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Our Catholic education is under attack New rules for RE in Wales will end schools’ special ethos, CES adviser tells assembly committee Government ‘sees Catholic schools as a problem’

Michael Winterbottom Bill, said it appeared that the Welsh and each one of us said the Welsh In a worrying move that could have Government saw Catholic schools “as Government was going in the wrong repercussions beyond its national a problem.” direction.” boundaries, the Welsh Government She said: “It’s hurtful that the Welsh The CES criticised the Government has pressed ahead with a tranche of Government appears to see Catholic for failing to adjust the timetable for education reforms that are being seen schools as the problem because we the bill despite the pressures on as an attack on the Catholic education teach Catholic RE. The Welsh govern- schools resulting from the coronavirus system. ment needs to start trusting Catholic pandemic. Angela Keller, the Wales Adviser of schools and the professionals who It said: “Trust in the legislative the Catholic Education Service (CES), work extremely hard in them.” process has certainly been damaged said plans to rename Religious Edu- Keller said that the Welsh govern- by the lack of engagement and in- cation as ‘Religion, Values and Ethics’ ment risked “losing the trust of the volvement so far of the state’s partners in a new curriculum, among other Catholic community” if it insisted in delivering education to the nation.” changes, were deeply upsetting and on changes to RE to Catholic schools. “Repeated assurances over a num- threatened the special Catholic ethos Earlier this year the headteacher of ber of years that Catholic schools’ of Church schools. every Catholic school in Wales took ability to continue to teach Catholic The new proposals place additional the unprecedented step of writing to RE would not be threatened have legal burdens on Catholic schools, the First Minister Mark Drakeford, been undermined by the contents of Covid-19 makes SVP obliging them to teach an additional asking him to rethink his Government’s the bill.” secular RE curriculum if demanded proposed changes to RE. The CES also accused the govern- by non-Catholic parents. The heads asked for the proposed ment of ignoring the head teachers’ more vital than ever However, Catholic parents could legislation on RE to be scrapped, letter of concern signed in June and ITV newscaster Julie not ask for Catholic RE to be adding that they felt it was the Gov- warned that it risked undermining Etchingham has urged the provided for their child if they attend ernment’s specific intention to damage the role of parents as primary educa- public to join the St a secular/non-Catholic school. Catholic schools. tors of their children if it removed Vincent de Paul Society’s In a hard-hitting attack on the plans, Speaking after the evidence session, parents’ right to withdraw their chil- Rise to the Challenge Ms Keller, speaking to a Welsh parlia- Ms Keller said: “Everyone giving evi- dren from both RE and Relationship campaign. She praised the mentary committee scrutinising the dence represented either a state part- and Sex Education. “outstanding work of SVP Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) ner or a member of the RE profession, Continued on page 2 members”, saying it was “needed now more than ever” as new restrictions Concern as coronavirus lockdown restrictions come into force to slow the spread of Covid-19. tightened and churches forced to close – See pg 3 Full story: See page 11. This week’s Companion £1.90 €2.10 ‘Everyone is pushed Regal ideas to give your to their limits together’ garden a royal makeover Peyton Elizabeth Lee Meet the rangers working to protect Africa’s wildlife shines as a superhero in latest Disney film Fearne Cotton spreads love through Happy Place release 02 For extra news go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com News Follow the Catholic Universe on twitter @ukcatholicpress

RE changes are threat to Heidi to challenge Hancock Catholic education over disabled abortion policy Continued from page 1 Michael Winterbottom partment of Health records. The un- It said: “The removal of the right of A woman with Down syndrome has derreporting was confirmed by a 2014 withdrawal is an erosion of parental claimed that she is “better off dead” Department of Health review. rights and represents a regressive step in the eyes of the law, ahead of a land- The UN Committee on the Rights in the trust and relationship between mark legal challenge to the Govern- of Persons with Disabilities has con- parents and the state, and parents ment’s abortion legislation. sistently criticised countries which and schools.” Heidi Crowter 24, from Coventry, provide for abortion on the basis of The CES also expressed concern who has Down syndrome, has called disability. that the proposal could pave the way for a judicial review to change the Its initial report recommended that for future infringements of religious current law which allows parents to the UK changes its abortion law so freedom. terminate pregnancies where the foe- that it does not single out babies with It said that a clause in the new bill tus has the condition from at any time disabilities; so far the Government “means that the Welsh Government up until birth. has ignored this recommendation. could specify content and teaching Following months of campaigning The Equality and Human Rights of Catholic RE for pupils above the and legal debate, the High Court has Commission said that this aspect of age of 14. given the green light for her landmark the Abortion Act “is offensive to many “The Welsh Government could re- challenge against Health Secretary people; it reinforces negative stereo- quire pupils in Catholic schools to Matt Hancock on the grounds that types of disability…[and] is incom- engage in courses of study which do the policy discriminates against dis- patible with valuing disability and not meet the requirements of the de- abled people. non-disability equally”. nominational religious authority (in Heidi said: “The current law is unfair. Heidi with her husband James When MPs held a parliamentary our case the diocesan bishop).” It makes me feel like I shouldn’t exist, Inset, Health Secretary Matt Hancock inquiry into abortion for disability in “The Welsh Government will be and that I’d be better off dead in the 2013 the vast majority of those who able to introduce these requirements eyes of the law. condition. Lea-Wilson was pressured There were 3,183 disability selective gave evidence believed allowing abor- by regulation, which means that the “The policy basically says that it’s to have an abortion when a 34-week abortions across England & Wales in tion up to birth on the grounds of changes would be made without the normal for a baby with Down syn- scan revealed her son had Down syn- 2019, with 656 of those occurring fol- disability was discriminatory and con- opportunity for appropriate scrutiny drome to be terminated right up until drome. lowing a prenatal diagnosis of Down’s trary to the spirit of the Equality Act and opportunity for challenge.” birth. Currently in England, Wales and syndrome. 2010. MPs recommended Parliament “The reason why this is important Scotland, there is a general 24-week The figures are likely to be much reviews the question of allowing abor- to me is because I have Down’s syn- time limit for abortion, but if the baby higher – a 2013 review showed 886 tion on the grounds of disability. drome, I know what it is to have it, has a disability, including Down syn- foetuses were aborted for Down’s syn- Disabled peer Lord Shinkwin had and my husband has it.” drome, cleft lip and clubfoot, abortion drome in England and Wales in 2010 a Bill in the House of Lords that would The 25-year-old worked in a hair is legal right up to birth. but only 482 were reported in De- have repealed section 1(1)(d) of the salon before the pandemic and has Abortion Act, but unfortunately the married since she first began legal bill ran out of time. proceedings and is now known as Mrs Can you help Heidi’s case? Polling has shown that the majority Carter. However, she is referred to by • Heidi and her legal team have set up a CrowdJustice crowdfunding of people in England, Wales and Scot- her maiden name in court documents. page to help raise funds for legal proceedings, pay for legal advice and land feel that disability should not be Heidi joined forces in the landmark prepare for the case. To find out more and to make a contribution to a grounds for abortion at all, with challenge with Máire Lea-Wilson from the case. Visit:://www.crowdjustice.com/ only one in three people thinking it is Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford Brentford, West London, whose eleven- case/downrightdiscrimination/ acceptable to ban abortion for gender has been criticised for the RE reforms month-old son Aidan also has the or race but allow it for disability. Church admits blame after man fell to death at Dundee care home The Church has admitted that it was Wellburn Care Home in Dundee in to his death. He was told the trust had £312,000 risk and led to the death of Peter to blame after a 94-year-old man May 2017. The court was told that two-hourly annual income but was in debt be- Conor 30th May 2017. plunged to his death from a care home Dundee Sheriff Court was told that checks had been carried out on Mr cause its outgoings were more than Deputy fiscal William Duffy said: window. the care home was run down and had Connor but his 6am check had been double that amount. However, he not- “The diocese failed to implement win- Peter Connor fell nearly 30ft on to failed to put security on its windows missed because the nurse was busy ed that the accounts showed £14 mil- dow restrictor. Appropriate investment concrete after climbing out of a sec- to prevent them being fully opened dealing with another resident. lion in available assets and said the had not been made due to the care ond-floor window a fortnight after by elderly and vulnerable residents. Sheriff Alistair Carmichael deferred trust had blown an “eye-watering” home being kept running until new moving into the Church-run home. Mr Connor, who suffered from sentence to consider the level of fine £730,000 on architects fees “for which premises could be built.” The Diocese of Dunkeld Trust ad- Alzheimer’s, also had a boxed-off water to impose and accused the Church of nothing has been achieved.” Peter Gray QC, for the Church, ex- mitted criminal responsibility for de- pipe under the window which acted using “smoke and mirrors” over its fi- The trust admitted health and safety presed the diocese’s profound regret mentia sufferer Mr Connor’s death at as a platform to climb up and fall out nancial position. failings which exposed residents to and remorse for Mr Connor’s death. The Catholic Universe | Friday 23rd October 2020 03 News

Cardiff Metroplitan cathedral will not see Welsh Catholics back to virtual any services for the next three weekends apart from weddings Mass as churches close and funerals Fortnight firebreak to While there was hope that places one was surprised by the announce- of worship would be given a reprieve, ment. curb Covid-19 spread if only for private prayer, they too will “The only good thing is it has a means three Sunday close for two weeks as well, other than specified time limit this time, so hope- for funerals or wedding ceremonies, fully once 9th November comes Masses will be missed although wedding receptions will not around we should see coronavirus be allowed. It is not believed the cases have fallen and we can start to Catholics in Wales admitted they had Church was consulted over the meas- get back to normal.” been left ‘sickened but not surprised’ ures being introduced before they Wales’ Catholic primary schools will by news on Monday that churches were announced by the First Minis- fully reopen immediately after the throughout the country would close ter. half-term break, but secondary schools today (Friday 23rd October), until 9th Clergy will be allowed into their will welcome only Years 7 and 8 back, November. buildings to broadcast from it without a move described by the Association The Welsh First Minister Mark a congregation, meaning the nation’s of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Drakeford made the announcement Catholics will revert to livestreaming Cymru as “a sensible balance in these on Monday, stating that the rise in Mass. circumstances”. Covid-19 cases in the country had The decision to put Wales into a Amid fears that the firebreak would forced him to instigate a two- brief lockdown had been trailled for hit already struggling businesses, the week ‘firebreak’ to stop the spread of many days before the announcement. First Minister announced a new £300m coronavirus. Wrexham diocese said the news was fund for firms affected. Every firm What has also been described as a “very disappointing” but urged its covered by small business rates relief ‘short, sharp shock’ to slow down the communities to do all that they can would receive a £1,000 payment, while virus started at 6pm this Friday. to comply with the new restrictions. small and medium-sized retail, leisure The national lockdown covers the “Holy Mass and other devotions and hospitality firms that have to half-term school holidays and will will continue to be livestreamed on close will get a one-off payment of Ireland have now been moved to their neral has been reduced to 10, and end on 9th November when it will be the diocesan website at www.rcd- up to £5,000. highest level. All public services have weddings can have 25 guests but no lifted nationally. wxm.org.uk” the diocese added. There will also be additional dis- been suspended for six weeks, though reception. Everyone will be required to stay at Greg Davies, a regular worshipper cretionary grants and support for the Government has said it will review Bars and restaurants will be able to home and work at home unless their in Cardiff who contacted the Catholic smaller firms that are struggling. the restrictions in four weeks time. offer only a takeaway service. work is essential or cannot be done Universe said the decision came as The measures implemented are All people have been asked to work Taoiseach Micheal Martin accepted at home. The firebreak lockdown no surprise to anyone. “We had been stricter than those in England and from home where possible, but schools that they were “probably Europe’s means all non-essential retail outlets expecting it, and last Sunday it was Scotland, where a regionalised ap- and construction sites have been al- strictest restrictions, but the current and tourism will close, as it across all anyone at Mass could talk about. proach continues to be in place. lowed to remain open. regime had not done enough to sig- the UK in March. “While everyone was sickened, no Covid-19 restrictions introduced in The number of mourners at a fu- nificantly reduce levels of infection. Full in-tray for new Nuncio as big decisions loom on clergy

Michael Winterbottom ernment authorities in England, Wales is published, however, Cardinal Vin- The new Papal Nuncio to Great Britain, and Scotland, while also playing a cent Nichols, will turn 75, the age at His Excellency Archbishop Claudio pivotal role in the selection of which he is required by Church law Gugerotti, had a private audience with bishops. to submit his resignation to the Pope. the Holy Father at the Vatican last He will not be short of work once However, given that the Holy Father week prior to taking up his new posi- he takes up residence in the Nuncia- holds Cardinal Nichols in high regard tion in London. ture, in Wimbledon. On 10th Novem- it is likely he will be asked to stay on Until recently the 65-year-old arch- ber, the UK’s Independent Inquiry in post until a successor is found. bishop was serving as Papal Nuncio into Child Sexual Abuse will publish Once that search begins – and it to Ukraine. As the Queen has taken its final report into the Catholic may not be for some time – Arch- up face-to-face public duties once Church. Gugerotti’s predecessor, Amer- bishop Gugerotti will have the task of more it is likely that the next step be- ican Archbishop Edward Adams, was to compiling a shortlist of three can- fore starting work will be for the arch- criticised for not giving evidence to didates as possible successors to the bishop to present his diplomatic the inquiry but as a Holy See ambas- cardinal. credentials to Her Majesty. sador, he had diplomatic immunity But in addition to potentially filling As Papal Ambassador to the Court and could not be compelled to give a post in Westminster, the new nuncio of St James’s, Archbishop Gugerotti evidence. will also be required to draw up an- will represent the Holy See to gov- Two days before the inquiry’s report other short list as the Archbishop of Cardiff George Stack also turns 75 next year. Archbishop Gugerotti is regarded as an Anglophile as well as being someone with ‘ideas and energy.’ Born in Verona, he is a patristics scholar and expert on the Eastern Churches. He has taught at the Pontifical Oriental Institute and worked at the Congre- gation for Eastern Churches. He is not a career diplomat, but in 2001 Pope John Paul II appointed him as Nuncio to Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The archbishop’s later role in Ukraine honed his diplomatic cre- dentials still further after it became embroiled in conflict with its neigh- bour Russia, and then a civil war with eastern separatists. 04 For extra news go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com News Like us on facebook - search Catholic Universe Newspaper

IN BRIEF Palliative care Crematorium changes tune doctors oppose assisted dying Most palliative-care doctors (70 after banning Lord’s Prayer per cent) believe that the British Medical Association (BMA) should A crematorium that banned mourners they need by saying the Lord’s Prayer not support a change in the law to from saying the Lord’s Prayer together together. permit physician-assisted dying, a has performed a U-turn after coron- “It was all very unprofessional and new BMA survey suggests. avirus rules were ‘clarified’. could have been handled so differently. Almost 30,000 BMA members Alison Davies, 53, from Bridgend, I hope it serves as a warning to other (about 19 per cent) responded to South Wales, who has been supported council’s and crematoriums that the the poll. Fewer than half (44 per by the Christian Legal Centre, was left wishes of those who are mourning at cent) of geriatricians were op- in tears after she was told she was this time should not be taken away posed to a law change; 27 per cent breaking Welsh Government Covid - and restricted unnecessarily. were in favour. About 40 per cent 19 rules for allowing ‘chanting’ during “The Lord’s Prayer is very comforting of GPs were opposed; 34 per cent a funeral she was conducting at Coy- to many, whether you are a Christian were in favour. church Crematorium. or not.” Current BMA policy opposes as- Mrs Davies said the family of a 94- Andrea Williams, chief executive of sisted dying in all forms. year-old grandmother whose funeral the Christian Legal Centre, who ad- The chief executive of Care Not she was conducting had asked her to vised Mrs Davies on what the law and Killing, Dr Gordon Macdonald, end the service with the Lord’s Prayer. coronavirus regulations say on this said: “It is clear that, as in recent Just as the funeral service finished, issue, said: “We welcome this U-turn similar surveys, we are seeing in front of mourners in the Christian from the council and are glad that strongest opposition to changing chapel, Mrs Davies was approached common sense has prevailed. the law from those medics actually by a Bridgend council official wearing “There has never been a ban on working most closely with termi- a mask and blue surgical gloves telling saying prayers together at a low vol- nally ill, elderly, and disabled pa- her she had broken guidelines. ume, as the Welsh government has tients.” The official aggressively pointed Bridgend Crematorium made clear. their finger at Mrs Davies exclaim- “Those with responsibilities for ing: ‘You can’t do that!” member for communities, confirmed Councillor Young said: “We were churches, crematoriums and chapels Choir festival to get The story sparked outrage across that reciting of the Lord’s Prayer is very surprised to see the Welsh Gov- need to know what the law really says culture cash the country, with Christians claiming now allowed and said that they ‘were ernment’s media response contradict- and apply it with common sense and it denied them the right to say the previously not aware that these regu- ing our approach. compassion. Unnecessary interven- The Three Choirs Festival has been prayer on which their faith was built. lations were open to interpretation’. “We very much welcome the addi- tions and confrontations like this hurt awarded a share of the £1.57 billion Such was the anger that the Welsh The heads of council-run Coychurch tional clarity, which now permits a the grieving process and cannot be Culture Recovery Fund created to Government stepped in to clarify that Crematorium, in Bridgend, South number of people to pray out loud at undone. support organisations challenged praying in a ‘low tone’ doesn’t breach Wales, had claimed that if more than the same time.” “This story serves as a strong re- by the Covid pandemic. coronavirus rules. one person prayed at the same time Responding to the U-turn, Mrs minder to all of us that attempts to The festival, which was held vir- Councillor Richard Young, Bridgend that it counted as ‘chanting’ and wasn’t Davies said: “I am glad that mourners fight the coronavirus must not come tually this year, was one of 1,385 County Borough Council’s cabinet allowed. will now be allowed to get the comfort at the expense of our humanity.” cultural and creative organisations in England to benefit from the first round of grants, which is being ad- ministered by Arts Council Eng- Churches’ ‘National Help Service’ land. Further rounds are to be an- nounced in the coming weeks. The chief executive of the festi- needs more state funding val, Alexis Paterson, said: “We are incredibly grateful to have re- Church leaders have called for urgent Gov- The majority of churches found a way to ceived this funding. ernment support to protect church buildings provide community support during the “It’s the springboard from which after a new report highlighted just how Covid-19 pandemic but many of their build- we can start to recover after this much the UK relies on volunteer groups ings are under threat, especially in towns year of cancellations.” within them, including food banks, mental and cities where they deliver the most value, health counselling and youth groups. as support for essential maintenance and re- The House of Good report from the Na- pair from government and other funding Key status for care tional Churches Trust branded the nation’s bodies dries up. residents’ relatives church buildings a ‘National Help Service’ Archbishop GeorgeGeorge Stack said in re- after finding they provided £12.4 billion sponse to the report… “Food banks, night Relatives of care home residents worth of essential social and economic sup- shelters, lunch clubs, community centres, will soon be treated as key work- port to local communities during the 12 advice and counselling sessions and so much ers, a government minister has re- months up until May 2020. else take place on church premises and in vealed, as part of a pilot scheme to The report found that church buildings, church halls, in historic buildings which are allow safe visits. chapels and meeting houses are a ready- beloved by local communities. Helen Whately, the care minis- made network of responsive hubs providing “But the challenges of maintaining church ter, told MPs that she wants to en- increasing levels of care and wellbeing to lo- buildings and their work is greater than ever able regular visiting, “but it must cal communities throughout the UK. because of scarce resources.” be safe”. Currently, it is up to individual care home managers to ensure ap- propriate provisions are in place in order to enable safe visiting from Geographical focus ‘won’t level up society post-Covid’ relatives and friends. The Government needs to clearly It said the impact of the pandemic It is spearheaded by Tesco chairman nomic impacts of this pandemic have However, some have banned vis- define its “levelling-up” agenda as fo- on mental health has been most ap- John Allan, who said: “Without a clear fallen most heavily on the people who its altogether in order to protect cusing only on geographic areas will parent among the most deprived, with definition and set of metrics to assess were already struggling to stay afloat, vulnerable residents from con- not reach some of the poorest people Covid-19 mortality rates the highest progress, it is difficult to see how we and the local economies which were tracting Covid-19. hardest-hit by Covid-19, according to in the poorest neighbourhoods. can provide a ladder of opportunity already lagging behind. Campaigners have been calling research. Metro mayors and local authorities for people living in some of the most “Levelling up is now more crucial for a designated relative to be Nearly a fifth of people in the poorest should get more powers and money deprived communities. than ever.” given key worker status which neighbourhoods are living in some to deliver the policies at a more tar- “Just as important is to hold people The report found that the North would entitle them to have regular of the wealthiest areas of the country, geted level, “driving local accounta- accountable at a local level to ensure West of England – where the Covid- tests for Covid-19 to help make meaning non-economic measures like bility for actions”, it recommended. measures and funding lead to results.” 19 impact is most severe – has the visits safer, amid concerns for iso- physical and mental health at the The commission is made up of busi- Helen Barnard, director of the greatest number of people – 1.6 million lated residents. A pilot scheme will neighbourhood level need to be con- ness leaders focusing on generating Joseph Rowntree Foundation and ad- – living in the 10 per cent most de- be launched “shortly”, the minister sidered, said the Covid Recovery Com- policy to drive Britain’s post-coron- visory group member, said: “It’s not prived neighbourhoods, followed by said. mission. avirus economic recovery. right that both the health and eco- Yorkshire and The Humber. The Catholic Universe | Friday 23rd October 2020 05 News

