A bid to academise 19 schools by the Diocese of Hallam has been “paused” by the Department for Education after four education unions launched a legal challenge to the decision. Plans to consolidate the 47 diocesan schools into two new multi-academy trusts had existed since last January and received government approval late last year. Unions representing teachers at the 19 non-academy diocesan schools stated that the Department for Education then issued letters to each school warning that academisation would proceed in April this year, in spite of opposition from parents and teachers. The diocese claimed that the letters use “standard wording” and indicated only that academisation was now possible if governing bodies chose that step, not that it was mandatory.
The 31 churches and charities behind Climate Sunday have stated their intention to leave a “lasting legacy of churches committed to ongoing action”. The coalition will continue to provide opportunities for local churches to make climate action a significant part of their discipleship and mission and to lobby for national and international action. In the run-up to Cop26, more than 2,200 churches and church groups throughout Britain and Ireland participated in the Climate Sunday initiative, holding Climate Sunday services, taking practical action and speaking up for climate justice.
The Redemptorists in Ireland are to close their monastery in Esker, Co Galway where they have had a presence since 1901. In a statement, the congregation said the decision followed a review by independent consultants of the pastoral, legal, planning and contractual issues regarding the future of the site. They plan to withdraw from Esker by the end of November 2022 and will decide on how to dispose of the property in the coming months. “We Redemptorists take such fond memories from Esker, of wonderful times in such a special place, but we regretfully must face the realities of the present day and plan accordingly for the future,” the statement said. Fr Brendan Callanan told RTE that a lack of vocations had severely impacted the order. There are 12 Redemptorists in the Esker community which oversees the running of a church, retreat centre and youth village. Eight of those are over 80, including one centenarian. The community will be redeployed to Redemptorist centres in Limerick, Dundalk, Belfast, Dublin and Cork.
The Prisons Advice Trust has prepared a new Stations of the Cross liturgy that includes words from those with experience of the criminal justice system. Former prisoners reflect on moments from their time in prison and their life afterward and people who have walked alongside family members in prison speak about how that felt.
An organisation of Catholic police officers in Northern Ireland has vowed to restart stalled progress towards a religiously diverse police force in the six counties. The Northern Irish Catholic Police Guild, recently reorganised with an expanded committee, was founded in 2020 with the intent of providing pastoral support to existing police officers and promoting policing as a career amongst Catholic communities. Presently, Catholics are underrepresented amongst the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), with only 32 per cent of police officers hailing from a “perceived Catholic” background, compared to 66 per cent from a protestant one. In 2020, 75 per cent of new recruits were Protestant and 24 per cent were Catholic. Speaking to The Tablet, a spokesperson for the Guild said that the group saw itself as continuing the progress made over the past twenty years in policing - encouraging more Catholics to apply for policing roles, and supporting those Catholics who do take up appointments as police officers. Given the limited links between Catholic communities and policing as a profession, the spokesperson said, the process of joining the PSNI can often be a socially and spiritually lonely one. MC
Bishop of East Anglia Alan Hopes has blessed a newly-opened house in Cromer which is a project for homeless people run by the St Vincent de Paul Society.
An organisation of Catholic police officers in Northern Ireland has vowed to restart stalled progress towards a religiously diverse police force in the six counties. The Northern Irish Catholic Police Guild, recently reorganised with an expanded committee, was founded in 2020 with the intent of providing pastoral support to existing police officers and promoting policing as a career amongst Catholic communities. Presently, Catholics are underrepresented amongst the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), with only 32 per cent of police officers hailing from a “perceived Catholic” background - compared to 66 per cent from a protestant one. In 2020, 75 per cent of new recruits were Protestant and 24 per cent were Catholic. Speaking to The Tablet, Guild committee member said that the group saw itself as continuing the progress made over the past twenty years in policing – encouraging more Catholics to apply for policing roles, and supporting those Catholics who do take up appointments as police officers. Given the limited links between Catholic communities and policing as a profession, Conroy said, the process of joining the PSNI can often be a socially and spiritually lonely one.
The new Archbishop of Glasgow William Nolan, who will take up his new position at a Mass at St Andrew’s Cathedral today, Saturday, has described the billions spent annually maintaining nuclear weapons in the UK as a “scandal” amid rising poverty and the cost of living crisis. Bishop Nolan said he had taken part in peaceful protests at Faslane and that Scotland was considered a “leading light” in its attitude to nuclear deterrents, The Herald reported.
The Plater Trust has launched a new £2.5 million grant programme and hopes to offer up to £500,000 in grants for good causes, annually, for the next five years. It is calling on all registered charities who share its Catholic Social Teaching values to apply for grants for social action, lay leadership or applied research projects for up to £50,000 per grant. Bishop Richard Moth,chair of the Plater Trust, said: “It is significant and timely that we are extending the Church’s charity and social mission to all who care about making a difference in our increasingly divided and unequal society.”
Catholic Women Speak is partnering with Catherine of Siena College to offer a six-week online course during Lent, exploring a wide range of theological and pastoral perspectives and personal stories from Catholic women around the world. It is offered in the context of the two-year process of dialogue leading up to the 2023 Synod of Bishops. The course was designed by Professor Tina Beattie, Director of Catherine of Siena College and comprises a weekly recorded video lecture by Tina, a weekly live Zoom seminar, an online discussion forum and access to a wide range of online resources. For more information or to register for the course, contact Dr Anna Cantelmi at catherineofsiena@roehampton.ac.uk.
Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, has had a meeting with Pope Francis in Rome to strengthen “the bridge of understanding” between Jews and Roman Catholics, The Jewish Chronicle reported. “It was an amazing experience,” she said afterwards, according to the JC. “He was warm, charming and gracious. It is good to remember that we as Jews have friends.” Dr Edward Kessler, of Cambridge University’s Woolf Institute, said it was an example of Pope Francis taking seriously the relationship with Jews and Judaism.
A new knife amnesty bin has been installed at St Mary and St Michael Roman Catholic Church in Tower Hamlets and blessed by Bishop Nicholas Hudson. This is the fifth knife bin installed by the partnership between Caritas Westminster and Word4Weapons, in parts of London that are known to have an issue with knife crime and gang related violence. These amnesty bins have been placed on church premises, for anyone carrying a weapon to deposit it safely away from any harm to others and themselves.
The Catholic Parliamentary and Public Affairs Internship Scheme is now open for 2022 applications. Aimed at young Catholics who want to be involved in public service, the year-long scheme offers a foundation of Catholic faith, formation on Catholic social teaching and spiritual formation. Interns commit to a varied year exploring the political landscape and the Church’s involvement in social action. This occurs first and foremost in their work placements with Members of Parliament and CAFOD, the Church’s overseas aid agency. More details here.