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Social-Justice-Annual-Report-2020 Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales Department for Social Justice Annual Report 2020 0 Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales 39 Eccleston Square, London, SW1V 1BX 1 Charity Number 1097482 Company Number 4734592 Contents Foreword 3 Introduction 4 Life Issues and the dignity of the person 6 Healthcare and Mental Health 10 Criminal Justice 14 Faith in Politics Internship and Network 17 Covid and post-Covid-19 work 20 CSAN 23 Marriage and Family Life 28 Environment 31 2 Foreword The Department addresses a wide range of issues in the course of its work and this Report provides a fine overview of its work during this last year. In particular, the promotion of the value of Human Life continues to be at the forefront of the Department’s work and the response to particular cases and the changes to legislation have been particularly timely. The focus on end-of-life care has not been lost, mindful of the continuing need to be ready to respond to attempts to legalise assisted suicide. The Covid-19 Pandemic has given a particular focus to the work, especially with regard to the Vaccine programme, providing reassurance about its use and the service of the Common Good. The promulgation of the Holy Father’s Encyclical Fratelli Tutti, with its call for universal friendship and the “sincere gift of self to others” will continue to prompt the work of the Department at the service of the Church and the deeply significant place of Catholic Social Teaching for the life of the World. I take this opportunity to thank the Department Bishops and all who are engaged in life of the Department for all that has been achieved. The Rt Rev Richard Moth Chair of the Department for Social Justice 3 Introduction The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales Department for Social Justice (DSJ) strives to assist the Bishops in proclaiming the Good News of God’s kingdom and work towards the advancement of the common good and human flourishing. The Department for Social Justice covers areas of social and pastoral policy in England and Wales. Its Chairman is Bishop Richard Moth, who is supported by Bishop John Sherrington (Life Issues), Bishop Paul Mason (Healthcare and Mental Health), Bishop David Oakley (Marriage & Family Life), Bishop Terry Drainey (Episcopal Chair of Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN)) and Bishop Tom Williams. Consistent ethic of life (Sanctity of human life at all stages and in all conditions) Research and Policy CST (Social Justice) Person-centred (Dignity, Solidarity, (Marginalised and Subsidiarity, vulnerable Common Good) people) The Department’s approach to Research and Policy 4 Over the past year, the department undertook a review of its work priorities. These have included but are not limited to: life issues; healthcare and mental health; criminal justice, Faith in Politics Internship and Network; Covid and post-Covid-19 work; marriage and family life; and the environment. This annual report highlights the department’s work in 2020, including the work of Caritas Social Action Network, the agency of the Conference which works most closely with the department, as well as statements and articles from the Bishops of the department, along with projects, resources and materials which will continue to be of relevance over the coming months as society adjusts to a ‘new normal’. The Department’s Research and Policy work is premised on a consistent ethic of life, from conception to natural death, working to uphold the sanctity of life at all stages and in all conditions, as well as Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and a person-centred approach that works to put the needs of the most marginalised and vulnerable at the centre. The past year has exposed the deep inequalities in our society and the need for a more sustainable way of living. We will continue to provide challenge and to advocate on behalf of those most in need, whilst providing an authentic Catholic contribution to society through our work. 5 6 The Church works to uphold the rights and dignity of all, from conception until natural death. In instances where these rights are infringed upon, the Department issues public statements, writes to Ministers and government, and urges Catholics to engage on issues to ensure protection and care, particularly for the most marginalised and vulnerable in our society. This year the Department issued responses to several high-profile life issues cases, including a document on the Catholic position on Vaccination; a statement on the temporary change to the law regarding access to abortion during the coronavirus pandemic; and support to those suffering from domestic abuse during the coronavirus pandemic. Day for Life The Day for Life is celebrated yearly by the Catholic Church in Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. It is a day dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition. The proceeds of the Day for Life collection held in parishes are used for the promotion of the dignity of the human person through the distribution of grants. The 2019 Day for Life, the theme for which was ‘The Scourge of Domestic Abuse’, raised £450,000, enabling eighteen projects from across England and Wales to be funded this year. This included charities and organisations across England and Wales that provide practical responses for women and men, and their children, facing situations of domestic abuse, including the West Wales Domestic Abuse Service, AFC Fylde Community Foundation and Catholic Care. With the 25th anniversary of St John Paul II’s letter Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), we renewed the call for respect and celebration of all life. The theme for 2020 has been ‘Choose Life’, focusing on the sanctity of 7 the unborn child, pastoral care for pregnant women and hope and healing after abortion. Catholic parishes are called to be communities of welcome and acceptance, a ‘family of families’ as Pope Francis calls them (Amoris Laetita, 87), celebrated as being ‘a challenging mosaic made up of many different realities, with all their joys, hopes and problems’ (Amoris Laetitia, 57). We are pleased to announce that the 2020 Day for Life received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis. The resources, which include information about support available for pregnant women and their children, bidding prayers, and hopeful testimonies from moving experiences at Rachel’s Vineyard, a retreat for women who have had abortions and people who have been hurt or affected by abortion, can be found here: http://www.dayforlife.org/article/2020-day-for-life-choose-life/. A donation of £15,000 was made from the Day for Life collection to Hospice UK’s Covid-19 appeal, to contribute towards protective medical equipment for hospice carers and patients throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Domestic Abuse CBCEW is a member of the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA) and a representative from the department attends EIDA’s quarterly network meetings, as well as conferences such as the Faith and VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) Coalition, that launched in March 2020. The department brings together its own expert groups to work on specific projects, such as: work on victim support; prevention of domestic abuse; establishment and promotion of models for how parishes can effectively, and sensitively, respond to people who are affected by domestic abuse, that can all be found on the domestic abuse pages of the CBCEW website. The department have been following the Domestic Abuse Bill as it makes its way through Parliament. Bishop John Sherrington issued a statement, encouraging people to write to their MPs opposing amendments which would have repealed sections 58 and 59 of the 1981 Offences Against the Persons Act and “result[ed] in the introduction of abortion on demand, for any reason, up until when a child is capable of being born alive, with a ceiling of 28 weeks.” The department has written a statement to share with Peers outlining the church’s position: that combatting the scourge of domestic abuse is part of our consistent ethic of life. We highlight 8 that the Bill should: ensure the protection of the dignity of the person from conception to natural death; and work to build a society based on solidarity for the good of individuals and the Common Good. Policy asks cover specific attention, and support, for children, women in criminal justice system and migrants. Bishop John Sherrington also issued a statement (8 April 2020) in support of those suffering from domestic abuse during the pandemic and the department promoted a new practical booklet on domestic abuse from the National Board of Catholic Women. The Department continues to lobby members of the House of Lords on the current Domestic Abuse Bill, all the more pressing given its rise in the pandemic. We note the strong connection between domestic violence and women’s place in the criminal justice system. Stephanie MacGillivray, Senior Policy and Research Analyst, spoke at the inaugural CSAN Annual Domestic Abuse Forum to provide an update on the department’s work and advocacy on domestic abuse. Assisted Dying The Department works with organisations, such as Right to Life, Living and Dying Well, and Care on advocacy and campaigns to oppose assisted dying being legalised in the UK. The Church has a consistent ethic of life and believes in the sanctity of human life at all stages and in all conditions. A letter, “Samaritanus bonus” (The Good Samaritan), published in 2020 by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and approved by the Pope, reiterates the condemnation of any form of euthanasia and assisted suicide, and advocates support for families and healthcare workers. The department promoted the new document via a Press Release.
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