Pope Emeritus gives TV film exposes ‘business’ thanks for cardinal’s of smuggling migrants St John Henry gift London-based middlemen are charg- ing up to £500 per person to act as guarantors to facilitate the entry into Cardinal Vincent Nichols has received itations of St John Henry Newman, Britain of illegal migrants, a TV docu- a letter of thanks from Pope Emeritus for whom Pope Benedict XVI has ex- mentary team has claimed. Benedict for the gift of the reflections pressed admiration over the years. The brokers, some of whom pose and meditations of St John Henry In his letter, the Pope Emeritus also as legitimate businessmen, withhold Newman. invoked God’s blessing on the cardinal, funds paid by the migrants and only The Cardinal had written to the the bishops, the Catholic Church and release the cash to the people smug- Pope Emeritus last month to thank the people of this country. glers once they are safely in the UK. him on the tenth anniversary of his The four-day visit in 2010 was the The system ensures that those des- remarkable visit to the UK in 2010 first state visit by a Pope to the United perately trying to enter Britain are when he beatified St John Henry New- Kingdom (Pope St John Paul II made not ‘ripped off’ by the smugglers and man during an open-air Mass at a pastoral visit in 1982). It began in provides some form of ‘gold standard’ Crofton Park. Edinburgh, where Pope Benedict XVI for trafficking gangs. Accompanying the Cardinal’s letter was welcomed by Her Majesty The The illegal migrants usually pay was a gift of the reflections and med- Queen. around £3,500 to the smugglers, with cash or you want to put it into an ac- people as I have hairs on my head, I the brokers taking between £300 and count and then I will confirm it...and swear. I’ve been in this trade for 12 £500 to act as guarantor. then soon the person is come over years. I’m a businessman. I work hard Details of the trade emerged in the after one or two days when you know and I get paid well. But I’m not a ITV documentary which highlighted he’s in that’s it finish, I will release the cheat. It's not in my blood.” the ease with which people are able money.” Tom Stone, the producer of the ITV to cross the Channel and enter the Asked what happened if the migrant documentary, Hunting The People UK illegally. did not arrive safely, he replied: “No Smugglers, said: “The brokers are the Undercover reporters, posing as mi- money released. And if you cancel financial glue behind almost every grants, first made contact with an al- the job I will give you your money crossing. They make the passenger leged trafficker who claimed to be back as well.” feel they can trust the smuggler be- based in Serbia. The undercover team made contact cause they are told the money won’t He put them in touch with a London with four separate London-based bro- be released unless they get here safe- based broker, who claimed to run a kers who all allegedly worked for Iran- ly. currency exchange west London. ian smuggling gangs. “They also help the smuggler appear The broker asked the migrants' fam- One smuggler, who was charging professional and trustworthy when, ily to pay him £3,500, which he ex- £3,500 per migrant, said that using in truth, the entire process is incredibly plained he would hold until the person the broker meant the customer had dangerous and the passengers are had been safely delivered. some form of guarantee. putting their lives in the hands of He told the reporters: “You pay me He explained: “I’ve sent as many gangsters.” 06 For extra news go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com Comment

The Universe – Comment – The anger of England’s metro mayors We’re still here for you every week! reveals the new politics of coronavirus

Georgina Blakeley

During the Covid pandemic, Brexit negotiations have been gradually The anger was evident in Andy nudged out of the limelight, but Burnham’s voice as he declared that now seem set for a come back. Greater Manchester would stand Last week was supposed to be firm in the face of any UK govern- the deadline for a trade deal to be ment attempt to impose a ‘Tier 3’ ratified at a summit of European restriction on the northern English leaders in Brussels, and Boris city-region without adequate finan- Johnson said several weeks ago cial compensation. that if an agreement had not been The mayor and other local leaders reached by 15th October, both sides were unanimous in opposing the should, “accept it and move on.” government’s plans as “flawed and We have reached the appointed unfair”. A statement from Burnham, date and yet they continue. The the two deputy mayors and Greater EU evidently does not take these Manchester’s ten council leaders de- deadlines seriously and nor, it clared: “We are fighting back – for seems, does the Government. fairness and for the health of our The deadline that matters is 31st people in the broadest sense.” December, after which the UK will As cities in the North of England trade with the bloc on World Trade have struggled with coronavirus in- Organisation terms if there is no fection rates, local leaders across the deal. Mr Johnson has made clear political spectrum have been flexing that he would prefer to avoid this their muscles. happening, and nor is it in the in- Covid-19 has fully exposed the in- terests of the EU. Rather than im- adequacies of the relationship be- ers in Liverpool accepted the impo- struggled in April, Burnham called a difference to people’s lives. pose further unilateral time limits, tween central and other tiers of gov- sition of Tier 3 Covid restrictions, on the national government to use It is therefore alarming to note the therefore, the two sides should ernment at the regional and local they were quick to emphasise in a the expertise of local authorities and extent to which local authorities concentrate on making sure an level in England. It has also made it joint statement that ‘it was made their “well established logistics sys- have been weakened financially, first outcome that neither wants does difficult to deny entrenched struc- clear to us that government would tems” about the easing of restric- by austerity and now by the pan- not happen by default. tural inequalities. We might all be in be doing this regardless of if we en- tions when infection rates remained demic. The government has prom- However, it is not clear what the the same storm, but we are definite- gaged with then or not’ and stressed high in their areas. ised English local authorities an ad- EU wants. While Angela Merkel is ly not all in the same boat. that ‘we have not yet reached an This was followed in June by their ditional £1bn of financial support on optimistic about a deal, the French These two truths are closely inter- agreement on the wider economic joint concern about the lack of clear top of the £3.6bn Towns Fund al- government is making ominous twined: there is a relationship be- support package that we require’. data to support decisions around lo- ready committed. noises about vetoing anything that tween the highly centralised politi- The focus on the inadequacies of cal lockdowns. By September, Burn- But this looks set to fall short of involves fishing arrangements its cal system in England and inequali- the economic support on offer had ham was calling on the government what is needed to cover the eco- trawlermen do not support. If ty. As Burnham and his counterpart already been signalled in an open to reconvene Cobra with representa- nomic fallout from coronavirus. Paris is intent on blocking any deal in the Liverpool City Region, Steve letter to government signed by tion for all of the English regions Burnham’s declaration of defiance that is not struck on French terms Rotheram, have long argued: politi- Burnham, Rotheram, Dan Jarvis the alongside London, Scotland, Wales was a long time in the making. For then a benign outcome to this cal decisions taken by a small West- metro-mayor of the Sheffield city-re- and Northern Ireland. years there has been a growing ap- process will be impossible. minster elite reflect the reality con- gion, Jamie Driscoll, the metro-may- The need to take decisions locally petite for local control and an end to tained within the circle of the M25 or of the North of Tyne and Richard has never been more obvious. From the inadequacies of an over-cen- RETIRED CLERGY? London orbital motorway. They do Leese, the leader of Manchester City sourcing PPE to housing rough tralised political system and the re- not reflect the reality of life outside Council and deputy mayor of sleepers to using local expertise in lated structural inequalities. This all of this circle. And that perpetuates Greater Manchester. track and trace systems. The inade- existed long before Covid but the inequalities. Leaders across the North have quacies of PPE supplies saw Greater pandemic has certainly highlighted Large city-regions in the North, for signed various devolution deals Manchester set up its own PPE task- and accelerated existing trends. example, faced the largest spending since 2014. But the pandemic has re- force to provide a central system of It is not that Northern leaders cuts after the 2008 financial crash inforced a growing feeling that the procurement and distribution for have suddenly found a voice. Since with one estimate claiming that “on original terms of the deals are inade- frontline workers. their election in May 2017, metro- a per capita basis, Liverpool has quate and that the devolution jour- It has all served to teach many mayors have combined to lobby seen the largest cut”. Transport ney needs to be accelerated. people who didn’t already know it central government for further de- spending on London and the South- The horse-trading that has ac- that local authorities matter. Metro- volution. Current calls for a seat at East far outstrips transport spending companied the latest Government mayors are proving their worth by the Cobra table are a reminder of in the North and, during the pan- negotiations with Lancashire and using their collective voice to draw their earlier pleas to have represen- demic, there has been evidence of “a the Liverpool City Region, resulting attention to the plight of their city- tation in the Brexit negotiations. gaping North-South divide on ac- in different restrictions and funding regions and they have been crucial Their political voice is therefore cess to testing”. in each area despite both being in in acting as convenors and co-ordi- not new. But that voice is finally The political leadership being Tier 3, should come as no surprise. It nators of their local authorities. It is starting to be heard. demonstrated by combined authori- reflects the transactional nature of local authorities that have the power the original deals negotiated indi- to make a difference to track, trace • Dr Georgina Blakeley is Director of We are currently compiling the ty mayors across the North is all the information for the 2021 edition more striking in its contrast to the vidually between government and and test systems. It is local authori- Teaching, Learning and Student Ex- of the Official Catholic Directory absence of clear and coherent lead- each area. ties that control public health and perience at the University of Hud- of England & Wales. Our retired ership from the centre. While Local leaders have clamoured to social care. It is local authorities that dersfield. This article first appeared clergy like to be listed but GDPR Rotheram and local authority lead- take decisions locally. As care homes run the public services which make on www.theconversation.com restrictions mean that some dioceses are unable to release names or contact details. If you www.thecatholicuniverse.com Supporting Catholic journalism are a retired member of the clergy and would like to be Universe Media Group Limited, Subscription rates: included in the 2021 edition, Editor: Joseph Kelly News and feature items: please email or post your details 2nd Floor, Oakland House, All enquiries: (Annual) £80 UK; £105 Ireland/Europe. to the Editor, Joseph Kelly – Email: joseph.kelly@ 76 Talbot Road, Email: pool@ Tel: 0161 820 5722 To subscribe, please use the order form details on this page. thecatholicuniverse.com Manchester M16 0PQ thecatholicuniverse.com in this issue or call us on 0161 820 5722 The Catholic Universe | Friday 23rd October 2020 07 News Scottish exam grade farce hit poor hardest

Some schools in Scotland had over While an average of 5.1 per cent of attainment gap in Scotland – and half of their teacher estimates of stu- teacher estimates at Higher were mod- never again formalise it.” dents’ exam grades dismissed by the erated from a pass to a fail in inde- The SQA told an independent review Scottish Qualifications Authority’s pendent schools, an average of 20.3 of this year’s exams debacle – carried (SQA) much-maligned process for per cent were moderated from a pass out by Professor Mark Priestley – that standardising results this summer, to a fail in state schools where over it had “no regrets” about the moder- the Times Education Supplement has 40 per cent or more of pupils were ation process it put in place. learned. claiming free school meals. This was despite the review finding SQA’s results were ultimately rejected By linking schools’ free school meals that the SQA and the government by the Scottish Government, and data and the SQA data on grade had both ignored warnings dating teacher grading accepted. changes, Mr Black also found that back to April about “the equity impli- Huge crowds attended St Paul’s Roman Catholic High schools serving the most deprived ar- cations of an over-reliance on a sta- Bobby Storey’s funeral School in Glasgow had, on average, eas were more likely to have their re- tistical approach, premised on com- 52.4 per cent of teacher estimates at sults at National 5, Higher and Ad- parison with historical cohort data”. National 5, Higher and Advanced vanced Higher downgraded. Ultimately, the process put in place Data shows poverty Higher adjusted down by SQA mod- There were 39.9 per cent of results by the SQA resulted in roughly a quar- eration. And Ardrossan Academy in downgraded on average in the five ter of teacher estimates being changed North Ayrshire had an average of 51.3 schools where 40 per cent or more of – most of which were downgraded – per cent of grades adjusted down. pupils were claiming free school meals, and pupils taking to the streets in drives Covid cases, Over 20 other schools had 40 per as compared to 18.3 per cent in the protest. cent or more of their teacher estimates 41 independent schools delivering A week after the results were pub- adjusted down on average, including SQA qualifications. lished, the Scottish government not religious faith Castlemilk High in Glasgow (47 per Mr Black said his figures demon- was forced to withdraw all downgraded cent), Alness Academy in Highland strated that – despite the government’s results. Michael Winterbottom fected. “If you look at the least deprived (46.5 per cent), and Liberton High in focus on closing the attainment gap The SQA said the ACM was consid- Claims by a Democratic Unionist min- areas in Northern Ireland such as Edinburgh (46.1 per cent). – inequality was “baked into our Scot- ered necessary to “maintain standards ster that high numbers of Covid cases Holywood and Hillsborough, people An analysis carried out by University tish education system”. over time”. The body said that “almost in Catholic areas of Northern Ireland in those areas are more likely to have of Glasgow researcher Barry Black has Mr Black said: “This model, before three-quarters of estimates were un- compared to Unionist/Protestant ones jobs which means they can work from also found Scotland’s most disadvan- the U-turn, would have guided the changed”. were down to poor management by home,” he said. taged schools were four times more next steps and life chances of thou- It also said that data was Sinn Fein have been dismissed out of “And if you examine multiple dep- likely to have their Higher grades ad- sands of young people in Scotland. anonymised throughout the process hand by a Belfast-based data analyst. rivation measures, there’s housing is- justed from a pass to a fail by the The goal now must be to learn from and that Mr Black’s analysis failed to Unionist politician Edwin Poots had sues as well. Where you have people SQA’s moderation process than private this period and re-imagine how we show that “attainment levels rose and claimed that Covid cases were six in council standard housing, it’s going schools. go about removing the educational the attainment gap narrowed.” times higher in Catholic areas and to be difficult for them to self-isolate. blamed the difference on Sinn Fein’s “It stands to reason where ultimately leadership failing to set the right ex- if you have a job with a zero hours ample to its community. contract, if you don’t show up you’re In particular, he said the behaviour not going to be paid. People are going of Sinn Fein leaders at Bobby Storey’s to be put in an impossible position funeral during the summer, when where they need to work to afford there was no social distancing or mask basic essentials or self-isolate.” wearing, had shattered any hopes of Mr Donaghy posted a graph on so- the community acting in accordance cial media to challenge Edwin Poots’ with guidelines. claims, extrapolating figures from the He later claimed that his contro- Department of Health and highlighting CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER versial remarks were not sectarian be- the stark differences between more cause “most Sinn Féin leaders don’t affluent and deprived areas. SALARY: £ 60,000 or pro rata attend the Catholic Church on a reg- Mr Donaghy wrote: “The key factor ular basis”. behind areas badly hit by the second BASED IN LONDON But they provoked a storm of criti- Sinn Fein leader cism from other parties, with Sinn Caritas Social Action Network is the official domestic social action agency of the Catholic Féin labelling his language “sectarian Michelle O’Neil claptrap”. admitted that Church in England & Wales, a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. Inspired And now a senior data analyst has attending the Storey by the life and example of Jesus Christ we animate and coordinate our Network of Caritas funeral had been an dismissed Poots’ claim and said that dioceses and member charities to help poor, vulnerable and marginalised people find their voice error poverty is the key factor linked to out- and to enable them to improve their lives. We work in collaboration with the Catholic Bishops’ breaks and not religion. Covid-19 wave isn’t religion, but pover- Conference of England & Wales and as part of the Caritas Internationalis confederation. We are Peter Donaghy said people in more ty. Only one of NI’s 40 least deprived looking for a CEO to lead the next stage of development and delivery of the work of the agency socially deprived areas are more likely postcode areas has over 400 weekly to have jobs that don’t allow to them cases per 100k, a quarter of the most and to lead our small national office team. The successful candidate will be a practising to work from home, thereby increasing deprived 40 areas do.” Catholic* committed to improving the circumstances of those from all faiths and none who are in their face-to-face contacts and risk He added: “Can’t believe this needs poverty, excluded or unjustly treated, together with a demonstrable commitment to Catholic of infection. to be said, but no, it isn’t true that Social Teaching and to the vision, mission and strategic direction of Caritas Social Action The Belfast data expert warned that only majority Catholic areas are Covid- Network. due to the end of furlough many work- 19 hotspots. The most recent positivity ers found themselves in an “impossible rate was over 14.5 per cent in all coun- situation” of being forced to choose cil areas in Northern Ireland.” Closing date for applications: 19/11/20 between buying essentials and self- Latest figures show that Derry and isolating. Strabane have the highest number of Interviews: W/c 30/11/20 (initial) and W/c 7/12/20 (final) Mr Donaghy, who is also an ac- positive cases per 100,000 population countant, singled out countries like in the whole of the UK. For an application pack, please contact Isabella George at [email protected] Germany where government support Mr Donaghy also pointed to higher schemes have been extended until levels of post-conflict deprivation in * This is an occupational requirement for the role. next year and virus rates are consid- predominantly nationalist areas. erably lower. “It comes to a broader truth is there He told The Irish News it was “com- are a lot more social deprivations in pletely counter intuitive” to remove more Catholic majority areas, such financial support from those most af- as west Belfast and Derry,” he said. 08 For extra news go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com Comment Follow the Catholic Universe on twitter @ukcatholicpress

What’s a job these days? Jacinda’s dancing her way John Battle to legendary political status As a lifelong Leeds United sup- porter through thick and thin I am convinced of the value of sport to an individual, to the community, and to the overall economy. “Like any politician, But suggesting that those now Ardern’s stock will threatened with unemployment Leon can switch jobs, such as the ballet eventually wain but dancer moving into cyber security, Spence was facile. for now she is rightly Without doubt, as unemploy- ment rises in the coming weeks Have you ever played the game ‘six on top of the world” (primarily young and untrained degrees of Kevin Bacon’? people), there is a determination The idea is simple. The logic goes to get people back into work. In- that the actor’s body of work is so creasingly the issue is what kind of broad and has spanned so many work, as those in the digital econ- years that you can link any other ac- omy can work from home on a tor to the eponymous Bacon within computer or thrive in ‘Zoomland’ 6 movies. while others are simply locked out. To illustrate, the silent movie leg- Yet it is not that there is no work end Charlie Chaplin has a ‘Bacon to be done. Already the second number’ of just three. Chaplin ap- surge of the Covid virus is expos- peared in the film Modern Times ing a shortage of health and care with Gloria DeHaven, who in turn workers. What the first Covid crisis was in Out to Sea with Walter wave will be remembered for by Matthau, who appeared in JFK with many will be the weekly doorstep Bacon. Thursday ‘Clap for the NHS’ in our Movie buffs can spend hours play- neighbourhoods and the rainbow ing the game, in truth it’s actually posters in windows. This apprecia- quite difficult to get above three tion of those who serve us when steps. we most need them was extended The reason I mention this, one of to other essential workers such as my favourite after dinner games, is the dustbin collectors. Finally the because this week a couple of com- usually rarely acknowledged and pletely separate issues have been past two decades.” I will return to the subject of tion ‘what do you think about X be- often lowest paid were recognised playing on my mind, and while I’ve Finding absolutely the right bal- Jacinda Ardern shortly, but for now ing voted off?’ had quickly become a as invaluable to all our livelihood. been certain that there is a link it has ance Ardern unequivocally con- let me take a giant leap to Strictly new variant of the old standard ‘how The dignity of work has been taken me ages to come up with it. demned the gunman, including tak- Come Dancing. much is a pint of milk?’ that politi- strong and recurring theme in But stay with me, because by the ing the unprecedented step of I’ve watched SCD since it first cians were once asked to see if they Catholic social teaching since the end of this column I will have linked rendering the gunman nameless; started on our screens 16 years ago – were in touch with the people? 19th century encyclical Rerum No- Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of and showing genuine warmth and can it really be that long? I very much doubt that you will varum and was a theme strongly New Zealand and arguably the most compassion for the Muslim commu- As our children grew it became es- find a leading politician of any UK reinforced by Pope St John Paul II’s popular politician in the world at the nity in the country. sential Saturday night television, party who doesn’t know, or hasn’t contribution more recently. time of writing; and Strictly Come More recently Ardern has taken more often than not following on been briefed, the answer. Work and service of others go Dancing. I promise by the end there global plaudits once again for the from the latest episode of Doctor The more cynical politicians will together and so does full respect won’t even be that much of a leap. way in which she has led her coun- Who. know the answer because they re- for the dignity and needs of the Last week, in one of the first gen- try through the Coronavirus pan- In one way or another Strictly has alise that to be electable they have to person working. eral elections held anywhere since demic. become a fairly important part of be relatable, and sharing a love of In other words, conditions and the start of the Coronavirus pan- Taking on the virus earlier than our lives. Our son decided he the same show if one way of doing remuneration are important and demic, Ardern and her Labour Party many countries, Ardern proclaimed wanted ballroom dancing lessons, that. workers cannot be utilised as sim- romped home to victory, securing that New Zealand had the “widest later on so did my wife and I; and for The truth is that virtually every ply disposable ‘hired hands’. her second term as Prime Minister ranging and toughest border restric- many people for most of the past national leader you can think of is in In his latest work The Tyranny of of the country. tions of any country in the world”. decade it has become the main topic some way or other relatable. You can Merit the philosopher Michael Using an electoral system where With over 40 million cases of the of office gossip on a Monday morn- imagine Boris Johnson being the life Sandal argues that modern parliamentary majorities for any virus and 1.1 million deaths globally, ing. of any party, Tony Blair traded suc- economies are far from ‘merito- single party are rarer than hen’s astonishingly under the measures It’s also something of gauge of get- cessfully on his image of being an cratic’. Family connections, nepo- teeth, Ardern’s party secured 49.1 that Ardern has introduced New ting older and ever so more slightly ‘ordinary guy’, and it’s difficult to tism and back handers, contribute per cent of the vote and just over Zealand has experienced less than out of touch with popular culture. think of anyone more sympathetic to the rising of some and the hold- half of the seats in the nation’s 120- 2,000 cases in total and just 25 For the past few years I’ve been than Jacinda Ardern – who is not ing back of others in our labour seat assembly. deaths have been identified as being lucky if I have recognised half of the only an outstanding politician but markets. These built in advantages In a system built on consensus, Covid related. celebrities taking part during the also a 40-year-old mum of a toddler. undermine the common good. which would also mean unifying her While there are very clearly sub- season premiere ‘launch show’. This She gave birth during her first term Moreover, regarding the public opponents if they wished to topple stantial differences between New year I was down to just three: Caro- in office and to this day tries to good through a technological lens her, Ardern’s position is as secure for Zealand and the UK – New Zealand’s line Quentin, Bill Bailey and the for- struggle with work life balance. interested only in markets, eco- the foreseeable future as any politi- population density is just 15 people mer Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. Other politicians may be emi- nomic efficiency and gross domes- cian in the world right now. per square kilometre compared to Isn’t it a sign of age when the only nently decent and probably capable, tic product reduces our approach It shouldn’t come as a surprise England’s 432; and while London celebrity you know is partnered with look no further the Ed Miliband and, to a reductionist disregard of the that Ardern was re-elected so com- has somewhere in the region of Anton Du Beke, and in your house at arguably, Sir Kier Starmer – but most potential, talents, if not vocational fortably. She is, no matter what part 123,000 hotel rooms compared least the dancers are more recognis- people can’t identify with them. contribution, of the person. of the political spectrum you come Auckland’s 9,200 – it is nevertheless able than their partners? No, Ardern truly is a standout Keen to ‘change the terms of so- from, a genuinely impressive politi- an impressive achievement by I put something to this effect on politician not only because she is cial recognition and esteem’ San- cian. Ardern’s government. social media and within minutes clearly capable but you just know, if dal proposes that we restore the In the wake of the Christchurch From an outsider looking in, and was hit by a barrage of comments asked, she would be able to tell you dignity of work by focusing on mosque shootings Reuters reported from her achievements along, there asking why someone who was ‘a the latest winner of New Zealand’s ‘contributive’ rather than ‘distribu- Ardern in glowing terms: “She is absolutely no surprise that Ardern politician’ – which I’m not – would ‘Dancing with the Stars’. tive justice. promptly labelled the worst peace- retains her position as Prime Minis- watch such a trashy programme? Like any politician, Ardern’s stock That would be a good start as we time mass killing in New Zealand as ter – although it is always worth All of which set me thinking about will eventually wain but for now she address the real needs of the new terrorism, and set about reassuring a adding the caveat, as with the US a senior politician I once met who is rightly on top of the world. normal in our society and even a nation that has been largely un- Presidential election, that things can told me about the importance of move into the ‘caring economy’. scathed by violence and fears that be very different when you’re living knowing who was voted off Strictly Leon is a writer, political has afflicted other countries in the in the country. Come Dancing each week. The ques- commentator and charity trustee

