtual event comes ahead of the Department for Health and Social Care considering whether or not to make “at home” abortions permanent after the pandemic. Temporary measures were introduced last year allowing virtual consultation and abortion pills to be taken at home. More information about the event can be found here.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
National Board of Catholic Women at the UN. On Thursday this week, the National Board of Catholic Women organised a delegation to speak at the UN’s Committee on the Status of Women. The group asked Fiona Bruce MP to be one of their six guest speakers at the virtual event. Mrs Bruce was appointed the Prime Minster’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief at the end of last year. She spoke candidly about her faith, and said “after I became a Christian and started seeking the Lord’s will for my life – rather than my own unfulfilling self-centred one – I felt a calling to politics and to try to become an MP!”
SYRIA/CAFOD
This week marked the tenth anniversary of the Civll War in Syria and CAFOD organised an Online Briefing for MPs on 16 March which was also attended by the Catholic Union. CAFOD is organising another webinar at 11am on Tuesday 23 March to update supporters on the situation in Syria. All are welcome to join.
EVENTS
Tuesday 23 March at 6.30pm
Climate Change: The Gospel Imperative. Catholic Union webinar with Lord Deben (John Gummer) who is the Chairman of the UK’s independent Committee on Climate Change. You can now register on Eventbrite here. A Zoom link will also be circulated before the event.
Please note that the Catholic Voices / Smart Catholics online conference scheduled for today Saturday 20 March has now been rescheduled for Saturday 17 April. See here for details.
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