Cake appeal ongoing
Christian bakers in Belfast who were fined for refusing to decorate a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan would have been forced to express a political opinion in conflict with their faith, according to Northern Ireland’s Attorney General. Ashers bakery, which is run by the McArthur family – Amy and Daniel McArthur are pictured above – was ordered to pay £500 last year when it was found to have discriminated against a customer on the grounds of his sexual orientation. Their appeal, backed by Attorney General John Larkin and heard at Belfast High Court this week, was made on the grounds that the case could raise a potential conflict between Northern Ireland’s equality legislation and human rights laws. The family’s lawyer said they believed baking the cake would have gone against their consciences.
Down’s screening issues
The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has acknowledged that there are moral and ethical issues that need to be considered before a more accurate screening test for Down’s syndrome is introduced in the NHS. The prenatal test, which carries a lower risk of miscarriage, can determine with great accuracy whether or not a baby will be born with Down’s, and is used in the private sector. But pro-life campaigners argue that because most babies with Down’s are aborted, broadening access to the test will result in more terminations.
Challenged at Prime Minister’s Questions last Wednesday by the Tory MP for Ribble Valley, Nigel Evans, Mr Cameron said that the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, would “have to find a way through this”. Bridget Jones’ Diary actress Sally Phillips, whose son has Down’s syndrome, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that she was upset by this “arms race for new technology” that she said dehumanised people with Down’s.
Government U-turn on child refugees
Cardinal Vincent Nichols welcomed the Government’s announcement that the UK will offer sanctuary to unaccompanied children fleeing violence and persecution in Syria. The decision represented a U-turn, coming days after the Tories voted down an amendment to the immigration bill that would have let 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees into the UK. The Government has now said the UK will take in an unspecified number of children from camps in the Middle East as well as children registered in Greece, Italy or France before 20 March. Children registered after that date would not be eligible, Mr Cameron said. This was to discourage people from using human trafficking networks. The cardinal said that the Government had struck the right balance between offering sanctuary and combating the evils of trafficking. He called on Catholics to play their part in the resettlement, through welcome, time and resources.
Cardinal welcomes new London Mayor
The election of Sadiq Khan (above) as Mayor of London last week was welcomed by the Christian housing charity, Housing Justice. Its Chief Executive, Alison Gelder, said she hoped Mr Khan would make greater provision for housing in London, and said she was encouraged to hear him talk about tackling homelessness. Cardinal Nichols, as Archbishop of Westminster, also welcomed the election of Mr Khan and assured him of his prayers.
(See Julia Langdon, page 9)
New centre at St Mary's
A new centre for the study of religion and society opened at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, on Thursday last week. Among research conducted by the Benedict XVI Centre for Religion and Society is a report on the state of contemporary Catholicism in England and Wales and a 15-month study into non-religious belief. Dr Stephen Bullivant, the director of the new centre, told some 200 guests at the launch that the centre had been influenced by the intellectual opus of the Pope Emeritus. The centre will also work with the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales on a new “Courtyard of the Gentiles” initiative to promote dialogue between believers and non-believers.
Communications Day marked
The Archbishop of Glasgow, Philip Tartaglia, marked the 50th World Communications Day with a message linking communication and mercy. In a pastoral letter read out in parishes in Scotland last weekend, the archbishop said that the need to speak with care and compassion was especially important online. The immediacy of social media, he said, could tempt people towards angry exchanges and aggressive language. Urging Catholics to communicate with mercy, he said: “Hurling insults and abuse will simply entrench misunderstanding and close hearts and minds.” The Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin, said that true communication involved listening and also warned that social media could lead to polarisation and division. Communications Day was marked in London with a Mass at St Patrick’s, Soho Square in central London. During his homily the Bishop of Salford, John Arnold, mentioned the “violence” and “insults” so often found online, particularly concerning issues about the sanctity of life. He also criticised the way refugees are represented in the media and warned the faithful not to forget the dignity of people.
Cardinal Bo in Scotland
During his visit to Scotland this week Burmese Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, the Archbishop of Yangon (Rangoon), appealed to the country’s Catholics for help. He said that after 50 years of brutal oppression Burma stood at the threshold of hope. He looked to Scotland, which had wrestled with its own questions of political status, autonomy, religious diversity and self-determination, for inspiration. “I would like to learn from you,” he said ahead of the visit, which included Mass at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Glasgow, a talk to more than 250 pupils from schools in the Motherwell Diocese and a civic reception at Glasgow City Chambers.
St Martin Trust's Award
Baroness (Joan) Bakewell (above), the broadcaster and journalist, is to receive this year’s Sandford St Martin Trust’s Award for her commitment to religious and ethical broadcasting over six decades. The award will be presented at a ceremony at Lambeth Palace on 8 June. Previous winners of the award include Rabbi Lord (Jonathan) Sacks and the journalist Ian Hislop.
Prayer for Pentecost
The bishops’ conference has urged Catholics to take part in a week of prayer at Pentecost for the re-evangelisation of England. “Thy Kingdom Come” is an Anglican initiative to try to encourage Christians across England and Wales to pray for the renewal of the Holy Spirit. Churches will hold 24/7 prayer events, and seven cathedrals are due to hold “Beacon Events” this weekend. Catholic bishops are hoping the initiative will build on the work done in Christian Unity Week in January.
Compiled by Liz Dodd
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