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IN BRIEF Coffey to protect We must ‘Rise to Challenge’ workers’ pensions A prominent Catholic politician has threatened “pension pot pinchers” with prison to deter says ITV newscaster Julie company bosses from raiding em- ployee pension funds. Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey made her com- ment in the House of Commons as she vowed to tackle those who “try to plunder the pension pots of hard-working employees”. New legislation “will strengthen protections for savers by extending the pension regulator’s sanctions ITV newscaster Julie Etchingham regime”, Ms Coffey said. has urged the British public to join “It creates a new style of pension the St Vincent de Paul Society’s Rise scheme that has the potential to to the Challenge campaign. increase future returns for millions In a heartfelt message, the award- while being more sustainable for winning journalist and TV presenter employees and employers alike,” said the “outstanding work of SVP she added, “and will strengthen members is needed more than ever” protections for savers by extending as the Government’s three-tier lock- the pension regulator’s sanctions down restrictions come into force. regime, including prison for of- Rise to the Challenge is an innova- fenders.” tive awareness-building campaign designed to help people better un- Faith leaders call for derstand the work of the SVP, espe- cially as a second wave of Covid-19 social security reform infections hits the country. The cam- Faith leaders in Scotland have paign also aims to raise funds to joined together to call for social se- help those in most need and to en- curity reforms to help tackle courage more people to join. poverty. The SVP is traditionally a grass- The Catholic Bishop of Galloway, roots organisation which seeks out the Moderator of the General As- and helps people in need in com- sembly of the Church of Scotland, munities, however, due to coron- Chief Imam of Scottish Ahlul Bayt avirus, there are strict limitations on Society and the Primus of the Scot- what can be done in parishes and tish Episcopal Church urged the fewer people are attending church UK and Scottish governments to services in person with many opting take action ‘that would reflect the to watch streaming services over the care, compassion and support internet. shown by people across the coun- As a result, the SVP is launching try into changes that would make Rise to the Challenge, focusing at- a real difference to families and in- tention on the amazing and vital dividuals living in the grip of work of SVP members, staff and vol- ple in need during the crisis ever. It might be in supporting poor and the great inequality that poverty’. unteers during the pandemic with • Take the fundraising challenge – someone who has just left prison, reigns in the world”, adding: “The They want the UK Government thousands of hungry people fed and raise £100, or any amount, to help someone who’s in debt or unem- harmony created by God asks that to scrap the benefit cap and two- friendship and support offered to pay for activities now and during the ployed, a family in crisis due to ill we look at others, the needs of oth- child limit to boost the incomes of the lonely and isolated. post-Covid economic recovery pe- health or bereavement, people for ers, the problems of others, in com- families ‘most in need’. The campaign invites people to riod whatever reason feeling margin- munion.” They also call for the increase in show their support for the SVP in • Make a direct donation to the alised, disenfranchised, or simply SVP National President Helen the basic allowance for Universal one of three ways: programme. lonely.” O’Shea comments: “In a world fac- Credit to be retained, and increase • Join the SVP either as a full or Julie, presenter of News at Ten, ing not only the unprecedented cri- the carers’ allowance. Temporary Auxiliary Member, help- Although people are being chal- adds: “I’m proud to support their sis of the Covid-19 pandemic, but ing with ‘knock and drop’ food deliv- lenged to help in one of these ways, life-giving work, and hope you will also the ever present spectres of Arson blamed for eries, or as a volunteer at a St Vin- the SVP hopes many people will do too as the SVP rises to the challenges poverty, loneliness and inequality, it Derby school fires cent’s Shop or St Vincent’s Support all three. of this next century.” is easy to become downcast, but we Detectives are “keeping an open Centre, doing their bit to help peo- Julie Etchingham, whose father is The SVP has provided materials must rise to the challenge. We must mind” as to whether two arson at- an SVP member in her home parish and suggestions to take part in the meet these challenges with compas- tacks on schools in Derbyshire in Leicester, is a patron of the Rise to Rise to the Challenge campaign. A sion, friendship and understanding. were linked. the Challenge campaign. web page (www.svp.org.uk/rise) “Our Rise to the Challenge cam- Derbyshire Police confirmed She says: “I’m very proud to be pa- suggests fun ways people can raise paign is raising awareness of the se- that a blaze at St Mary’s Catholic tron of the SVP’s Rise to the Chal- money. rious issues millions of people in the Voluntary Academy in Darley lenge campaign. Growing up as On the subject of the Covid-19 UK and across the world are facing Abbey on Saturday 3rd October Catholic, I’ve always known what ex- crisis, Pope Francis says: “The pan- today and in the future. was started deliberately. traordinary work its members do. demic has highlighted how vulnera- “Rise to the Challenge gives every- A separate fire at Ravensdale In- Quietly, without fanfare, supporting ble and interconnected everyone is. one in the UK the tools they need to fant School in Mickleover is also families and individuals enduring If we do not take care of one an- help those in urgent need of practi- being treated as arson. the hardest of times. other, starting with the least, with cal support, friendship and under- The force said there is no evi- “In a society suffering an epi- those who are most impacted, we standing.” dence to link the two fires “at this demic of loneliness and deep-rooted cannot heal the world.” She continues: “Now is the time to time”. poverty, the outstanding work of Francis points out that the pan- ‘Rise to the Challenge’. As our St Mary’s was destroyed in the SVP members is needed more than demic has “exposed the plight of the founder Blessed Frédéric Ozanam blaze, while Ravensale was se- said, ‘Let us do without hesitation verely damaged. whatever good lies at our hands’.” Derbyshire’s Chief Fire Officer For more information or to donate Gavin Tomlinson was critical that to the SVP’s Rise to the Challenge neither school was fitted with a In a society suffering an epidemic of loneliness campaign, go to sprinkler system, and called on the www.svp.org.uk/rise, Government to make fitting such and deep-rooted poverty, the outstanding work @SVPEnglandWales systems in new schools compul- of SVP members is needed more than ever... (#SVPRiseChallenge) or call sory. Julie Etchingham ‘‘ 020 7703 3030.

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IN BRIEF Church ‘treated As the recession bites, those women badly’ says Irish priest A priest has admitted that the that can, need to give more Catholic Church has traditionally treated woman very badly, and ef- fectively still does. Fr Kevin McNamara of Moyvane, CATHOLIC Co. Kerry made the admission dur- COMMENT ing a documentary about the de- cline of Catholic traditions within the Church today. Caroline “As a Church we have been very, very, very hurtful to women and Farrow still are,” said Fr McNamara in The Confessors, which aired on RTE One on Monday night. Two pieces of news this week “The Church is all male, all the brought home to me the economic time. We really need to look at that,” devastation being brought upon the he added. “We should put our country by lockdown. hands up sooner rather than later.” First, I heard from an old friend He went on to admit the devas- that they had finally secured a full- tation he felt at the flood of revela- time, well-paid job after years of tions of child sexual abuse perpe- piecemeal stints in retail, including trated by the clergy. fast-food outlets. While my friend “I actually cried my way through was delighted at their good fortune, a Mass at the height of the child they also admitted to mixed feelings sexual abuse [scandal]. How peo- because many of their co-workers ple in authority could have bla- who were taken on at the same time, tantly told so many lies, or opted have described it as a job for life and not to tell the truth,” he said, be- a ‘golden ticket’. fore adding that staying quiet The job in question? My friend has about such atrocities was “the been taken on as part of a new in- devil’s work”. take of workers by the Department Described as ‘a study of sin and for Work and Pensions assessing the redemption as told by Irish priests new glut of Universal Credit applica- through the Confession box’, The tions expected when the furlough Confessors features accounts from scheme ends. 15 priests – of all ages and from all Their permanent contract speak- corners of the country. One priest ing for itself. admitted he won’t wear a dog col- The other highly depressing re- lar for fear of being attacked out- lated news was an advert I saw for a more importantly for the vulnerable months, have been horrified to dis- incur a financial cost, but the point side work, and others describe local hygiene bank with a picture of groups of clients which they help. cover quite how much money they was that if you could afford a cinema how their confessional boxes go a child’s red, sore and chapped bot- That’s why it is more important had previously been spending on ticket, then you ought to be able to more-or-less unused for most of tom asking readers to imagine hav- now, more than ever, that for those their daily coffee shop fix which afford the same amount in order to the year. ing to clean out the contents of nap- of us who do have regular income could have been put to a much bet- help your local community and also pies in order to be able to re-use and can afford some element of ter use. to help the local church meet its ba- them. charitable giving, to seriously assess Don’t get me wrong, I’m not urg- sic overheads and running costs. Migrants pay price There are going to be countless our finances and look for ways in ing that everyone needs to give up With congregations at less than 10 for no legal status other examples of people suffering which we can continue to give assis- their coffee shop treat or whatever per cent, fewer weddings, baptisms, from extreme poverty and ill-health An estimated 17,000 to 20,000 un- tance to those in need, both locally brings them the occasional bit of first holy communions and no Mass related to the pandemic over the and abroad. pleasure, after all we don’t want even intentions, churches and priests are documented people are believed next months and years as this coun- to live in Ireland – and more than a My family has recently been doing more employees in the retail sector among those who are really strug- try and, indeed, the world, faces the an audit of our own finances to see to be put out of work, but the cur- gling at the moment. So too, are re- quarter earn below the minimum effects of a recession not experi- wage, the Migrant Rights Centre how much money we have been rent situation we find ourselves in lated Catholic aid organisations enced in hundreds of years. spending unnecessarily and it’s should force us all to do some seri- such as Cafod, Missio, and smaller Ireland (MRCI) has said. It is only natural that as our in- The study, led by the Justice for quite frightening to see how much is ous reassessing of our lives, our fi- groups such as the Good Counsel come depletes, so too does our abil- frittered away unnecessarily and un- nances and our obligations to oth- Network who do an inordinate the Undocumented group, found ity to give to others; over the week- three-quarters have been living in consciously. With five children we ers, which is a key part of the amount of good for mothers who are end my husband was dismayed to have never been ones to indulge a Christian vocation. always at the sharp end of any eco- Ireland for more than five years. note that only £20 was raised be- A quarter work as carers for eld- coffee shop habit – after all, a trip to I remember, years ago, hearing a nomic crisis. tween two parishes for Cafod’s an- one of the big chains would set us homily which extolled families to And so too, are organisations such erly people and one-fifth work in nual harvest collection. restaurants or catering. Some 17 back about £25 with a drink and a think about how much they were as this newspaper, because with For the most part this was due to biscuit for everyone – but it was putting in the collection plate and hardly anyone attending church, per cent worked in cleaning and vastly reduced numbers attending maintenance, 10 per cent worked quite shocking to see how much we suggesting that a contribution there is far less demand and yet the Mass and also I suspect, that thanks were spending over the odds buying should be similar to the amount that costs of printing and staff still need in childcare, five per cent worked to the virus, fewer of us are carrying in construction and four per cent unnecessary goods or top-ups on you would spend per person going to be paid. cash than ever before, but at this our weekly shopping and also on on a trip to the cinema. As the recession begins to bite, it worked in retail. rate it isn’t going to be long before Nearly 40 per cent are from ‘entertainment’. Clearly, attending Mass and re- is time for everyone to reassess their various charities and agencies are My parents, who are in the vulner- ceiving the Eucharist should not be financial priorities, to think about the Philippines with Mongolia, going to be severely limited in what China, Bangladesh, Brazil and able category and have therefore compared with a form of entertain- what’s really important and all the they can do to help others. been shielding over the past six ment, or something which should while remember our obligations to- Malawi other nations with signifi- I’ll be honest, there are many cant representation. wards stewardship. Ideally we must ‘charities’ which are nothing other be giving, as much as we are able, a than corporate lobby groups, their proportion of our funds not only to No sparkle this charitable status being nothing those less fortunate than ourselves, other than having been allowed a tax but to those who we can trust to be Christmas say shops break – the abortion providers and able to build the Kingdom and Leading stores like Waitrose, Mor- LGBT lobby groups such as Mer- With five children we have never been ones to spread the Gospel. risons and John Lewis are going maids and Stonewall falling into two glitter-free for Christmas in a bid such categories. indulge in a coffee shop habit – it would set us to be more eco-friendly. Cam- But for other groups which give back £25 with a drink and a biscuit for everyone – Caroline Farrow is a Catholic paigner say glitter in Christmas practical aid and support, the cur- but it was quite shocking how much we were journalist and UK campaign packaging can harm wildlife and rent pandemic will spell a disaster, director and media commentator get into the food chain. not merely for their organisation but spending on unnecessary‘‘ goods or entertainment for Citizens Go The Catholic Universe | Friday 23rd October 2020 13 News

Your opinions: Letters to the Editor UK’s first purpose-built We want to hear your views on the big Catholic issues. Write to: Joseph Kelly, Editor, The Universe, Universe Media Group Ltd, 2nd Floor, Oakland House, 76 Talbot Road, Manchester M16 0PQ Irish Centre celebrates E-mail: [email protected]. Please keep letters concise; we reserve the right to edit. Greek health service more cholera. In a similar vein in today’s health its 50th anniversary puts ours to shame crisis, remove beer pump handles, A number of Universe readers have no more Covid ? commented in the past on their ex- Michael Berry Catholics of Irish descent in Leeds The cover of the periences of using GP practices in York and throughout the diocese will know new book, the UK. I thought I would likewise that the UK's first purpose-built Irish which share mine with your readers. Centre is celebrating its fiftieth an- celebrates 50 My husband and I have recently US needs to put own niversary this year. years of the returned from a month long stay in house in order Leeds Irish Centre was due to host Leeds Irish Greece, staying in a small town of I read in a recent report that the Centre a number of celebrations and com- about 30,000 people. We are both American Government feels that memorations in June 2020 to mark Inset, former in our seventies and take medica- we should give back the Elgin Mar- this momentous landmark – but the tion prescribed by our British GP bles to Greece. pandemic and ensuing lockdown has visitor to the centre, TV practice. Fine – when they give back New put most of the plans on hold until presenter I was unwell while in Greece and York back to the native Americans 2021. Gabby Logan we visited a local medical centre. who owned the land before the first But one event that the centre is de- We were offered an appointment European settlers arrived. lighted is still going ahead is a book the next day. I was given a thor- Audra Shannon that celebrates half a century of com- ough examination and an ultra- Liverpool munity and charity work, sporting sound scan. He told me that two of and social events – as well as an array the items I had been prescribed by Charity saved of celebrities the centre has played our GP were aggravating my condi- host to over five decades. tion and street people The book – 50 Years In The Making advised me to stop taking one and There are many good charities here - Leeds Irish Centre 1970 - 2020 – will reduce taking another. in the Philippines (and all are be on sale from late November. The consultation, examination needed) but mostly they serve the Two versions will be released at the and scan took 40 minutes and cost ‘easier poor’ where a scholarship or same time: a hardbacked, limited edi- € 20. It is worth noting that the livelihood training programme can tion retailing at £20 plus postage, and medication I was advised to stop yield a tangible and swift result. a paperback which is available at £10 taking was prescribed over the Below this are levels of more in- per copy, plus postage. phone by my GP. tense suffering, that of the scav- Demand for copies is expected to Regrettably, it is difficult or in- engers and beggars who have no be high and pre-orders are now being deed impossible to get this level of voice and very few to speak for taken online or by contacting the cen- primary care in Britain. Why is the them or reach out to them. tre direct. Greek system so much better than During the pandemic however, Tommy McLoughlin, manager of ours? when things were about to become the centre for 45 of its 50 years, said: Marjorie Fletcher catastrophic for them, a Catholic “The book will be published 50 years Knutsford group stepped in. The Arnold and five months since the centre’s centre inspired his career, while TV us. The book has been a labour of Jansen Kalinga Foundation run by doors officially opened. I am so proud presenter Gabby Logan, a former love but even I was surprised by the the Divine Word Missionaries was of 50 Years In the Making as it cele- Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University, millions of pounds this one single Liberals can’t allow already running a drop-in centre brates our successes in all fields and humorously recalls teenage romances centre has raised for charities over Christian views for street people where they could pays tribute to our past as well as forged at the centre and how it helped the years, most of which has gone to Caroline Farrow’s columns are al- get a hot meal and take a bath and looking to the future. pave her way to success, albeit via an regional organisations. ways thought provoking and wash their clothes as well as re- “We hope everyone enjoys it and unusual route! “Stories of the world-famous names timely, but last week’s really struck ceive instruction in the faith. So it that it features on many people’s The book was penned by Yorkshire who have trod the stage were fasci- a chord with me (Ill wind blows on has faith as its primary focus. Christmas lists!” journalist Sheron Boyle, whose own nating to hear about but I loved telling those who challenge liberal ortho- They quickly formed partner- Liam Thompson, the current Chair- family left their Irish homes in pursuit the centre members’ own stories.” doxy). ships with some Catholic universi- man of the Irish Centre’s committee, of work and who has strong family The President of Ireland, Michael There seems to be an acceptance ties whose facilities were opened said: “50 Years In The Making marks a links with the centre. D Higgins, has said he remains “deeply within society that everyone has a up to house the homeless, and milestone in our history so far and it Sheron, who attended Catholic grateful to the Leeds Irish Centre” for right to a view apart from Chris- missionaries and volunteers pro- provides a unique opportunity to look schools in the diocese, said: “I am a providing a home from home for newly tians. Gender swapping has be- vided the food for several months. behind the doors of one of the best first generation migrant. My dad came arrived migrants over the decades. come the new orthodoxy, yet any- They also provided for many oth- venues in the UK.” to England as a young man and my To pre-order your copy of the book, one who dares to suggest this goes ers who had lost jobs and fallen on Leeds-born DJ Chris Moyles reveals story is the stories of the Yorkshire email: book@leedsirishcentrebook. against God’s plan for humanity is hard times during the lockdown; a how his times as a youth spent at the Irish diaspora who have gone before co.uk labelled a zealot and hounded to local park is still the venue for the stay quiet. food programme, and attracts hun- I accept gay people for who they dreds a day for lunch. are, I understand the problems of Best of all is a new residential Rashford: Hungry children still the trans community, and I tolerate community which has been all who come before me. But they opened to enable some to get off cannot tolerate me if I say simply the streets and to finish their edu- worrying about their next meal that man is born man, woman, cation and/or undertake skills Hungry children are sitting in class ernment in Wales said it will offer a coalition of food campaigners under woman. And that’s it. training to lead them back into worrying about what their younger poor pupils free meals over the holi- the name #endchildfoodpoverty, is My views surely carry the aame work and the mainstream of soci- siblings will eat at home later, cam- days. now mounting a petition to Parlia- weight as all others, don’t they? ety. Its first intake are both young paigning footballer Marcus Rashford Northern Ireland, which has just ment. The petition calls for free school Paula Jones and old, each with their own story, has said. announced a time-limited lockdown meals to be available for every child Warrington from former gang members, or Manchester United and England in which schools will close, has also from a household on Universal Credit drug users and many others dis- star Rashford, who prompted a West- promised to cover pupils’ meals during or equivalent. Beery bad news on carded by society. minster Government U-turn on free this period, but nothing further is This would mean the meals reach But here their often tragic past meals over the summer holidays, says promised for the coming Christmas an additional 1.5 million children aged the pub front can be redeemed and the future in- some cannot focus due to rumbling holiday. seven to 16, his campaign said. History, they say, repeats itself. His- fused with a new hope. Like in Luke stomachs. England’s Government has not com- He also wants holiday meals and torically, in Victorian times, civic 19:10 ‘for the Son of Man has come Stepping up his child poverty cam- mitted any further resources to free activities to be expanded to an extra authorities removed water pump to seek out and save what was lost.’ paign, he is urging UK ministers to school meals since schools returned 1.1 million, and the value of healthy handles from the streets This is noble work I’d urge Uni- offer free meals to 1.5 million more in September. food vouchers for pregnant women after it was found they were a com- verse readers to find out more children. Rashford, who has told of his own to be increased to increased to £4.25 mon vector point for the spread of about and support, if you can. His remarks came after the Gov- impoverished childhood and formed per week (up from £3.10) cholera. Take the handles away, no Stephen Clark, Manila 14 For extra news go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com Rome/World Follow the Catholic Universe on twitter @ukcatholicpress

