New regulations came into force this week allowing women in Northern Ireland to have free abortions through the NHS in Scotland. Terminations are illegal in Northern Ireland except in cases where the woman’s life is at risk or there is a permanent or serious risk to her physical or mental health. That has led to women travelling to England, Wales or Scotland, where they have had to pay for abortions. Scotland’s Public Health minister Aileen Campbell (pictured) said: “I am proud this Government is working hard to ensure women are always able to access clinically safe services.” In June, the UK Government announced it would offer women from Northern Ireland free abortion services in England. Precious Life, the Northern Ireland campaign group, said the move would spark a “public outcry” and that it runs “roughshod over the law”.
Rise in young homeless
The number of young homeless people referred to Depaul UK for emergency accommodation has risen by more than 20 per cent this year, according to figures released by the charity. In the first half of the year, Nightstop services received more than 1,400 referrals, over 300 more cases than the same period in 2016. Depaul is now calling on Catholics to support young homeless people.
The charity’s chief executive, Martin Houghton-Brown, warned there is an increasing need for its emergency accommodation as emotional and financial pressures lead to greater strains on families. Depaul places young homeless people in the home of a vetted and trained volunteer for the night and provided more than 12,000 bed-nights last year.
Light of faith
More than 30 cathedrals, churches and schools across Britain will be lighting their buildings red as part of #RedWednesday on 22 November, when Christians stand together with victims of religious persecution. Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), which is organising #RedWednesday with support from Christian Solidarity Worldwide, is inviting people to wear an item of red clothing on the day. The colour was chosen to symbolise martyrdom and suffering. The organisers are appealing for public buildings to be floodlit red on the day. Among those pledging to light up red are the National Shrine of Our Lady, Walsingham; St Mary’s University, Twickenham; Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe; Lancaster University Roman Catholic Chaplaincy Centre; St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham; Our Lady Immaculate parish, Bournemouth; Cardinal Newman High School, Bellshill; St Joseph’s, Bromyard; St Joseph’s, Pontefract and Holy Name Church, Manchester. A red bus emblazoned with the #RedWednesday slogan – “Stand Up for Faith and Freedom” – will tour central London, via St Paul’s Cathedral and St Martin-in-the-Fields en route to an event at a floodlit Westminster Cathedral, where ACN national director Neville Kyrke-Smith will be among the speakers.
The London council responsible for the care of a five-year-old who was placed with Muslim foster carers in a case that led to a media storm, has rejected concerns about her treatment and found that she had a “warm relationship” with the family, according to an internal council investigation. Tower Hamlets Council launched the inquiry after a story in The Times newspaper in August claimed the foster parents of the girl had removed a crucifix from her, stopped her from eating bacon and encouraged her to learn Arabic. Tower Hamlets said the allegations were not substantiated, while The Times noted that the girl’s mother disputed the findings. The girl now lives with her grandmother.
An ecumenical exhibition highlighting the role of military chaplains in the First World War is taking place at Leeds Cathedral with the aim of “recalling the wartime ministry of those non-combatant clergymen who donned a military uniform and ministered to men in battle”. Over 5,000 clergymen were commissioned as army chaplains – uniformed officers with ranks from captain to colonel. Some 179 chaplains were killed and many more were wounded in the war. The display also covers the role of Jewish chaplains serving the more than 50,000 Jewish men who volunteered for military service with the British army.
The funeral Mass has taken place of Fr Theodore Young OSB, the oldest monk at Ampleforth Abbey, who has died aged 95. Fr Theo, as he was known, joined the monastic community in September 1940.
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