The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales continues to be seriously concerned about the implications of the current two-child policy on Universal Credit payments for vulnerable, larger families.
Introduced in 2017, the policy has been undermining the financial security of families with three or more children. Such families often have no choice but to make claims for Universal Credit as a result of common, but unpredictable, life events, such as job loss or the onset of disability. The majority of families affected by the two-child policy are working families.
The UK Government is reviewing the cap as part of the work of the newly formed Child Poverty Taskforce.
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In a message to mark the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Bishop Paul McAleenan has praised the Catholic community in England and Wales for the generous welcome and kindness many offer to refugees and migrants.
The World Day of Migrants and Refugees is celebrated on 29 September 2024, the Holy Father has chosen the theme ‘God walks with His people’. Read more.
On 18 September the UK Government announced that legislation to enact so-called ‘safe access zones’ or ‘buffer zones’ outside abortion facilities in England and Wales will come into force from 31 October.
Such legislation remains deeply concerning as a threat to freedom of speech, thought, conscience and religion for people of all faiths and none.
Following the announcement, Bishop John Sherrington, the Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said:
“As the Catholic Bishops’ Conference repeatedly stated during the passage of the Public Order Bill last year, ‘safe access zone’ legislation is unnecessary and disproportionate. We condemn all harassment and intimidation of women and hold that, as was accepted in a Home Office Review, there are already laws and mechanisms in place to protect women from such behaviour.” Read more.
His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Philip Moger as the new Bishop of Plymouth.
A priest of the Diocese of Leeds for over 40 years, Bishop Moger has, until now, served as an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Southwark. Read more.
In a pastoral letter to be read across the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia on the weekend of 14-15 September, Archbishop Mark O’Toole shared the joyful news of the creation of the new Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia. The announcement was promulgated from Rome, following the decision of Pope Francis, on 12 September, coinciding with the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary. Read more.
Bishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Bishops’ Conference, is encouraging Catholics to unite in prayer and compassionate action as Parliament prepares to renew the debate around assisted suicide. Read more.
The World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, celebrated on 1 September, kicks off the Season of Creation, a time of sustained prayer and action which lasts a month and four days. During this season we are encouraged to pray and engage in community events in order to deepen our relationship with God, our neighbour and the earth we share, being ever more attentive to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. Read more.
A new edition of the Lectionary, the book which contains the readings which are proclaimed at Mass, will come into use in England and Wales on the First Sunday of Advent 2024.
For information and resources on the new Lectionary, visit the dedicated section in our What’s On area.
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