IN BRIEF The spire of Our Lady of the Polish bishop resigns Living the Assumption Church, over abuse claims Santiago Pope Francis has accepted the res- ignation of the Bishop of Kalisz in Poland, Edward Janiak, who is un- der investigation for his handling gospel means of an abuse case. Janiak’s resignation follows claims he failed to take action against a priest accused of abuse. A documentary by filmmakers paying taxes Marek and Tomasz Sekielski called The mission of the Church and of all and in history, respecting God’s right Tell No One, addressing clerical Christians is to proclaim and live the over that which belongs to him,” the abuse in Poland, provoked a storm Gospel in daily life, Pope Francis said. pope said. of outrage across the country. “Each one of us, by virtue of bap- Christians are asked to be engaged The film has been viewed al- tism, is called to be an active presence in society “with humility and, at the most 24 million times on YouTube. in society, inspiring it with the Gospel same time, with courage, making their Janiak collapsed in June and was and with the lifeblood of the Holy contribution to building the civiliza- taken to hospital in Kalisz where he Spirit,” he said. tion of love, where justice and frater- was found to be suffering from al- Before reciting the Angelus prayer nity reign.” coholic poisoning. on 18th October, the pope reflected The pope prayed Mary would help on the day’s Gospel reading (Mt 22:15- “all of us to flee from all hypocrisy Priests’ trial opens 21) in which the Pharisees sought to and to be honest and constructive in the Vatican trap Jesus with the question about citizens. And may she sustain us, dis- whether it was lawful to pay a tax to ciples of Christ, in the mission to bear The trial of Fr Gabriele Martinelli, Caesar, the leader of the Roman Em- witness that God is the center and 28, and Mgr Enrico Radice, 71, has pire, which had control over the the meaning of life.” opened in a Vatican criminal court. Mediterranean region. After the formal prayer, Pope Francis Fr Martinelli is accused of repeat- Aware of the Pharisees’ evil inten- reminded everyone that the Church edly sexually abusing a younger tions, Jesus asked them to observe was celebrating World Mission Sunday, student at a minor seminary inside whose image was on the coin and be- a day on which Catholics are asked the Vatican, while Radice, the for- cause it was Caesar’s, he said, “Then to show their support of missionaries mer rector of the seminary, is ac- repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar around the world through prayer, re- cused of obstructing the investiga- and to God what belongs to God.” flection and material contributions. tion into his alleged crimes. Pope Francis said this shows how He also expressed his joy and grat- The offences are alleged to have Jesus not only avoided their trap but itude for the liberation of Fr Pierluigi occured at the St Pius X Pre-Semi- also describes “the criteria for the dis- Maccalli, a member of the Society of nary. Both priests on trial are in- tinction between the political sphere African Missions, who had been kid- cardinated in the Como diocese. and the religious sphere, and gives napped in Niger in 2018. Boys in middle school and high clear guidelines for the mission of all He and three other hostages were school live at the pre-seminary believers for all times, also for us to- released in Mali after being held cap- while considering applying to a day.” tive for more than two years. seminary when they are older. “Paying taxes is a duty for all citizens, Pope Francis said, “Let us keep pray- Chile anger sees just as is complying with the just laws ing for missionaries and catechists Spanish euthanasia of a nation,” he said. and also for those who are persecuted bill rejected But at the same time, “it is necessary or abducted in different parts of the to affirm God’s primacy in human life world.” church burn Members of the Spanish Bioethics Committee have unanimously op- posed the Government’s proposed Demonstrators in the Chile capital Church in Santiago burning, then euthanasia bill, warning that the Red Cross, Church discuss shared goals of Santiago have attacked two crashing to the ground as a nearby proposed legislation would oblige Peter Maurer, president of the Red for people affected by war and vio- churches in deliberate attacks crowd cheered. St Francis Borgia doctors to commit murder. Cross, has highlighted how his organ- lence.” during anti-government Church also was vandalised, and The committee declared that isation shares common goals with the He added: “There are few visits I demonstrations. religious items stolen, church ‘solid health, ethical, legal, eco- Catholic Church during a meeting do around the world in which we have Church officials initially official said. described protests last weekend as nomic and social reasons existed with Pope Francis. so much convergence of views, of val- The parish is home to ceremon- ‘peaceful’ as people protested ies for the ‘Carabineros,’ Chile’s to reject euthanasia and assisted “We both see helping the poor and ues.” against poverty and rising state police, which has been accused suicide. ‘To legalise euthanasia those displaced due to the pandemic Whether the current crises in the inequality in the South American of using repressive tactics against and/or assisted suicide implies the and various conflicts around the world world are viewed from a perspective nation. However, the mood turned demonstrators in recent weeks. initiation of the devaluing of hu- as our priority,” he said. of religious belief or international law, ugly late in the evening, with some “These events in Santiago and man life, the frontiers of which are Maurer described meeting the pope he said, both sides, “at the end of the protesters entering and other cities in Chile show that there difficult to predict,’ the committee as “a very positive experience” in day, enshrine decades and centuries vandalising parishes. Videos posted are no limits to those that said. ‘Euthanasia and assisted sui- which the pontiff expressed “his sup- of values, of good behavior in society,” on social media showed the spire of exacerbate violence,” the Chilean cide are not signs of progress but port for what we are doing in the field he said. Our Lady of the Assumption bishops’ conference said. rather a regression of civilisation.’ Pope – and God – are looking out for Rome’s Carabinieri Pope Francis has said thank you to the remain true to their mission and to promote Italian military police officers who provide “a responsible citizenry, to help people be security for St Peter’s Square and the sur- good citizens, to be custodians of the right rounding area, recognising the care and to life, through their efforts ensuring people’s consideration they show. security and safety.” He expressed his gratitude for their service “Everyone is loved by God, he or she is to the Holy See and their patience with so his creation and, as such, is worthy of re- many visitors and tourists. It requires bal- spect,” he added. ancing all the rules and measures that need The pope confessed to the officers that to be respected and being attentive and every morning when he goes to his study helpful to others, he said. in the Apostolic Palace, he first prays to Even if their higher-ups do not notice Mary and then goes to the window to look their many small and hidden demonstra- out onto the city and St Peter’s Square, tions of respect and service each day, God where he sees them. The pope hosts a socially distanced audience sees it “and he does not forget,” he added. “I greet you in my heart every morning with members of the Carabinieri The pope encouraged the Carabinieri to and thank you,” he said. The Catholic Universe | Friday 23rd October 2020 15 Rome/World

Pope accepts criticism, vows to do better Ditch military on facemasks and meeting the public spending for food aid - pope Cindy Wooden are working to defeat hunger, food Pope Francis has called for a global insecurity and malnutrition.” move to divert money from national The task is getting more difficult, military spending and use it to “defi- he said. nitely defeat hunger.” “Unfortunately,” the pope said, “ac- Addressing representatives of the cording to the most recent statistics UN Food and Agriculture Organization from the FAO, despite the efforts made on World Food Day (16th October), in recent decades, the number of peo- Pope Francis went further than his ple facing hunger and food insecurity predecessor, St Paul VI, who – in his has grown and is growing, and the 1967 encyclical Populorum Progressio – current pandemic will further exac- asked “world leaders to set aside part erbate these figures.” of their military expenditures for a “For humanity, hunger is not just a world fund to relieve the needs of im- tragedy, but a shame,” he said. poverished peoples.” “For the most part, it is caused by Pope Francis, in his recent encyclical an unequal distribution of the fruits Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social of the earth,” the pope said. In addi- Friendship and in his video message tion, a lack of investment in agricul- to the FAO, said that “a courageous ture, climate change and conflict all decision would be to use the money make the situation worse. A resident at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the The Domus Sanctae Marthae resident, who is as yet spent on arms and other military ex- “Faced with this reality, we cannot residence where Pope Francis lives, has tested positive unnamed, is asymptomatic and has been placed in remain insensitive or paralysed,” he penditures to constitute a ‘Global for Covid-19, the Vatican announced. isolation, a Vatican spokesman said. Fund’ so that we can definitively defeat said. “We are all responsible.” The news came as Pope Francis has reportedly vowed “The regulations issued by the Holy See continue to be hunger and help the development of Wasting less food, distributing food to do more to comply with social distancing rules and observed and the health of all residents of the Domus the poorest countries.” better and spending less on weapons, facemask wearing after criticism in the Italian press is constantly monitored,” he added. As the UN agency celebrated its the pope said, would mean fewer peo- over his apparent flouting of Vatican rules. On Last week several Swiss Guards tested positive to 75th anniversary, Pope Francis told ple would go hungry and fewer would numberous occasions in recent weeks, the Holy Father Covid-19. Staff have been instructed to ensure guests at staff and members, “Your mission is feel forced to emigrate in search of has been pictured greeting crowds of wellwishers general audiences are kept away from the pope, and he beautiful and important, because you the means of a dignified existence. without a mask on. has said he will wear a mask more often in the future. Ambassador voices concern as pandemic boosts trafficking

While the Covid-19 pandemic has co-ordinator of Talitha Kum, said that she said, not only increased poverty, shut down or slowed most businesses, in 2019 the members of the network but also increased acts of violence it does not appear to have put a dent provided direct assistance – rescue, against women and children held by in human trafficking, Callista Gingrich, housing, education and psychological traffickers, increased online pornog- US ambassador to the Holy See, told support – to 24,700 survivors. raphy with its exploitation of women, a conference organised by the Holy “Each one of these is a story of an children and adolescents, and it left See called Combatting Human Traf- encounter of sisters and survivors,” many migrants who had been traf- ficking: Action in a Time of Crisis. she said. ficked for work stranded and with Rather, the financial difficulties The pandemic, Sr Bottani said, has nothing. many families face around the world been a magnifying glass that has high- Olga Zhyvytsya, international ad- actually make people more vulnerable lighted the inequality and injustices vocacy officer at Caritas Internation- to traffickers’ offers of quick cash or that make some people easy prey for alis, added that the lockdown and false promises of good jobs in other traffickers. travel restrictions meant that victims lands, she said. of trafficking have had fewer oppor- Mrs Gingrich praised the role of Callista Gingrich tunities to escape or attract the at- faith-based organisations in the push praised the role of tention of someone who can help. to end trafficking and assist the vic- faith groups in Kevin Hyland, a former London po- tims, hailing them as “among some tackling trafficking lice officer and long-time anti-traf- of our best partners”. Gingrich referred ficking campaigner, told the sympo- specifically to Talitha Kum, the inter- sium that “symptoms of human traf- national network involving some 2,600 “Protective protocols of hygiene ficking are evident in every nation, women religious and their collabora- and social distancing are reserved for every city and town,” yet individuals tors around the world. the privileged,” she said, since the and governments seem to do very Loreto Sister Patricia Murray, exec- poorest have no choice but to go out little to stop it. At times, they even utive secretary of the women’s Inter- seeking ways to earn money and often seem to turn a blind eye to it, for ex- national Union of Superiors General, do not have access to running water, ample, with trafficking for prostitution said the poor who are susceptible to let alone hand sanitiser. or for domestic work. traffickers are “doubly vulnerable” Trafficking ultimately is the result “The notion that human trafficking during the pandemic, when many of an economic system based only is inevitable,” he said, has resulted in more families are facing hunger. on consumption and on valuing hu- it being so. “It’s estimated that an additional man beings according to the wealth Princess Okokon, a Nigerian who 130 million (people) will fall below they can produce for another, she survived trafficking, said traffickers the poverty line this year, and I suspect said. “It’s a cry for conversion, for who exploit women for the sex trade that that is an optimistic figure,” she deep change” at a personal, social, treat them “like an ATM, and when said. national and international level. the ATM runs out of cash, they discard Comboni Sister Gabriella Bottani, The pandemic and its lockdown, them.” 16 For extra news go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com World News

Lets hear it for the girls! Europe paying price for easing

Fr Shay up on virus, says WHO chief Cullen The World Health Organisation’s head of emergencies has praised the way Thousands of young girls are tak- Asian nations such as China, South ing a stand against the violence Korea and Japan have controlled the and abuse that they have endured. spread of coronavirus – comparing It’s inspiring to know that the their response to what he suggested age of docility and subservience, was the more relaxed attitude to the child abuse and sex slavery, is be- virus in Europe and the West. ing challenged and changed. The In Asia, Dr Michael Ryan said, they curtain of silence has been torn, locked down quickly and effectively, the light of truth has poured into and devoted huge energy to creating the dark abyss of abuse and much an effective test and trace programme. has been revealed and challenged. But in an apparent criticism of the Many are finding the courage to West’s response, he highlighted how speak out and report abuse and there had been no let-up in their challenge their rapists and efforts omce the initial surge of the abusers. They must be listened to virus had been brought under control: and given protection, therapy and the Asian nations “had serious follow help. Then they can take the wit- through once they got their numbers ness stand in court and tell their down; they didn’t start reducing testing story with courage and bravery. centres, they increased testing. They Hundreds are winning convic- didn’t start reducing clinical capacity, tions. In 2018, with the help of the they increased clinical capacity. Preda Foundation, the children “They didn’t just run to the line in won 18 convictions in Philippines getting the disease under control, they courts. In 2019, they won 20 con- ran through the line and kept on run- victions and in 2020 so far, another ning.” 10. Almost all the rapists got life Ryan has previously criticised Eu- sentences. ropean governments for relaxing their We can win the fight against restrictions too early. abuse. The judges in family courts He acknowledged that previous out- new infections a day, and has nearly since the start of October than Health ministry spokeswoman Sima today are mostly female and many breaks of respiratory diseases such as 3,000 people hospitalised with the throughout the past eight months Sadat Lari said 337 people had died believe the child victim when it is SARS in Asia had given the authorities disease. Health officials say all the combined. in the past 24 hours, exceeding the the girl’s word against her accused a head start on their European coun- country’s 2,000 intensive care beds Poland – another country praised previous daily high of 279 and bringing assailant. Provided that her testi- terparts in combating the virus. But a will be taken up by Covid-19 patients for successfully controlling the virus the total since February to 30,712. mony is clear, coherent, direct and tougher approach to quarantining by November. in March and April – saw new infec- There were 4,251 new cases. credible and withstands the cross sufferers had been key in reducing At the same time Italy, which was tions rise to nearly 10,000 a day last “In recent days, we have witnessed examination of the defence coun- virus transmission. the initial European hotspot but week. On Monday the Government an unprecedented increase in mor- sel, she is believed and wins. We His words came as a number of worked hard to reduce its virus cases, announced it was opening a field hos- tality from the disease,” she said should be all proud of these girls governments across Europe admitted has been forced to announce new re- pital in Warsaw and said the armed The surge in infections and deaths who have fought with courage and they were losing control of the virus strictions after recording its highest forces would be deployed to man since early September was the “result won justice. spread. daily infection rate. drive-through testing facilities. of [people] neglecting to comply with But it is dereliction of duty by of- Belgium could soon be over- And the Czech Republic – which Health Minister Adam Niedzielski health protocols, reduced use of ficials that all too few children get whelmed by new infections, itshealth celebrated its success in defeating the said the country was preparing "for masks, and dangerous social behav- the support, protection, empower- minister has warned, amid soaring virus in summer with a huge party the worst-case scenarios - 15,000 or iour”, she added. ment to be able to do so. case numbers. on a bridge in Prague – now has the even 20,000 new infections each day,” The situation in Tehran is particu- A five-year study into violence Frank Vandenbroucke said new cas- highest infection rate on the continent he said. larly bad, with intensive care units against children in 2016 found that es were close to a “tsunami” where and is planning a full national lock- Outside Europe, Iran has reported reportedly running at full capacity. the ‘total prevalence of all forms of authorities “no longer control what down. It reported a record 11,000 new its highest daily death toll from Covid- Authorities have closed schools, violence against children is at 80 is happening”. cases on Monday, and more people 19, as the country grapples with a mosques, shops, restaurants and other per cent, with boys at 81.5 per cent Belgium is recording close to 8,000 have reportedly died with the virus “third wave” of its outbreak. public institutions. and girls, 78.4 per cent; one in three children experiences physi- cal violence, with more than half A jovial President Trump of them happening at home.’ adopts a fighting pose as he Biden holds Catholic vote The research discovered that for addresses a campaign rally girls, ‘one in five children below at Ocala International age 18 have experienced sexual vi- Airport in Florida but lead narrow in key states olence while growing up. Common A poll by leading US Catholic media while support for Biden increases perpetrators of sexual violence are group EWTN has revealed strong sup- among those who attend church less brothers or cousins.’ port among Catholics for Democrat frequently. Thousands of girls are lured and presidential nominee Joe Biden – but A lead of any kind is good news for trafficked into the sex industry by in crucial swing states his lead narrows Biden who, despite his own Catholic human traffickers and are trapped significantly. faith, has previously lagged behind in a cycle of fear, dependence, The majority of Catholics say they Trump in polling, mainly because of debt bondage and fear of retalia- support Joe Biden (52 per cent), with his support for abortion. tion if they do not submit to sexual only 40 per cent supporting incumbent Polling has confirmed that among exploitation and abuse. The sex Donald Trump; the rest remain un- all Catholics, they are less likely to trade is still thriving despite the decided, unwilling to vote or preferring support candidates who support tax- Covid-19 and children are still sold alternative candidates. payer funding of abortion (52 per cent as sex slaves and made dependent However, this healthy lead for Biden to 34 per cent) or who support abor- on drugs. Few traffickers are actu- disappears in the key swing states of tion at any time during a pregnancy ally convicted due to weak law en- Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Car- (60 per cent to 28 per cent). forcement. New laws being read- olina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, These numbers are even more in- ied will raise the age of consent to where the lead drops to just four teresting in light of the fact that by al- 16 years from a low of 12 years. It is points (48 - 44), which is within the most 20 points (59 per cent to 41 per a much-needed move. poll’s margin of error. cent), Catholics see abortion as “moral- Among Catholics who go to Mass ly wrong.” This opinion was strongest Visit www.preda.org, and on more often, this lead falls even further among Catholics who go to Mass at Facebook, Preda Foundation. and even gives Trump a narrow lead, least weekly (71 - 29). The Catholic Universe | Friday 23rd October 2020 17 World News Turkey’s Armenian Christians under threat as Azerbaijan conflict rages

Rob Beswick A ceasefire brokered by the OSCE Minsk Group for last cluding Turkish nationalists storming Turkey’s Armenian Christian commu- weekend broke down within hours, with both sides Istanbul’s Kurtulus neighbourhood, nity is said to be growing ‘increasingly shelling military positions and civilian areas home to a large Armenian population, fearful’ about the re-emergence of on 5th October, harrassing locals and anti-Armenian sentiment in the coun- draping Turkish/Azerbaijan flags over try as conflict rages in the disputed cars. It was a repeat of a similar inci- territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. dent on 28th September,the day after Turkey’s military is supporting Azer- fighting broke out in Nagorno- baijan in the ongoing conflict with Karabakh, in the Istanbul subsurb of Armenia; a ceasefire arranged last Kumkapi, where the Armenian Or- weekend broke down within hours, thodox Patriarchate is located. with both sides blaming the other for A spokesman for the Patriarchate the breach. said it reminded him of previous Armenians are overwhelmingly anti-Armenian pogroms. “We have members of the Armenian Apostolic experienced this worrying trend for Church while Azerbaijan is Muslim the past four generations.” and has close ties with Turkey. While a spokesperson for Erdogan’s The rhetoric emanating from the ruling party said Armenians in Turkey hardline Muslim Government of Re- would not be threatened, the hostile cep Erdogan against Armenia “makes atmosphere being created around its our own citizens a target,” Garo Paylan, Christian minority is part of a worrying one of the few Armenian members of trend in recent months. Critics point the Turkish parliament. Paylan is a to Erdogan’s conversions of the famed descendant of Armenian genocide Hagia Sophia and Istanbul’s Church survivors and an outspoken critic of menian-origin citizens have become sions and massacres between 1914 burgh and member of the Anti- of St Savior in Chora, into functioning Turkey’s support of Azerbaijan. scapegoats, and the object of rising and 1923. Labelled as a genocide by Defamation League’s Task Force on mosques. “Turkey is currently the only country racism and hate speech,” Paylan many international commentators, Middle East Minorities, said there was “The conquest mentality that has that supports war, although it is a added. the events are still denied by Turkey. growing international concern over shaped the Turkish government’s Ha- member of the OSCE Minsk Group, “Armenians in Turkey have already Turkey’s increasingly vocal support the fate of Christian Armenians in gia Sophia policy not only puts the which is tasked with negotiating a been living in fear for decades, and for its ally Azerbaijan was raising the Turkey, after the Government targeted sacred history of Turkey’s religious settlement to the Karabakh conflict,” this fear multiplies in tense times like stakes for Turkey’s Armenian citizens, a number of religious minorities and minorities at risk, but also threatens he said. “But Ankara has lost all neu- this,” said Armenian cultural writer Koptas added, many of whom already challenged accepted religious freedom. their lives, making them potential tar- trality in this process.” Rober Koptas said. Some 1.5 million feel threatened in their own country. She pointed to a number of acts of gets,” said Tanyeri-Erdemir. “This cli- “The Government is using this con- Armenians and other Christians were Tugba Tanyeri-Erdemir, a research intimidation by Turkish nationalists mate of fear causes irreparable damage flict for domestic consumption. Ar- victims of the Ottoman Turk expul- associate at the University of Pitts- against the Armenian community, in- to interfaith co-existence. Kenyan Church leaders pray for pandemic victims and an end to corruption

Francis Njuguna Those representing the Catholic Kenyan Church leaders, hosted by Church included Archbishop Antho- President Uhuru Kenyatta at Nairo- ny Muheria, currently presiding over bi’s State House, gathered to offer the National Interfaith Council on prayers for their country. the country’s Covid-19 pandemic Four Catholic bishops were among campaign the Church leaders, whose prayers Kenya has recorded nearly 42,000 focused on recovery from the Covid- Covid-19 cases but fewer than 800 19 pandemic, corruption and na- deaths. tional unity. The state-sponsored “Let us thank God for (coming) service was part of three days of this far, while we continue to observe prayer the east African nation as it the laid-out health guidance in the continues to struggle against coro- battle against the pandemic with navirus. high hope that all will be well,” said Archbishop Muheria as he offered his prayers. Kenyatta thanked the religious leaders for seeing the need to gather to give thanks to God on many issues facing the country. He urged Kenyans to forgive him for any sin he might have committed against them, while assuring them that he had forgiven any sins against him. Catholic bishops have been out- spoken against the Kenyan govern- ment on charges of corruption. Last year, the bishops launched a national campaign titled, ‘Let Us Break the Chain of Corruption.’ In late August, Kenyatta called for investigations into alleged embez- zlement of funds meant to fight the President Uhuru Kenyatta coronavirus. 18 For extra news go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com World News Feature Follow the Catholic Universe on twitter @ukcatholicpress

NJPN Comment Compassion Vatican meeting tries to lift can go further ‘blanket of silence’ over Syria Barbara Kentish Cindy Wooden As the world’s attention continues to “I so happy to see you!” My Iranian focus on its fight against the Covid- friend Mary gave me a big hug 19 pandemic and the dire health and when we met recently near economic consequences it brings, the Victoria in central London. Vatican urged nations not to forget We had met for the first time at a the people of Syria, who are still living migrants’ hostel in Calais in 2019. in a situation of violence and extreme She had arrived in the UK on a need. small boat with her husband and In an extraordinary move, the Vati- family in August this year, after can invited diplomats accredited to three attempts at crossing. “What the Holy See from around the world was it like?” I asked, curiously. to meet with Cardinal Mario Zenari, “Cold, wet, dark. Four hours!” she the nuncio to Syria. exclaimed in her limited English. “The appointment was an oppor- “My eyes closed whole time – tunity to rekindle attention toward frightened!” I never asked Mary the situation in Syria, which has been why they fled Iran where she was prostrated by almost 10 years of vio- an accountant for her husband’s lence,” the Vatican said. building firm. Their Christian faith It did not reveal, however, how many might be a clue: Iran is known for ambassadors attended the meeting. its intolerance of minorities. Cardinal Zenari told the ambassa- They are in a hotel near Victoria dors that while the war and suffering Station awaiting housing, to begin in Syria had all but disappeared from rebuilding their lives. 90-plus the media’s radar, the humanitarian Many towns in Syria have been London hotels accommodate asy- disaster continues. reduced to little more than lum seekers, placed there by the After physical destruction by rocket rubble, the Vatican said government, alongside the ‘regular’ fire, he said, the nation now faces the homeless, during the pandemic. threat of the “bomb of poverty”. The to pursue peace and democratic re- the presence of Christians in the re- retary of state, opening the meeting, With boat crossings continuing, nuncio said some 80 per cent of the forms. gion; the educational emergency; the expressed his hope that the world will no wonder disused army barracks population is living in poverty and Innocent civilians are suffering the situation of women; and the need for not grow accustomed to the “litany are now being used as well. an estimated 11 million Syrians require effects of the sanctions, he said. additional financial resources for the of horrors that every day comes to us Another Iranian ‘boat’ family I humanitarian assistance. Cardinal Zenari also responded to ‘Open Hospitals’ project. from that tormented nation.” know, 20-year-old Michael and his Syria is an “expanse of ghost villages” questions from the ambassadors pres- This involves three Catholic hospi- At the end of the meeting, Cardinal mother, are rehoused in a Liver- strewn with rubble, he said, and “many ent, covering relations between reli- tals in Damascus and Aleppo that Parolin reiterated the importance of pool suburb, where he hopes to re- Syrians have lost hope.” gious communities in Syria; the need offer services free to all who are sick, “ new solutions and of not abandoning sume science studies at a college. Cardinal Zenari also mentioned the for economic recovery at various levels regardless of ethnic origin or religious Syria under a blanket of silence and He’s confident, cycling around the international sanctions imposed on for the reconstruction of the country; belief. indifference,” offering the Church’s city, but when visiting, I wonder Syria in an attempt to force the regime the consequences of the conflict on Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican sec- assistance in doing so. how his mother will cope, with lit- tle English and health problems, in an 11th floor flat. Miraculously, life has moved on positively since New twist in Becciu scandal after Calais for both these families. I don’t believe the myth of Britain as a ‘crowded island which can’t take any more’. Of the 70 mil- payments made to sham company lion refugees across the world, the UK accepted under 20,000 last Junno Arocho Esteves tuto” – a position akin to the pope’s Cecilia Marogna is alleged to year. Turkey, Pakistan and Uganda A political analyst allegedly hired as a chief of staff – in the Vatican Secretariat have been secretly hired as a ranked highest of the hosting security consultant by Cardinal Angelo of State from 2011 to 2018. security consultant by countries – the UK twentieth. All Becciu has been arrested by Italian According to several documents Cardinal Becciu, with countries must accept some re- authorities in Milan, Italian media re- anonymously sent to the Italian news payments made through a sponsibility, and factor it into the ported. program, La Iene, the Vatican Secre- Slovenian humanitarian economy like other forms of need. Cecilia Marogna was arrested on tariat of State sent an estimated organisation that was But life is tough right now. We suspicion of embezzlement and mis- 500,000 euros ($587,900) over a period exposed as shell company all know people who are struggling appropriation of funds by the Italian of five years to a humanitarian or- to survive Covid-19 and the econ- financial police after an international ganisation in Slovenia run by Marogna, omy. How can we stretch our com- warrant was issued by Interpol at the a Sardinian political analyst. passion further? Cardinal Nichols Vatican’s request, according to reports. La Iene travelled to Slovenia to track recently cited the community She is expected to be extradited to her down, but her alleged ‘humani- sponsorship scheme, where we Vatican City to answer the charges, tarian organisation’ turned out to be ganisation was used for humanitarian ton, and Moncler. welcomed 20,000 Syrian families. the reports said. The Vatican has issued only a mailbox at the address listed missions, including the paying of ran- When asked about the purchases The campaign group, Safe Passage, no statement on the arrest nor con- for the head office. soms for kidnapped missionaries. by Corriere della Sera, Marogna said, has received over 1,000 pledges firmed that it initiated the arrest war- “Everything said about me? All lies. In an interview with the Italian news “Perhaps the purses were for the wife from local authorities to foster un- rant. Me, the cardinal’s lover? Absurd,” site Domani, Marogna said she “used of a Nigerian friend who could talk to accompanied migrant minors. Cardinal Becciu, the former prefect Marogna told Corriere della Sera, even the money to do the work they asked the president of Burkina Faso.” Where there’s a will, there’s a way. of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, though none of the accusations alleged me to do: create relationships and Nevertheless, Marogna denied being Pope Francis declared: “Each was asked to retire on 24th September a relationship between her and the contacts in difficult countries. a “compulsive shopper,” and claimed migrant has a name, a face and a by Pope Francis. The cardinal said the prelate. “I wrote reports and analysis, as that the money was used for “diplo- story”. We can’t personally, or even pope mentioned allegations that he “I am a political analyst and an in- long as I was paid. I am not a swindler,” matic trips, payments to information nationally, welcome 70 million. embezzled Vatican funds, diverting telligence expert who works honestly she said. sources, mediations and bank transfers But we can each welcome a Mary them to a charitable organization run and who pays rent while caring for However, while the funds allegedly to humanitarian foundations.” or a Michael, and consider cutting by his brother. my daughter,” she said. sent by Cardinal Becciu were labelled Cardinal Becciu denied any im- the national cake into fairer shares! Since then, Italian and international She claimed that she was secretly as ‘voluntary contribution for human- proper contact with Marogna, stating Barbara Kentish is a member of media have reported several ques- hired by Cardinal Becciu, unbeknown itarian mission,’ La Iene reported that that all contact between him and the Westminster Justice and Peace tionable financial transactions the to the Vatican and the Secretariat of the money was instead used for pur- Sardinian political analyst were “ex- and co-ordinator of ‘People not cardinal allegedly made with Vatican State, as a diplomatic back channel chases at several high-priced fashion clusively regarding institutional mat- Walls’. funds during the time he was “sosti- and that the money sent to her or- boutiques, including Prada, Louis Vuit- ters.” theCatholic Carol Fr Francis Fr Michael Glatz Marsden Collins Restored Holy Stairs give Austria freed by the Chartres Cathedral: Pure meaning to crisis - p22 power of the Rosary - p24 Gothic architecture - p26 www.thecatholicuniverse.com TIMESA CATHOLIC UNIVERSE SUPPLEMENT

A bust of Nigerian bishops Italian poet Dante Alighieri is seen next to back #EndSARS an etching of him at the University of Bologna in protests against Ravenna, Italy, in this 2007 photo. In the runup to next year’s police brutality 700th anniversary of the death Peter Ajayi Dada protests were good, “especially as of Dante, we seem to have an unresponsive Pope Francis Several Nigerian bishops, including government which now seems to said he hopes the head of the bishops’ conference, have been forced awake.” However, people can have criticised police attacks that he said, reforming police was just a read the have left at least 10 protesters dead first step. Italian poet’s Divine and hundreds injured. The bishops The protests, which began in early Comedy. say the protests are symptomatic of October, have manifested themselves (Catholic News ongoing corruption issues in the in a campaign to #EndSARS, a ref- Service photo/ country. erence to the Special Anti-Robbery Marco Bucco, Reuters) “It is quite unfair to lose so many Squad, an arm of the Nigerian Police citizens of the country due to trig- Force. The squad is famous for pro- ger-happy police who are supposed filing young people and has been to protect the lives of the citizens,” accused of human rights violations, said Bishop Francis Obafemi Adesina including murder, theft, rape, torture Dante is prophet of hope along of Ijebu-Ode. “This is why the police and extrajudicial killings. Demon- must be reformed, and all stake- strators are calling for an immediate holders in the country must join release of all arrested protesters, de- life’s journey, says Pope Francis this agitation and movement for the manding justice for all deceased reformation of the police in Nigeria. victims of police brutality and ap- The killings are too much, and we propriate compensation for their In the run-up to next year’s 700th anniversary “That same cross, on the occasion of this must all speak out against it.” families. of the death of Dante Alighieri, Pope Francis centenary, will shine again in the place that Bishop Emmanuel Badejo of Oyo Amnesty International has ex- said he hoped people would read the Italian preserves the mortal remains of the poet. May it told Catholic News Service that the pressed concern about increasing poet’s work, especially the Divine Comedy, which be an invitation to hope, that hope of which violence targeting the protesters. still resonates today. Dante is a prophet,” Pope Francis said. Mohammed Adamu, police in- “Dante, in fact, invites us once again to The pope, who has listed the Divine Comedy as spector general, scrapped the unit rediscover the lost or clouded sense of our one of his favourite works, said he hoped next in early October and established a human journey,” he said in an audience at the year’s celebrations would “stimulate us to revisit new Special Weapons and Tactics Vatican on 10th October with a delegation from his work so that, made aware of our condition as team as a replacement. the Italian Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia. exiles, we allow ourselves to be motivated to that In a statement, the Nigerian bish- Born in Florence in 1265, Dante played an path of conversion.” ops urged officials to listen to the essential role in Italian literature by writing in Dante’s work still resonates with people, protesters and added: “The audacity the vernacular, not Latin, making literature especially when students have the opportunity and impunity with which the SARS more accessible to the wider public. “to approach Dante’s poetry in a way that is officials have been operating all the His final work was the Divine Comedy, which accessible to them.” while is a manifestation of the failing imagines an allegorical journey through hell, “This happens especially where the fascination state of Nigeria.” purgatory and heaven and is considered one of of the true, the beautiful and the good, Bishop Adesina agreed with those the masterpieces of world literature. It was ultimately the fascination of God makes its sentiments. completed while he was in exile in Ravenna, powerful attraction felt.” “The cry of the youth and indeed where he died on 13th September, 1321, the feast The pope reiterated St Paul’s invitation “to be every Nigerian to #EndSARS is a of the Exaltation of the Cross. enriched by his experience to pass through the cry to put an end to every form of In his speech to the visiting delegation, Pope many dark woods still widespread in our land brutality and oppression Nigerians Francis recalled how St Paul VI in 1965 and to complete happily our pilgrimage through face daily from those meant to protect donated a golden cross to Ravenna to place on history in order to arrive at the goal dreamed of their lives,” he said. “Arresting and Dante’s tomb to mark the 700th anniversary of and yearned for by every man and woman: ‘the killing innocent citizens for protesting his birth. love that moves the sun and all the other stars.’” against the violation of their human A demonstrator holds a sign rights is part of the so many wrongs during protest in Lagos, Nigeria, in our country that must be addressed employed to protect them.” “Maybe we should all be having where they could best be redeployed. on 17th October, over alleged by the government. Bishop Badejo said eliminating an ‘end corruption’ ... campaign to “I think that a programme of dis- police brutality. Several Nigerian “The cry goes beyond ending po- the anti-robbery squad was “first address the problem with governance cernment and rehabilitation will bishops, including the head of the lice brutality in the country; the cry aid by the authorities to buy time in Nigeria comprehensively,” he help. We must find out those who bishops’ conference, have is about making Nigeria a better before they will sincerely address a said. can still be helped and rehabilitated,” criticised police attacks that have and a safe place for citizens where much larger problem.” He suggested Bishop Badejo said the disbanded he said, adding; “Did Nigeria not left at least 10 protesters dead and the #EndSARS campaign could be police operatives should be made spend money rehabilitating terrorists hundreds injured. they can walk around without fear (CNS photo/Temilade Adelaja, Reuters) of intimidation from those who were extended to all Nigerian institutions. to undergo rehabilitation to determine and insurgents?” 20 TALKING POINT CatholicTIMES supplement 23.10.20

In brief ROME: A few steps from the Vatican, on the 42nd an- niversary of the election of St John Paul II (16th Octo- ber), a small exhibition opened to celebrate the Pol- ish-born pope, but also a fa- ther-daughter team of pho- tographers who helped doc- ument his pontificate. Gian- carlo Giuliani began covering the Vatican as a photojour- nalist in 1961; his daughter, Alessia Giuliani, joined him in 1999. St John Paul was born in 1920; the Covid-19 lockdown and ongoing restrictions meant that most of the events planned in Rome to mark the centenary of his birth were cancelled or postponed. But at the Arte Poli gallery, until the 2nd April, 2021, visitors can glimpse the late pope’s personality through the Giulianis’ photographs and through objects he used, speeches written in his own hand and sculptures of him loaned to the exhibit. For the elder Giuliani there is no doubt who was his favourite pope to photograph. St John Paul “was an actor,” who was comfortable in front of the cameras and who “would let us work,” he said. Smoke and steam billow from a coal plant in Belchatow, Poland, in this 2018 photo. (Catholic News Service photo/Kacper Pempel, Reuters) VATICAN CITY: Opposition to the death penalty is the “log- ical and moral consequence” Men, women and children worldwide ‘bear of recognising the dignity of all human life and of believing that each person deserves the burden’ of climate change, says UN nuncio possibility to repent of his or her sins and crimes, said Ecu- menical Patriarch Bartholomew Protecting “our common home for widely accessible sources of renew- Convention on Climate Change, the Archbishop Caccia pledged the of Constantinople. present and future generations is able energy,” advancing sustainable 192 countries that have signed it Vatican’s “continued commitment While in Rome for a prayer one of the most urgent demands of consumption and production patterns must each determine, plan and reg- to the protection of our common meeting for peace with Pope our time,” Archbishop Gabriele Cac- and “looking at different solutions ularly report on the contribution home.” Francis, the Orthodox patriarch cia, the Vatican’s permanent observer to mitigate climate change,” he ex- that they undertake to mitigate global This commitment, he said, is il- spoke to Vatican News earlier to the United Nations, said on 13th plained. warming, such as reducing carbon lustrated by many projects of this week about his reading of October. “Adaptation” means taking action emissions. Catholic institutions and faith-based Pope Francis’ recent encyclical, “Like all global challenges, it re- to prevent or minimise the damage But beyond finding technical so- organisations as well as the Vatican’s Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity quires the unified response of the caused by climate change, the arch- lutions, the “human face” of climate ratification of the Kigali Amendment and Social Friendship. international community, based on bishop said, urging countries to change should not be forgotten, to the Montreal Protocol, an inter- “We completely agree with consensus and shared commitment,” strengthen socioeconomic structures Archbishop Caccia said. national agreement to gradually re- the call-challenge of His Ho- he said. “An interdependent world, as well as increase the resilience of “Every day across the world, chil- duce the consumption and production liness to abandon the indiffer- as the one in which we live as mem- people and communities to these dren, women and men bear the bur- of hydrofluorocarbons. ence or even cynicism that bers of one human family, requires changes. den of climate change consequences On 7th October, the archbishop, governs our ecological, politi- us to think in terms of one world “Greater attention must also be and climate-related disasters,” he staff and interns at the Permanent cal, economic and social life with a common project.” given to the human, material and explained. “For them, this phenom- Observer Mission of the Holy See in general,” the patriarch said. He made the comments regarding economic losses caused by climate- enon is not an abstract environmental to the United Nations celebrated the Instead, people must work an agenda item on sustainable de- related disasters.” question, but rather an existential 25th anniversary of the mission’s to fulfil the dream of “our velopment before the Economic and The intensity of natural disasters – threat attacking their already pre- headquarters in New York City. Its world as a united human family Financial Committee, or Second “excessive rainfall, floods, landslides, carious habitats and destabilising offices also house the Path to Peace in which we are all brothers Committee, of the UN General As- sea-level rise and drought” – are their vulnerable economies, societies, Foundation. and sisters without exception.” sembly at its 75th session. driven in part by climate agriculture and food systems.” St John Paul II dedicated and The patriarch said that when Archbishop Caccia (pic- change. Overcoming climate change also blessed the headquarters during his he heard the pope was writing tured) said the international Among the ways to re- requires “addressing poverty, in- 1995 pastoral visit to the United the encyclical, he expected it community needs to con- duce the risk of these dis- equality, social injustice and all other States. He was in New York to ad- would be a further sign of tinue to address climate asters is to explore “the forms of degradation affecting peo- dress the UN on 5th October, 1995. Pope Francis’ “unshakable in- change, natural disasters complementarities” be- ple’s lives, especially in the poorest He’s the only pope to pay a visit to terest” in human beings, created and environmental degra- tween the UN’s Sendai countries,” the prelate said. the Holy See’s UN mission. and beloved by God, and that, dation “on three levels – mit- Framework for Disaster Risk “The fight against climate change “This newly acquired facility is a inspired by Christian tradition, igation, adaptation and disaster Reduction and the Paris Agree- is a question of justice and a moral testimony to the support and com- it would include concrete sug- risk reduction.” ment, Archbishop Caccia said. imperative,” he continued. “It should mitment of so many people both to gestions for living out the ob- Regarding mitigation, he called it The Sendai Framework’s goals combine protecting the environment the Holy See’s Mission and to the ligation to love others, espe- essential that countries “strengthen include understanding disaster risk with advancing the dignity of the Path to Peace Foundation in their cially the poor and needy. “Our our common efforts to reduce the better and enhancing disaster pre- human person, eradicating poverty joint work for world peace,” the expectations were fully met,” greenhouse gas emissions that are, paredness. and promoting integral human de- pope said. “To all of you, benefactors he said. once again, on the rise globally.” Under the Paris Agreement, for- velopment, and caring for both pres- and volunteers, I express my heartfelt Such efforts include “developing mulated within the UN Framework ent and future generations.” gratitude.” CatholicTIMES supplement 23.10.20 TALKING POINT 21 www.thecatholicuniverse.com Forum: Faith leaders must raise voices on world issues

The seventh annual G20 Interfaith Forum concluded its meetings last Saturday after five days of sessions that focused on Covid-19, climate change, safeguarding and other pressing issues. Bronwen Dach reports Faith leaders around the world need “Such treasured places can become religion “to speak out and discredit” told the forum. to raise their voice against structural weapons or targets in spreading eth- them, Martinez-Torron said. With climate change, the “role of inequalities as the Covid-19 pan- nic and religious intolerance,” he “It is an uncomfortable role, but religion is pivotal,” he said. With demic widens the gap between rich said at the opening plenary on 13th they have to do it,” he said, noting their broad networks, faith commu- and poor, said Ecumenical Patriarch October. that it is the leaders’ “responsibility nities can go beyond humanitarian Bartholomew of Constantinople. Cardinal Miguel Ayuso Guixot, to take the reins, not just to watch assistance by setting up early-warning “Policymakers and implementers president of the Pontifical Council from the sidelines” when hate crimes systems, “growing broader partner- need to know that we call for zero for Interreligious Dialogue, told the are committed. ships at grassroots level,” running Ecumenical Patriarch tolerance of injustice and any form forum that interreligious dialogue Elizabeta Kitanovic of the Brus- “people-oriented education” pro- Bartholomew of Constantinople is pictured in a 2017 file photo. The of discriminatory practice,” he said, has a crucial function in building a sels-based Conference of European grams, and working for justice as patriarch spoke at last week’s G- noting that “this year we have been “more efficient world organisation.” Churches said that “with goodwill well as healing. 20 Interfaith Forum streamed from witnessing the rise of the Black The human family needs to “come and hard work, religious leaders can Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh. Lives Matter movement in the United together with a unified spirit to pro- help in eradicating hate speech and Italy, where the 2021 forum is sched- (CNS photo/Menahem Kahana, Reuters) States.” pose answers to our common prob- hate crime in our society.” uled to be held, said religions are The patriarch spoke during last lems,” he said. “Interfaith solidarity is important,” united by values such as mutual re- The common practice of migrants week’s five-day meeting of leaders While there is a “temptation to she said, noting that leaders of dif- spect. paying recruitment agencies “very and representatives of major religions limit fraternity and participation to ferent faiths “need to stand up for People of different faiths “need large sums” to work in other coun- and global policy institutions those with the same religion,” uni- each other.” to develop a stronger and fuller un- tries must be stopped, said Hyland, streamed from Saudi Arabia’s capital, versal dialogue “is essential if we More protection of the rights of derstanding of the other” and of who was the United Kingdom’s first Riyadh. are to end the crisis” of Covid-19 religious minorities is needed in- “the essential aspects that allow us independent anti-slavery commis- The forum was organised by the and prevent another, he said. ternationally, she said. to walk together,” he said in the sioner. Also, ways for migrants to G-20 Interfaith Forum Association, Javier Martinez-Torron, a law pro- Armenian Apostolic Catholicos closing plenary on 17th October. access bank accounts must be found the KAICIID International Dialogue fessor of law from Madrid, said Aram of Cilicia said the role of re- Michael O’Flaherty, director of so that they are “able to use their Centre, the UN Alliance of Civili- states, religious leaders and civil ligion is largely “defined as being the Vienna-based European Union own money to put food on the table” sations and the National Committee society have a responsibility to “em- responders to disasters” and this Agency for Fundamental Rights, for their families, he said. for Interreligious and Intercultural phasise the positive aspects of free- view must be challenged. noted a “need for all of us to invest Dialogue in the Kingdom of Saudi dom of religion and belief.” Faith communities “are primarily in building a more diverse, respectful Arabia. “A surprising number of people preventers and only then responders” society.” For this to happen, voices Saudi Arabia currently holds the in the world do not understand the to crises, he said, noting that “as an of religious communities must be presidency of the Group of 20, made right” to freedom of belief “and so essential part of civil society and a “given a more respected place,” he up of representatives of industrial it has to be taught,” he told a panel major player in disaster risk reduc- said. and emerging-market nations. on the rule of law, human rights tion,” they “must be taken more se- “We have to invest in spaces to Patriarch Bartholomew also called and religious rights. riously by civil authorities.” dialogue” and set these up formally, for support for a UN plan of action Where perpetrators claim their “Effective prevention entails han- O’Flaherty told the forum. to safeguard sacred sites, noting that hate crimes and hate speech are dling the root causes of a problem, “Within these spaces, we need to these sites “are closely tied to our based on a particular belief, it is the not just its symptoms,” the Lebanon- learn more about each other,” he religious identity.” responsibility of the leaders of that based Armenian Orthodox patriarch said, noting also that “faith com- munities could do more to develop a literacy around human rights pro- tections.” To stop multinational exploitation of vulnerable people, “we need to take away the profit,” Kevin Hyland, adviser to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, Kevin Hyland, adviser to the said in a panel discussion on human Catholic Bishops’ Conference of trafficking and modern slavery. England and Wales. When looking to future, include most vulnerable, priest tells G-20 forum

Covid-19 provides an opportunity for people to prepare the future, and religious leaders have an opportunity to make sure that preparation includes the world’s most vulnerable, said an Argentine priest at the annual G-20 Interfaith Forum. Father Augusto Zampini Davies (pictured), an official at the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, told the forum that as well as causing enormous problems, Covid-19 is also worsening existing inequalities and injustices and showing the “inability of the world to face a common problem together.” The priest said interreligious dialogue and cross-cultural co- Cardinal Miguel Ayuso Guixot, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, poses in an operation are crucial in times of crisis. The world needs undated photo at the KAICIID Dialogue Centre in Vienna. Cardinal Ayuso and representatives of major reconnection through values such as “fraternity, compassion, religions and global policy institutions participated in last week’s G-20 Interfaith Forum streamed from Saudi care,” as well as friendship and cultural enrichment, he said. Arabia’s capital, Riyadh. (Catholic News Service photo/courtesy G20 Interfaith Forum Association) 22 CatholicTIMES supplement 23.10.20

Carol Glatz VATICAN LETTER Catechetical Cataclysms: Restored Holy Stairs give meaning to crisis

After 20 years of restoration work moment that has to be evangelised. people through cataclysmic and millions in funding from Therefore, this place becomes biblical events in preparation for a benefactors worldwide, the somewhere people can come to reflection on Christ’s passion, said unveiling of the Pontifical find the meaning of some of the Passionist Father Marco Pasquali, Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs in things that are happening,” Fr a theologian and a provincial Rome was supposed to be a grand, Leonello said. secretary of the order, which celebratory moment slated for this One visitor, he said, was visibly serves as custodian of the shrine. spring, in time for Holy Week and emotional as he put on the required The flood, for example, is Easter. clear plastic gloves and protective depicted by the shrine’s 16th- The public was going to be able shoe coverings before climbing the century artists with people to see the brilliantly revived stairs on his knees. struggling in churning waves, frescoes of the passion of Christ as The priest said he asked him desperately grasping onto they climbed the shrine’s central what was wrong, and the visitor whatever material objects remain, marble stairs that, according to replied: “I was stricken by Covid, while Noah’s ark floats away on tradition, are the ones Jesus hospitalised and I also went the horizon toward rays of sunlight ascended when Pontius Pilate through a very precarious breaking through the storm clouds. brought him before the crowd and situation. Now I’ve recovered and I This event, Fr Marco said, helps handed him over to be crucified. came to give thanks.” describe what is happening with But, like the tomb on Easter, the This man and others, Fr Covid-19. shrine was empty. Leonello said, see the sanctuary, Without a solid anchor or The shock of a nationwide which also symbolises the promise foundation with God, people lockdown and the ongoing of resurrection and new life, as a cannot understand or “address the pandemic, however, have place to express gratitude for their new things, the unexpected that is resurrected the actual significance healing. always around the corner,” he told of the shrine and what it Mary Angela Schroth, the me. represents: finding strength, restoration project’s co-ordinator, God’s response to suffering, Fr meaning and grace during said the pandemic has Marco said, “is not to punish but to times of difficulty, fear or prompted a real bring to himself this negative suffering. understanding of “what effect and transform it into Passionist Father these frescoes actually something good.” But it is also a Leonello Leidi (pictured mean,” especially in the process that takes time and hard right), rector of the Old Testament “labour to be born again.” sanctuary, told me that depictions of the No longer accommodating huge since the shrine opened to universal Flood, the deadly crowds because of ongoing travel the public in late May, “the rivalry between Cain and restrictions into Italy, in October faithful have seen a deepened Abel, and Moses bringing God’s the shrine was welcoming only a dimension of communion and healing to a poisoned people. hundred or so visitors each day. union with the passion of Christ in The shrine’s frescoes are “linked People can take their time and this place.” to what we’re thinking now about ascend the stairs more slowly with People worldwide have been Covid, how is faith really helping mandatory distancing between steps. tested and tried, experiencing or us with these issues,” she said. The present circumstances witnessing illness or death from Created to be not just beautiful actually are “favouring more of a People pray on their knees as they climb the Holy Stairs at the Pontifical the coronavirus as well as fear, he art, but also an instrument for meditative reflection on what the Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs in Rome on 8th October. said. catechesis and meditation, the Holy Stairs and many other things (Catholic News Service photo/Paul Haring) “It has become a significant frescoes are designed to walk in Rome, even the Vatican Museums,” are meant to be, that specialness of the location, but on is, “a little quieter, a more the quality of time spent in meditative experience,” said prayerful dialogue and with a Legionary of Christ Father Kevin willingness “to be transformed.” Lixey, international director of the “Even far from here you can live Patrons of the Arts office in the the devotion of the Passion,” he Vatican Museums, whose donors said, by meditating on those steps also generously funded restoration Jesus took. efforts. It is the time, not space, that The priest recalled climbing the opens the door to “the grace and stairs when he was a seminarian the opportunity to transform my “and not really even noticing the life and help me to understand the frescoes because it was so sooty problems, find the solution or deal black and really unrecognisable,” with it. Sometimes we don’t have and “you were really just kind of the answers, the solution, but he focused on the feet in front of you can give us the strength to cope Passionist Father Marco Pasquali, a theologian, is pictured at the and trying to get to the next step.” with a situation,” he said. Pontifical Sanctuary of the Holy “Of all the projects that the “Jesus wasn’t happy to live his Stairs in Rome. The Covid-19 patrons are involved in,” he said, passion, but he received the pandemic prevented a grand the Holy Stairs is “one of the most strength to live it for the greater reopening of the Holy Stairs after a spiritual, touching restoration good,” he said. “The Holy Spirit 20-year-long restoration project at projects we could do.” helps us see the bigger picture and the sanctuary. The stairs are For those unable to visit the so that can be done from anywhere, believed to have been climbed by shrine in Rome, Fr Marco said, starting from the devotion of the Jesus when he appeared before nurturing one’s relationship with Passion that has at its (heart) Jesus, Pilate. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) God does not depend on the not just the stairs.” CatholicTIMES supplement 23.10.20 23

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Chris McDonnell JOURNEY IN FAITH In the breaking of bread

we, out of habit, have done so house masses of the 60s and 70s bread when he blessed it and often without reflection over the and weekday Masses in church thanked the Father – but do we passing years. where the small number of those imitate him when no one who is There are practical problems present are accommodated on the not 'in' on the game would ever over the breaking of bread sanctuary round the altar and the think that our altar wafer is really associated with the numbers in priest. There is an intimacy of bread? attendance. But then, the sharing occasion that is real. Is it any wonder that liturgy of the Eucharist began as a family So we should use this time to seems far from real life for so affair, a gathering of a small question the practice of years and many when, what it uses for bread, number of friends sharing the ask how we might adapt it to the is so distantly removed from real celebration of Passover. reality that we now share. bread? In the early years of the Church, Liturgy has to be real. A Radical as these comments the Eucharist was a ‘house’ renewed liturgy that speaks might seem, we could at least take occasion where a small number meaningfully to us after our weeks tentative steps in the right came together. There, the wandering in the desert has to be direction. Would not the use of a Eucharistic sharing was led by the real. Our Pastors need to number of large altar breads, head of the house as those in internalise the challenge: we blessed and broken at the altar of attendance gathered together to cannot simply resume, we must the Lord remove the evident share in the one loaf and the one renew. But did we not 'renew' in distinction with what the priest cup. It was to be nearly three the 1960s? The simple answer is does and what the people receive? hundred years before priestly no, we only made a start, took the There would be no need for small, ordination took place. We hear first tentative steps on a long pre-prepared, pre-formed shapes that, at the last supper, the loaf was journey. for distribution often taken from broken and shared with the Participation in the Eucharist has the tabernacle, when all might disciples with the instruction ‘to to be a lived reality, where we receive a particle from a larger do this in memory of me’. experience the gift of the Lord, bread ‘broken for you’. Do we do this? one with another. Bread is the Disturbance to a familiar pattern At the beginning of this being the same as having shared We are told – reading Paul to the genuine article: the earth's fruit, of living can be disruptive and momentous year, I compared the the Eucharist as a community. For Corinthians – that 'we though the work of human hands. If we disconcerting. It can also allow date with the phrase ‘20/20 the elderly and the house bound many are one, because we have want to celebrate the bread of life, opportunity to look again at where Vision’, not realising just how out there is undoubtedly a great share in the one loaf'. we can at least begin our journey we are and to ask searching of focus the year was to become. benefit that supports them in Do we share one loaf? of faith with reality underpinning questions. If we do so with Now, as we experience these difficult days. Yet the centrality of The teaching that is inherent in the religious image: some real honesty and integrity then this gathering days of Autumn, clarity the action, the breaking and the sharing of the one loaf is lost bread as we know it, experience it, period of difficulty and confusion is still lacking. sharing of bread, the body of if, in the liturgical action, it is not see and taste it in ordinary life. might become an occasion of A frequently used phrase is that Christ, in the shadow of his being fulfilled. Our liturgy makes the bold claim fruitful understanding as we we have to get use to the ‘new broken for us on the Cross, is The nearest we have come to that we imitate one of the unique continue to share on our journey in normal’, as we try to adjust to the missing. those early Christian days were the actions of Jesus – the way he used faith. changing advice arising from Maybe now is a good time to ask almost daily government a few questions and to consider our directives. answers with care. Along with many other public The Eucharist that we celebrate buildings, our churches have been had its origins in the Paschal meal shut during the period of shared by Jesus with his friends in lockdown, only recently coming the hours before his Passion. We back into use under strict Covid are told that, when their supper safety conditions of mask wearing was over, he took bread, blessed and social distancing. The and broke it and shared the loaf familiarity of the community with his friends who were gathered gathering to celebrate the round him at table. Eucharist has become a distant There are two important aspects memory for so many. For myself I to this account – the breaking of have been unable to share in a bread and the gathering of friends. Eucharistic meal with fellow The image that heads this article is Christians since March, a long distinct from that which we time indeed. experience at Mass. The loaf is How have we experienced the reduced to a circular wafer and emptiness of these weeks and those of us sharing the Eucharist months, what has been the are separate from the table of the consequence of our enforced Lord. The layout of so many hunger, both short term and long churches is akin to that of theatres, term? And how will we restore a with an entrance foyer, the porch, broken pattern of opportunity? rows of seating for the audience, Sometimes loss is a moment of the congregation and a distinct awakening when, what we took for altar sanctuary, the stage. The granted is removed, we realise the wafer that is broken, is consumed gift that we didn’t know we had. It completely by the priest, whilst can be a painful process of coming others in attendance receive a to terms with once presumed small, separate wafer. The circumstance. significance of the ‘breaking of Many have become accustomed bread’, ‘the sharing of one loaf’, is to virtual ‘attendance’ through not apparent. Mass broadcast on the net. I have With our enforced abstinence, felt a little impatient that such an we have opportunity to reflect on Invocations that, from the Our Father prayer to the breaking of the bread, help us to dispose our spirit to take option, is expressed by some, as our actions and to appreciate what part in the Eucharistic feast. 24 CatholicTIMES supplement 23.10.20

Fr Francis Marsden CREDO Austria freed by the power of the Rosary

Sixty-five years ago this Monday, As the war was lost, advancing near Innsbruck, ordained 1941. 26th October 1955, the last Soviet Russian troops entered Vienna on Serving in the Wehrmacht medical Red Army soldiers pulled out of 4th April 1945. Within six days services, he was captured by the Austria, without a shot being fired. the city had fallen. As with Allies on 15th August, 1944, held Austria celebrates 26th October as Germany, the Allies divided as a prisoner-of-war at Cherbourg, National Day or the Day of the Austria into four occupation zones. but released a year later. In Flag. It is the only European The Soviets occupied the north February 1946 he went on country from which the Russians and east: Niederoesterreich and pilgrimage to Austria’s national voluntarily withdrew after World Burgenland. The French were shrine of the Blessed Virgin, War II. Not until 40 years later, in given the west, Tirol and Mariazell. As he prayed before the 1989, was Germany reunited: it Voralberg. The Americans held the miraculous wooden image Magna was 1994 before the final Russian north and centre, Oberoesterreich Mater Austriae, an interior voice ground troops left Berlin. and Salzburg, while the British addressed him: “Do as I say and Austria could so easily have commanded the southern you will have peace.” ended up partitioned like provinces, Steiermark and In response he founded the Germany, with Vienna split in two. Kaernten. Vienna, like Berlin, was Crusade of Reparation What caused the difference? divided into four sections. (Rosenkranz-Sühnekreuzzug or Political histories ignore one vital The Russian sector, Lower RSK) of the Holy Rosary in 1947. component in Austria’s liberation: Austria, was the most Gradually Austrians signed up to the Crusade of Reparation of the industrialised and contained rich join in a round-the-clock Rosary, Holy Rosary, following the Fatima oil reserves. The Kremlin planned imploring the Blessed Virgin for message, in which 500,000 people to use the Austrian Communist the conversion of sinners, peace in took part (10 per cent of the entire Party (KPÖ) as a vehicle to bring the world, and freedom for population.) in a “people’s democracy” Austria. Remember that in 1938 Hitler’s subservient to Soviet interests, as Starting with a few hundred, by troops had marched into Austria: they did in Hungary and 1950 it had 200,000 members, by in general the population Czechoslovakia. In the November 1955 some 500,000. Fr Petrus Bust of Fr Petrus Pavlicek in the Franciscan Church, Vienna. welcomed the Anschluss 1945 elections, however, the KPO organised regular Acts of (annexation). Massive Nazi won a mere 5.42 per cent of the Reparatory Devotion in the thanksgiving for the victory of Minister Raab begged Fr Petrus propaganda achieved a 99 per cent vote – Austrians associated them Capuchin church in Vienna, 1683, when the Islamist Turkish before his departure: “Please pray, vote in favour of union with the more with the Red Army’s consisting of Mass, sermons, siege of Vienna was lifted with the and ask your people to pray harder German Reich. plundering and raping civilians. confessions, blessings of the sick aid of Polish King Jan Sobieski III. than ever.” Back in 1934, Nazis had The national conservative and infirm, and the Holy Rosary. Once again the nation desperately Amazingly the Soviets greeted murdered the Catholic Austrian Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) He called these devotions “assaults needed liberation, this time from Raab not with polonium or Chancellor Dollfuss. His formed a new coalition of prayer.” Each lasted up to five its Soviet foes. Novichok, but with the successor, another strong Catholic, government led by Leopold Figl. days. If the cardinal was reluctant to announcement that Russian troops Kurt Schuschnigg, of the Christian Moscow tightened its grip instead The gifts of God, he reminded join the processions, not so Prime would withdraw from Austria in Social Party or Patriotic Front, on Austrian economic assets his listeners, are obtained through Minister Figl, who assured Fr three months’ time. The Allies strongly opposed union with within the Soviet zone. It prayers that storm heaven as Petrus.“Even if just the two of us signed a treaty guaranteeing Hitler’s Reich. For his pains the expropriated over 450 German- soldiers storm a fort – with be present, I will go. My country Austria’s independence and Gestapo imprisoned him in owned businesses and took over confidence and determination. demands it!” And he brought permanent neutrality on 15th May. solitary confinement. the Austrian oilfields. The Soviets “Peace is a gift of God, not the along members of his Cabinet. On 26th October, 1955, the last Subsequently he suffered in controlled 50,000 employees, 10 work of politicians.” In 1953, Julius Raab succeeded Russian soldier left Austrian soil, Sachsenhausen and Dachau per cent of the Austrian workforce. From the Bishop of Leiria, Leopold Figl as Prime Minister. 40 years before their final concentration camps until 1945. By 1955, as was typical, Portugal, he obtained a pilgrim He too assumed his place in the departure from Germany. In 950,000 Austrians fought in the communist mismanagement had statue of Our Lady of Fatima, great processions. Eventually, even contrast the 1956 Hungarian Wehrmacht or Waffen-SS. Not a brought most companies into near- which he escorted around cities Cardinal Innitzer took part. uprising and the 1968 Czech few were heavily involved in the bankruptcy or serious debt. and villages, promoting prayer and All this time, the USSR, USA, attempt at “socialism with a euthanasia campaign and the Enter the saga a Capuchin priest, the Rosary. France and Britain were holding human face,” were brutally snuffed Holocaust. Father Petrus Pavlicek, born 1902 Cardinal Innitzer opposed the Peace Conferences in London to out by Kremlin tanks. bringing of the Fatima statue to the decide the fate of Austria. Two- In Vienna hundreds of thousands Capuchin Church in Vienna, hundred and sixty meetings over marched in procession, carrying saying there was already a statue eight years failed to arrive at any torches and rosaries: “Today, we, of the Madonna there. Back in conclusion. whose hearts are full of faith, cry 1938 Innitzer had supported The Cold War froze over central out to Heaven in joyful prayer: We Hitler’s Anschluss, only to be Europe. Communist persecution of are free. O Mary, we thank Thee!” summoned to the Vatican, carpeted the Church intensified in Hungary As Julius Raab commented: “If by Cardinal Pacelli and Pius XI, and Czechoslovakia, Ukraine and we hadn’t implored so much, if so and forced to retract publicly. Poland. Stalin and his foreign many hands hadn’t been joined in Fr Petrus pointed out that there minister Molotov had little interest prayer, we probably wouldn’t have were no less than 35 different in withdrawing from occupied managed it! representations of the Virgin Austria. It was a useful The RSK movement continued, within St Stephen’s Cathedral! He communications focus in central praying for world peace and the organised a procession with the Europe. Not until Khrushchev fall of the Iron Curtain. The Austrian State Treaty, which brought an end to the Allied Fatima statue on the thirteenth day gained control in 1955 was any This history reminds us of the occupation, was signed on 15th May 1955, in the presence of five of each month. progress likely. power of prayer, especially the foreign ministers: John Foster Dulles for the United States, Harold He also launched a large annual Unexpectedly on 24th March, Holy Rosary. We tend to take Macmillan for Great Britain, Antoine Pinay for France, Vyacheslav 1955, the Kremlin invited the freedom for granted, but we should Molotov for the Soviet Union, and Leopold Figl for Austria. It officially procession each 12th September, came into force on 27th July, 1955 and re-established Austria as a feast of the Holy Name of Mary. Austrian leadership to a remember: Freedom is never free. sovereign state. This memorial had originated in conference in Moscow. Prime There is always a price to be paid. CatholicTIMES supplement 23.10.20 25 www.thecatholicuniverse.com

GLOBAL COMPACT ON EDUCATION Ellis Heasley Educational alliance needed to PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE overcome inequality, says pope Calls for the release of human rights Junno Arocho Esteves pandemic and, instead, a mostly opportunities” that has left many virtual event, sponsored by the young people behind, he said. As the coronavirus pandemic Congregation for Catholic “Recent statistics from defender in China continues to highlight the Education, was held at Rome’s international agencies have led inequalities that exist in the world, Pontifical Lateran University. some to speak, perhaps somewhat humanity must change course and The Vatican said on 8th October hastily, of an ‘educational “If all that remains in life is detention centre force-feeding commit to an educational alliance that the initiative “will respond to catastrophe,’ inasmuch as some 10 fear, then all I can do is to her as she refused to eat or that ensures a brighter future for the appeal” made by the pope in million children were forced to fight fear repeatedly until I drink anything. She has young people, Pope Francis said. which he called for a global leave school as a result of the cross it… If I were to face refused to plead guilty to the A superficial approach to educational alliance to face the economic crisis caused by the God, I would pray sincerely charges against her. education that relies solely on urgent challenges facing humanity coronavirus,” the pope said. for [the perpetrators] and ask This is not the first time “standardised test results, and the Earth. Without a new cultural model Him to forgive their sins, not Zhang has been targeted for functionality and bureaucracy” and “Never before has there been that ensures “that the dignity of the because I’m a moral person. her human rights activism. that “confuses education with such need to unite our efforts in a human person is respected and Rather, it’s that I have to do She was previously arrested in instruction” must be left behind, broad educational alliance, to form protected,” he said, health care it.” Shanghai in September 2019, the pope said in a video message mature individuals capable of measures will “prove inadequate.” and spent 60 days in detention on 15th October to participants at overcoming division and “We are experiencing a for her support of pro- a meeting on the Global Compact antagonism, and to restore the comprehensive crisis that cannot democracy protesters in Hong on Education. fabric of relationships for the sake be reduced or limited to any single Kong. During her detention “The value of our educational of a more fraternal humanity,” the sector,” he said. “It affects she suffered severe practices will be measured not pope had said in his 2019 appeal. everything. The pandemic has led mistreatment, and was twice simply by the results of In his video message to us to realise that what is really in forced to be checked for standardised tests, but by the participants, the pope said that “we crisis is our way of understanding mental health issues, for ability to affect the heart of could never have imagined the reality and of relating to one which she went on a four-day society and to help give birth to a situation that has developed” since another.” hunger strike. She also spent new culture,” he said. “A he first called for the alliance. Education must be seven days in solitary different world is possible, and “The (Covid-19) crisis has “transformative” and must offer a confinement, during which we are called to learn how to accelerated and magnified many of new hope that “can shatter the her hands and feet were tied build it.” the issues and needs that we had determinism and fatalism that the to the floor, making it The pope launched the Global identified and has uncovered selfishness of the strong, the impossible to go to the toilet. Compact on Education in 2019 numerous others as well,” he said. conformism of the weak and the These are the words of Regular readers of this and invited representatives from “Concerns about health care are ideology of the utopians would Chinese Christian and human column will know that the world’s religions, international now accompanied by economic convince us is the only way rights defender, Zhang Zhan Zhang’s case is by no means organisations and humanitarian and social concerns. Educational forward,” he said. (pictured), who has now spent an isolated one. Human rights groups as well as educators, systems worldwide have felt the The poverty and confusion over five months in arbitrary defenders are regularly economists, scientists, effects of the pandemic at every wrought by the pandemic have detention in China after she targeted in China. Perhaps policymakers, people from the level.” created a situation that requires a was detained for posting videos the most notable example of world of art, culture and sports, While online educational radical decision and opens a path and articles about the Covid-19 this is the 709 Crackdown. and young people to come to the platforms have helped during the for “a global pact on education for outbreak on Twitter and The crackdown, named for Vatican in May. pandemic, they also “brought to and with future generations,” the YouTube. Last week Christian the date on which it began in However, the event was light a marked disparity in pope said. Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) July 2015, saw over 300 cancelled due to the coronavirus education and technological “The ability to create harmony: called on the Chinese human rights lawyers and that is what is needed today,” he Government to grant Zhang’s activists, their colleagues and said. immediate and unconditional family members, The pope highlighted seven release amid fears for her interrogated, detained and in concrete commitments needed to health since she began a some cases imprisoned or defend the rights of future hunger strike to protest her disappeared. generations to education, arbitrary detention. While most of the detainees including: rejecting a throwaway Zhang was one of several have now been released or culture, listening to the voices of citizen journalists who placed under house arrest, the young people, encouraging the travelled to Wuhan, the Chinese authorities continue participation of girls and young epicentre of the Covid-19 to be responsible for severe women in education, elevating the outbreak, to report on the violations against human role of the family, accepting of the crisis in mid-February. She rights defenders across the marginalised, and promoting an continued to report on the country. integral ecology and care for the crisis even after three other Please pray for Zhang environment. citizen journalists, Chen Zhan. Ask God to protect her “The goal of this educational Qiushi, Fang Bin and Li health and keep her safe, and investment, grounded in a network Zehua, disappeared one after that she would be granted of humane and open relationships, another. She was taken away immediate and unconditional is to ensure that everyone has herself on 14th May, when release. Please also pray for access to a quality education Shanghai police detained her all those who stand up for consonant with the dignity of the at her hotel room in Wuhan. human rights in China, human person and our common Zhang has been detained at thanking God for their vocation to fraternity,” Pope the Pudong District Detention bravery and asking Him to Francis said. Centre in Shanghai ever since, strengthen the work of their “It is time to look to the future where she faces a charge of hands. Finally, please pray with courage and hope,” he said. “picking quarrels and that God would change the “May we be sustained by the provoking trouble.” Recent hearts of those in power in conviction that education bears reports indicate that Zhang China and bring an end to the within itself a seed of hope: the has been on hunger strike Chinese Government’s hope of peace and justice; the hope Pope Francis is pictured in screenshot speaking in a video message to since the beginning of relentless crackdown on participants of the Global Compact on Education. of beauty and goodness; the hope summer, with staff at the human rights. (Catholic News screenshot/Vatican Media) of social harmony.” 26 HIDDEN GEMS CatholicTIMES supplement 23.10.20

Fr Michael Collins One of Europe’s best examples of pure Gothic architecture

exterior walls with stone pylons. It shimmered by candlelight by cathedral was empty. He was the first time masons had ever night. volunteered to enter the building experimented with the new style. Some years ago, restorers and verify his belief. Accompanied The clever move allowed slim discovered that the external by another soldier, the colonel columns carry the weight of the porticos of the gothic cathedrals gained entrance and when he was ceiling and roof. This immediately and abbey churches were painted sure the buidling was empty, he allowed greater visibility for the in bright. Careful exploration rang the bells to signal to his worshippers and also permitted the revealed tiny fragments of companions that the Germans stone walls to be replaced by vast pigment. Perhaps to our eyes the were not inside. The order to stained glass. colours may be gaudy, but to the destroy the building was rescinded A visitor who attended the medieval pilgrim or worshipper, and the building saved. consecration stood openmouthed whose short, drab life was often Heaven did not seem to reward as he looked at the wonderful filled with suffering, the mirthful the colonel’s bravery, for later that glass, admiring the saints soaring burst of colour must have been day he was killed in the nearby to heaven and the angels tumbling enchanting. Imagine walking town of Lèves. In commemoration out of the bright-hued panes. He across the fields a thousand years of his defiance of orders, the recorded in his diary that he did ago towards the cathedral which French and American not know if his feet were on earth looked as if it floated on a sea of Governments bestowed on him the and his head was in heaven. ripening corn. The effect of highest posthumous decorations. With 176 windows, including drawing near must have been Just over ten years ago, a majestic rose windows, one could breathtaking. conservation programme began to never tire of the dazzling colours. Other generations added to the restore the building and protect the The cross-shaped cathedral wonderful cathedral. A vast stone stained glass windows. The measures 430 ft in length and 121 wraparound stone choir was carved interior has been painted with a ft in height and the walls give the between the 16th to 18th century cream and ochre scheme, attracting impression of having dissolved in and Charles-Antoine Bridan the admiration of some and the ire favour of the multi-coloured glass. designed a sumptuous carving of of others. Controversially, a statue Think of the impact visiting such the Blessed Virgin in the late 18th of Our Lady blackened by shrines must have made on century. centuries of candle smoke has medieval pilgrims. The approach The cathedral was almost a been restored to white. Fragment of a veil, reputed to have belonged to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to Chartres is across a vast flat victim of the atrocities of the The restorers argue that the displayed in the Chapel of the Martyrs. plain. Think of the people who Second World War. In July 1944, decoration reflects the cathedral as Our story begins exactly one the cathedral caught fire once lived in wood and wattle houses, as the war was stuttering towards it was built a thousand years ago. thousand years and one month more. Fortunately parts of the whose only decoration was an end, American troops were As Notre-Dame in Paris is ago. On the night of 7th September building had survived, including perhaps dull painted doors. Then ordered to destroy the cathedral as presently undergoing a restoration, 1020, a fire broke out in the the bell towers and the main they made their pilgrimage to the German soldiers were suspected of many are looking with great cathedral of the French town of entrance portal at the west end. All House of God, to see a virtual having taken refuge within the interest on what was most recently Chartres. The townsfolk looked on was not lost, but the rebuilding explosion of colour, where statues precinct. Colonel Welborn Barton achieved in the charming medieval in helpless horror as flames required patience and dedication. and paintings gleamed by day and Griffith Jr was convinced that the town of Chartres. destroyed their beloved church. The new cathedral rose rapidly, Two and a half centuries earlier, in part due to improved Sculpture on the choir the cathedral had obtained a construction techniques. In screen (16th–18th century). precious relic which was believed October 1260, King Louis IX of to be a tunic worn by the Blessed France attended the spectacular Virgin Mary, donated in the mid- consecration ceremony. ninth century by the French king, This cathedral, the fifth built on Charles the Bald. People in the the site since the fourth century, Middle Ages did not require has survived more or less intact to carbon testing and took such relics the present day. Apart from a on face value, inspired by the lightening strike which destroyed opportunity to gaze to their hearts one of the bell towers in the 16th content on items which may have century and a fire in the roof in belonged to saints long ago. 1836, the cathedral preserves the Three days after the fire had art and architecture of the French died down, some priests claimed to gothic style. have rescued the tunic of the I first visited the cathedral some Blessed Virgin Bishop Fulbert 30 years ago and I have a vivid immediately determined to provide memory of spending hours a worthy shrine for the sacred relic absorbing the light of the and sent out pleas across France, wonderful stained glass. The imploring funds to rebuild the interior walls were a rather grimy cathedral. grey but that only served to With Fulbert’s death in 1028, highlight the wonderful building slowed and the new kaleidoscope light of the windows. cathedral was not finished until the People speak of “Chartres blue” a middle of the 12th century. But vibrant hue which was used in the even then, bad luck plagued the pigments of the windows. building. The master trick of the architects On the night of 10th July 1194, of the cathedral was to buttress the CatholicTIMES supplement 23.10.20 27

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SUNDAY WORSHIP The summation of Jesus’ commandment of love

Our Gospel celebrates the great sake. And you became imitators of Doing justice in love love transcends all the transient have the gift of getting beyond the commandment of love. To love our us and of the Lord, for in spite of All our texts today suggest one vogues of psychology. Its ideal is multiple dimensions of an issue so neighbour as God does, prejudices persecution you received the word clear and practical principle: the example of Christ himself, as to zoom in on the heart of the based on race, religion or colour with joy inspired by the Holy loving God involves doing with also his commitment to matter. Such people prevent us have to go. The revelation at Spirit, so that you became an practical justice in our world. But justice for the poor. from missing the wood for the Mount Sinai prompted a sense of example to all the believers in even our superficially Christian Recent years have seen a trees. They are good at separating fairness towards others, deeper Macedonia and in Achaia. society is full of people who show dramatic increase in the number of out what really matters from the than specific commandments. For the word of the Lord has little respect for love or justice. immigrants who have come to live things that are less important. Jesus demonstrates a life of utterly sounded forth from you not only in Political and economic life is ruled among us in Ireland. We have They encourage us to invest our unselfish loving, and invites us to Macedonia and Achaia, but in by values far from those of the moved from a mono-cultural to a energies in what is really make that our guide to life. For St every place your faith in God has Gospel. Greed, and fierce desire multi-cultural, multi-racial society. worthwhile, rather than allowing Paul, this imitation of Christ is the become known, so that we have no for power and profit can be seen in Today’s readings invite us to them to be dissipated by what is core of spirituality. need to speak about it. For the our daily papers. We are closer to reflect on how well we receive not significant. people of those regions report the paganism mentioned in Paul’s these strangers, make them feel at Jesus was a person who knew 1st Reading: Exodus 22:20-26 about us what kind of welcome we letter than we may imagine. Today home in our society and in our how to go to the heart of the The Israelites must show had among you, and how you no less than then, the world is church. “I was a stranger and you matter. On one occasion someone fairness in practical matters, turned to God from idols, to serve hostile to what Jesus represents, welcomed me.” They are distinct asked him to intervene in a family The Lord said to Moses: “Tell a living and true God, and to wait and it is hard for us to take a stand from us, and, often, different from dispute about inheritance. In his the children of Israel this: You for his Son from heaven, whom he even on important issues of justice us. The saying, “Birds of a feather reply, he ignored the concrete issue shall not wrong or oppress a raised from the dead-Jesus, who and compassion. Our Lord shows flock together,” expresses the and, instead, he called on the resident alien, for you were aliens rescues us from the wrath that is love of God and genuine love of evident truth that like attracts like. person who approached him to in the land of Egypt. You shall not coming. the other as two basic aspects of It is tempting to frequent the “Be on your guard against all abuse any widow or orphan. the same call. There can never be a company of people like ourselves. kinds of greed” (Lk 12:13-15). He If you do abuse them, when they Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40 contradiction between the two, Yet, the Lord gathered about saw that the real issue was not the cry out to me, I will surely heed Jesus’ summation of morality even though one may sometimes himself a community of great details of the particular case but their cry; my wrath will burn, and as the twofold commandment of feel trapped in a situation where a diversity. Even within the twelve the greed which underlay the I will kill you with the sword, and love. particular law of Church or State there was to be found a tax- dispute. your wives shall become widows When the Pharisees heard that seems to create a contradiction. collector and a zealot, men from This capacity of Jesus to get to and your children orphans. he had silenced the Sadducees, An approach to the second opposite ends of the political the heart of the matter is clear If you lend money to my people, they gathered together, and one of commandment about love could be spectrum. In a similar way, the from his response to the question to the poor among you, you shall them, a lawyer, asked him a by reflecting on how we love Spirit of the Lord at work in our put to him by one of the Pharisees not deal with them as a creditor; question to test him. “Teacher, ourselves. Love of neighbour lives prompts us to connect with in today’s gospel reading, you shall not exact interest from which commandment in the law is becomes virtually impossible in those who are different from us, as “Master, which is the greatest them. the greatest?” the age of self-hatred in which well as those who are like us. The commandment of the Law?” In If you take your neighbour’s He said to him, “‘You shall love some fearful, discouraged people one we find initially strange can the time of Jesus there were cloak in pawn, you shall restore it the Lord your God with all your can find themselves. Loving the reveal the Lord to us in surprising known to be 613 commandments before the sun goes down; for it heart, and with all your soul, and other as oneself only becomes ways. We pray for a greater in the Jewish Law. The potential may be your neighbour’s only with all your mind.’ This is the possible if we have, or can grow openness to the many ways the here to miss the wood for the trees clothing to use as cover; in what greatest and first commandment. into, a healthy, sane level of self- Lord comes to us in life. was enormous. Preoccupation else shall that person sleep? And if And a second is like it: ‘You shall appreciation. This is a sound with the detail of regulations your neighbour cries out to me, I love your neighbour as yourself.’ psychological principle, which The heart of the matter could result in people ignoring will listen, for I am On these two commandments hang should be mentioned in our Life is becoming increasingly what really matters, like straining compassionate.” all the law and the prophets.” churches even though Christian complex. We value people who out a gnat but swallowing a camel (Mt 23:24). Jesus answered the Responsorial Psalm: Pharisee’s question by going 17:2-4, 47, 51 straight to the heart of the Jewish R./: I love you, Lord, law. He was asked if there is one my strength. “greatest” commandment, but in I love you. Lord, my strength, reply he named the second my rock, my fortress, my saviour. greatest commandment as well. My God is the rock where For the first commandment, I take refuge; loving the Lord your God with all my shield, my mighty help, our heart and soul, is inseparable my stronghold. from the conjoined The Lord is worthy of all praise: commandment, of loving my when I call I am saved neighbour as myself. For Jesus, from my foes. (R./) what God wants from us above all Long life to the Lord, my rock! else is love. There is no genuine Praised be the God who saves me. love of God unless it finds He has given great expression in love of our victories to his king neighbour. Love of neighbour, in and shown his love for turn, presupposes a healthy self- his anointed. (R./) love, recognising and appreciating myself as fundamentally good, 2nd Reading: 1 Thessalonians because I am created in the image 1:5-10 and likeness of God. The fervour of the Thessalonian converts I Published by kind permission of encouraged other local churches. The Association of Catholic Our message of the gospel came Priests, an association for to you not in word only, but also in Catholic Priests who wish to have power and in the Holy Spirit and a forum, and a voice to reflect, discuss and comment on issues with full conviction; just as you affecting the Church and society know what kind of persons we today. See www.associationof proved to be among you for your catholicpriests.ie 28 CatholicTIMES supplement 23.10.20

www.thecatholicuniverse.com Questions and answers... with Fr Francis Doyle Leaving out the handshake at the sign of peace?

Q. My wife is relatively new to sequence prayer (following the the Catholic Church and Gospel) in the standard Catholic absolutely abhors the funeral ritual. It had been set to exchanging of the sign of peace. I soaring and majestic music by remember when this was not a such composers as Mozart and part of the Mass. It seems to Verdi. have been an accretion that crept That hymn was removed from into the liturgy during the ‘feel- the ‘ordinary form’ of the funeral good’ 1970s, and I agree with my ritual in the liturgical reforms wife that it is quite unnecessary. following the Second Vatican My wife is on the shy side and Council. prefers not to have to shake In its Constitution on the Sacred hands with the person who Liturgy, the council had called for happens to be next to her in the the funeral rites of the Church to pew. At most, she would nod but ‘express more clearly the paschal feels that this would be rude. Are character of Christian death’. The there any options? (If you ran a Dies Irae foretells the second petition drive to eliminate the coming of Christ as the frightful sign of peace, I’ll bet that it ‘day of wrath and doom would be greeted with 95 per impending…when the Judge his cent approval from Catholics.) seat attaineth and each hidden A. Far from being a new deed arraigneth, nothing invention of the 1970s, the unavenged remaineth’. restoration of the sign of peace A leading figure in the was actually a return to a practice A pilgrim from the Archdiocese of postconciliar reforms, Archbishop common in the earliest days of the Westminster shares the sign of peace Annibale Bugnini listed the Dies Church. In those times, Christians, with a local Christian in the Holy Land. Irae as one of the texts that had in a reminder of the charity that (Photo: © Diocese of Westminster) “smacked of a negative spirituality linked the eucharistic community, common, while an embrace or kiss joyous occasions, but this put a Vatican II and can find no help. inherited from the Middle Ages”, exchanged a greeting at the is often used for family or close damper on it. I think that the When I was growing up in the had “overemphasised judgement, offertory – that timing chosen friends. Some simply nod or wave, priest’s rigid adherence to ritual 1940s and ‘50s, I had to fear and despair” and so had been from the suggestion of Jesus (Mt which is surely acceptable. (Eye could well have alienated people memorise these rules but replaced by “texts urging Christian 5:23-24) that one reconcile with contact, though, would seem to be from the Catholic Church. What unfortunately I have forgotten hope and arguably giving more others before presenting gifts at at least a minimum requirement). is your feeling? them and I think that after effective expression to faith in the the altar. A. Sometimes at Protestant Vatican II these rules changed, resurrection”. By the late fourth century, the Q. Our Marian study club has a weddings – and often in television but I am not sure. Can you help It should also be noted, however, exchange of peace had been placed question for you. How do and movie weddings – a minister me? that the Dies Irae still remains in instead right after the Our Father, Catholic churches get their at the end of the ceremony A. The rule for the eucharistic the now-’extraordinary’ 1962 form since Christians were committed names? Who picks them out? pronounces and presents the fast is contained in the Church’s of the Roman funeral rite. In 2007, to live in harmony with those with A. Canon law gives wide couple as man and wife. That is Code of Canon Law. Canon No. Pope Benedict XVI issued an whom they were about to share the latitude in the naming of Catholic not – and, to my knowledge, never 919, Section 1, states that ‘a apostolic letter (Summorum Eucharist. The greeting of peace churches, requiring simply that has been – part of the Catholic person who is to receive the most Pontificum), which specified rules faded gradually into disuse over they be named after: the Trinity; marriage rite. holy Eucharist is to abstain for at for offering Mass according to the the centuries and was restored to Jesus, under a title or mystery of In fact, for a priest to use that least one hour before Holy 1962 Missal (in the form known the Mass during the liturgical his life; the Holy Spirit; Mary; the declaration would reflect bad Communion from any food and commonly as the Tridentine Mass, reforms following the Second angels; a canonised saint; or, with theology. In the Catholic view, drink, except for only water and celebrated in the Latin language). Vatican Council. Vatican permission, someone who marriage is unique among the medicine’. Funerals are one of the Technically, the sign of peace is has been beatified. sacraments in that, in marriage, the In 1957, Pope Pius XII reduced occasions on which the letter states optional. The General Instruction Since it is a bishop’s prerogative priest does not administer the the requirement from a complete that ‘for faithful and priests who of the Roman Missal prescribes in to establish parishes and churches, sacrament. He is there simply as fast after midnight to a fast of three request it, the pastor should also No. 154 that it be shared ‘when it is also his right to name them. the witness. hours. In 1964, Pope Paul VI allow celebrations in this appropriate’. But other sections of Lately, however, more and more The ministers of the sacrament changed it to one hour, intending extraordinary form’. the general instruction (in No. 82 deference has been given to the of marriage are the couple, by to encourage Catholics to receive This presumes that the priest and No. 239) imply that it is input of parishioners – especially virtue of their exchange of vows. the Eucharist more frequently. asked to celebrate the funeral Mass customarily used. (Amid the in the case of the merger of The priest then blesses that The reason for the fast is to is familiar with the Latin language current Covid-19 pandemic and parishes. commitment and prays for the remind the faithful of the sacred and with the rubrics of the earlier during a flu epidemic, for newly married couple. So a and special nature of the rite. And even if the current example, the exchange of peace Q. I recently attended the Catholic priest would have no right eucharistic food; whereas earthly ‘ordinary’ form of the Roman could reasonably be suspended.) wedding of a young man and his ‘pronouncing’ the couple as man food provides physical Missal is used for the funeral The greeting ought to be bride who are both practising and wife. They have done that nourishment for a time, the body Mass, I suppose that technically exchanged in a quiet and dignified Catholics. At the end of the already, on their own. and blood of Christ nourish the the Dies Irae could still be manner, and Pope Benedict XVI ceremony, the congregation was What surprises me, honestly, is soul toward life eternal. inserted, not as a sequence hymn reminded Catholics in 2006 that confused when the priest (newly not so much your question but Canon No. 919, Section 3, following the Gospel, but perhaps restraint was needed lest the ordained) did not pronounce the your concluding observations – clarifies that ‘the elderly, the as a post-Communion meditation. gesture distract from the reverence couple as “man and wife” and that the priest’s failure to infirm and those who care for I would caution, though, that appropriate to the reception of introduced them as such to the ‘pronounce’ dampened people’s them can receive the Eucharist there are multiple goals in a Holy Communion. (Marathons attendees. joy and may have alienated some even if they have eaten something funeral liturgy: not only is its during which congregants roam It was all very awkward, and of them from the Church. Over 46 within the preceding hour’. purpose to pray for the deceased the church widely in search of no-one seemed to know what to years, I’ve probably done 600 or and to honour his wishes, but it is hugs would seem to run counter to do. Finally, the organist began 700 weddings and have never been Q. I would like to have the Dies also celebrated for the consolation that caution.) the recessional music and the told that. Irae played at my funeral Mass of the bereaved family and the The particular type of greeting is bride and groom exited. When (which I hope will be in the other mourners. All of that should not prescribed worldwide but left asked later why he did not Q. I have been trying to find a distant future). Is this enter into the choice of hymns and to be tailored by national introduce the couple, the priest current reference to the rules for permissible? their texts. conferences of bishops to the said that it was not a part of the the eucharistic fast. I’ve checked A. The Dies Irae (literally, ‘day I Please note that Fr Doyle cannot customs and culture of the place. marriage rite of the Church. the Catechism of the Catholic of wrath’) is a 13th-century hymn answer readers’ personal In the UK, a handshake is Weddings should be such Church and the documents of that served until 1970 as the questions through this column. CatholicTIMES supplement 23.10.20 29

www.thecatholicuniverse.com MISSIONARY WORK Pope calls Brazilian priest and thanks him for work with homeless

People who work with Father Julio Lancellotti say “discouraged” is not in his vocabulary. Lise Alves reports

Father Julio Lancellotti was caught Government to provide protection those who take care of the poor,” priest said, adding, “It was very by surprise on 10th October when for the priest. Fr Julio, however, Sao Paulo Cardinal Odilo Scherer hard, but we decided from the very Pope Francis personally called him said he does not need official said days after the incident. beginning that we would not asking about his work with the protection. After seven months of abandon them.” homeless. “They (homeless) are always pandemic, the situation for the The other problem was the plea speak to him. “I picked up the phone and a watching out for me, asking me if I homeless has almost returned to by authorities to stay home. “I went towards what looked like voice on the other side of the line need help. I feel protected by “normal,” said Fr Julio. But this “Where is the home of those to me a very simple fellow, maybe asked: ‘Parla Italiano? Hablas them.” was not always the case. At the who sleep on the sidewalk?” asked one of the homeless, although I Espanol? Qui e Papa Francesco,” In September of this year, Fr start of the pandemic, there was a Fr Julio. didn’t recognise him,” he said, the 71-year-old priest told me. Julio received threats from a man lot of fear, he said. He said that the past few months pausing a bit. Fr Julio, who has led homeless riding a motorcycle. “He yelled “We thought that the virus have been full of hard work but The man then handed him a services for the Archdiocese of obscenities as he was driving would decimate those living on the also of great solidarity. £415 cheque, more than 2.5 times Sao Paulo for more than 30 years, towards me, but the homeless put streets. We didn’t know what to He remembers one particular Brazil’s minimum monthly wage, said he was taken aback by the their carts in his way and he left,” expect,” he said. day, after spending an hour and a and said: “I want you to have this.” call. he said. The first few weeks were the half handing out food, he had just “I told him I couldn’t take it, but “I sent a letter to the pope a “It is necessary to help the poor, most difficult in terms of obtaining sat down to drink a cup of tea he insisted,” he noted, adding: while back with photos about the to accompany them, instead of masks and hygiene products to when someone called and said “Like him, many people have (homeless) situation here in Sao offending, insulting or threatening distribute to the homeless, the there was a man who wanted to shown great solidarity, giving what Paulo, but I never expected to get they could to help.” an answer. He (Pope Francis) must Fr Julio said the pandemic has get thousands of letters per also given him other abilities. month,” he said. “Because of the masks, I learned Fr Julio told me the pope said he to read the emotions in people’s had seen the photos and told him eyes. I can see when they are sad, he knew of the difficulties the tired, happy ... just by looking into homeless were facing. their eyes,” he said. “The pope wanted me to Pope Francis mentioned the transmit to those living in the phone call to the Brazilian priest at streets his love and told me to tell his Angelus on 11th October when them that he prays for them every explaining the day’s Gospel day. He blessed them and asked us reading about God inviting all to all to pray for him.” his banquet, rich and poor. “This is “He also asked me to describe what our mother Church is about; my day,” chuckled the priest. this is the messenger of God who “At the end he told me not to be goes out to the crossroads” to discouraged and ‘Live as Jesus invite people to the Lord’s did, always being close to the banquet,” said the pope. poor,’” said Fr Julio. Although in his Angelus talk, “I’ve seldom seen him Pope Francis referred to the priest discouraged,” said Auxiliary as Italian, Fr Julio is actually from Bishop Luiz Carlos Dias of Sao Sao Paulo, of Italian descent. Fr Paulo. “He is out on the streets Julio, nonetheless, said this was working with the homeless every one telephone call he will cherish day. He has embraced the forever. (homeless) cause and dedicated his “I will continue to do my work entire life to it.” and do as the pope requested: Bishop Dias said the priest is ‘Live as Jesus did, always being known throughout Brazil. close to the poor,’” the priest said. “Those with nowhere to go seek out Fr Julio, because they know he (left) Father Julio Lancellotti is will be there for them,” he said. pictured blessing a homeless The bishop said the priest’s man in Sao Paulo. Fr Julio, who commitment to the homeless and has led work with the homeless in drug addicts has made him a few Sao Paulo for more than 30 years, enemies. “There is a minority who was surprised by a recent call from Pope Francis, asking about is bothered by the work he does,” his work with the homeless. noted Bishop Dias. Last year, news of threats against (above) Fr Julio places a candle the priest’s life made it all the way during a September vigil to to the Organisation of American support the homeless in Sao Paulo. (Catholic News Service photos/ States, which urged the Brazilian Luciney Martins, courtesy O Sao Paulo) 30 CatholicTIMES supplement 23.10.20

Follow us on twitter @ukcatholicpress FEATURE US seminary has made changes but still has same mission in pandemic

Daniel Meloy seminarians representing 16 different dioceses and religious Amid the pandemic, Sacred Heart communities. Major Seminary in Detroit has the While Covid-19 has changed same mission: to form men for the some of the approach to education priesthood and prepare all of its and formation, God is still calling students, laity and clergy to be men to the priesthood, even in the ambassadors for the new midst of a pandemic, said Father evangelisation. Craig Giera, director of priestly The seminary’s vice rector, vocations for the Archdiocese of Father Stephen Burr, said this Detroit. year’s 114 seminarians, “The men I’m speaking with representing 16 dioceses and now seem to have a calling in their religious communities, are seeing heart to serve other people, doing changes to classrooms, liturgical things that are meaningful,” he schedules and safety protocols, but added. “They feel God is speaking the seminary still intends to to them in their hearts and are provide the full formation open to the priesthood.” experience. While no one has specifically “We are trying to keep the two said Covid-19 spurred them to major schools, the graduate school discern a vocation, Fr Craig said, and undergraduate school, separate “some have felt the situation has throughout the year, shifting our helped them focus on something liturgical schedule and creating they have felt for a very long separation between the two houses of men,” said Fr Stephen, who also serves as dean of seminary formation. (above) Fr Stephen Burr, vice rector and dean of seminary formation at “We’re following the same Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, teaches a class behind a protocols the archdiocese has plexiglass screen. Like many institutions of higher learning, the given about the amount of people seminary has adjusted to life during the coronavirus pandemic, allowed in a chapel,” he said, and instituting new protocols and tools for lay students and seminarians. making sure that everyone follows socially distanced guidelines. (right) A seminarian wears a mask as he participates in class at the The priest said the seminary’s seminary, with space between him and his classmates. chapel is technically big enough to (Catholic News Service photos/Valaurian Waller, Detroit Catholic) accommodate everyone, but for to priestly ministry. autumn are taking at least one safety’s sake, chapel time is being Transitional deacons “will still online class. So, you can see how split up. go out and do ministry on a regular appealing this option is amidst the In addition to the seminarians, basis,” Fr Stephen said, “but we’ve pandemic.” education was concerned students time.” who live in dorms on campus, limited them to going out once and But for all of the changes and would not return to classes this The Archdiocese of Detroit Sacred Heart Major Seminary then coming back, instead of challenges, men still have the autumn, we found that our lay added three new seminarians this hosts 292 commuter students as spending the night at the parish. desire to study for the priesthood, commuter students really wanted year, with 26 men in total part of its lay formation We still want them at the parish, and lay disciples want to learn to continue their education and currently studying for the programme, which has a different but we want them to stay in one more about their faith and equip formation and find strength and priesthood. schedule as officials work to keep residence throughout the themselves for ministry. This year, support in the Sacred Heart Fr Craig, in his first year as the two sets of students apart. semester.” 32 new seminarians are enrolled, community they love so dearly,” vocations director, said his office Besides changes to the Most seminary students have the on par with last year, when 31 new Gerlach said. soon will launch a campaign to classrooms, which include option of taking courses online, men entered. “The seminary and archdiocese encourage Catholics in southeast plexiglass dividers to keep should they choose. On the commuter side, this offer generous financial assistance Michigan to pray the luminous lecturers and professors separated “Those who may be at risk or year’s 292 students is a slight drop to those in ministry and so the mysteries of the rosary for an from students as well as physical are uncomfortable attending from last year’s 311, but economic challenges many people increase in vocations. distancing between students, classes in person had many online considering the circumstances, are facing today are not keeping “The luminous mysteries are Sacred Heart also must consider class options to choose from this enrollment is still beating them from continuing,” he said. how Christ manifests who he was,” other elements of the formation fall,” said Matthew Gerlach, dean expectations, Gerlach told the There are currently 26 men the priest said. “The luminous experience, such as the movements of the Institute for Lay Ministry Detroit Catholic, the online news studying for the priesthood for the mysteries are about Christ’s very of transitional deacons to or from and associate professor of theology platform of the Archdiocese of Archdiocese of Detroit, with three public priesthood, and we want to assignments or bringing in guests at the seminary. “About half of all Detroit. new seminarians this year. Overall, encourage men to take up that speakers on different topics related lay commuters enrolled this “While everyone in higher the seminary hosts 114 public priesthood.” Foundation’s scholarships help clergy, religious, laity in need study in Rome

The Papal Foundation has awarded began their studies with a virtual the announcement of the new group of teach all nations,’ seminarians, clergy, £615,000 in scholarships to 106 priests, orientation on 3rd October. They are named scholars. The programme has provided religious men and women, and laity need women religious, brothers and laypeople for John and Carol Saeman of Denver, more than £9 million in scholarships to an excellent education and a sound from 44 disadvantaged countries, allowing USA, who made an initial $5 million gift over 1,500 individuals since 2000 and programme of spiritual formation in order them the chance to study at their choice of for the scholarship programme in 2000 that allows the recipients to advance their to secure the future of the Church around 16 pontifical universities and institutes in was matched by The Papal Foundation. education and prepare them to return to the world,” Eustace Mita, president of The Rome. The scholarship programme, named for teach in their own countries. Papal Foundation board of trustees, said in Called the Saeman Scholars, the group St John Paul II, marked its 20th year with “Following the Lord’s command to ‘go a statement. The Catholic Universe | Friday 23rd October 2020 31

Three lessons from India, China and Brazil that could green the world

COMMENT

Ajinkya Shrish Kamat

If the world is to transition to a cli- mate-compatible future, much will turn on new innovations in clean energy and whether they can be de- ployed at a large scale. This is espe- cially critical for emerging economies, which are developing their infrastructure and undergoing economic growth and urbanisation at an unprecedented scale and pace, yet still often lack the support for technological innovation found in wealthier countries. Six of these emerging economies – Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mex- ico and South Africa – contributed more than 40 per cent of the global U2 ₂–|mvttvxz t–vz–G‘TPd–SqwyOt–Td7 times the combined emissions from the US and Europe. Yet at the same time China, India, and Brazil were the first, fourth and sixth largest producers of renewable electricity. These three countries – the largest emerging economies – are now at a crucial juncture, faced with immense potential to become rxtyt–qwe| cp| rsvz| p–ji –mxu|–yqwz–PP to all emerging economies around ments and loans that enabled rapid nology choices. For example, India major innovators in the develop- per cent, driven recently by low-cost the world. expansion of private sector solar was able to accelerate its LED mar- ment of clean energy technology. manufacturing in China. startups. ket because its bulk procurement We have explored how fast-grow- V| yh| | z –G‘T6–wzp–G‘TBfcUqvzw 1. Public sector enterprises are In Brazil, the leading public oil and bulb distribution policies com- ing countries can not only develop wpp| p–wj xoy–T7B–nvnwhwyytcxl–txswu crucial company bridged the gap between ks| m| z y| p–wrr| tt–yx–UqvzwOt–swun| their own sustainable systems but PV – about the same as the total In all three cases, businesses with ethanol production and consumer scale low-cost LED manufacturing. provide a source of learning and power generation capacity of Brazil. significant equity owned by govern- point-of-purchase by buying W8owssif–UqvzwOt–|wusi–pxm| tyvr–tokg knowledge to influence global ments played a crucial role. In India, ethanol from mills, providing stor- port for export-oriented hi-tech trends. We did this by investigating a joint venture of four public-sector age and transport, and distributing manufacturing complemented the specific clean energy success stories Biofuels in Brazil utilities called EESL bought energy- lo| s–yquxonq–yq| –rxoz yuiOt–swun| ty growing demand for solar cells in in the three countries. A third success story is that of VuwFvsOt–sxz ngy| um–nuxh yq–yx–j| rxm| efficient LED bulbs in bulk, reduced network of fuel pumps. Germany. the largest producer, exporter and prices using competitive bidding, 3. R&D that unites academia and India’s remarkable market for ethanol biofuel made ran national marketing campaigns, 2. Domestic choices in a global industry transition to LEDs from sugarcane. and sold the bulbs to customers economy Cvuty–vt–azpvwOt–TA‘ glxsp–|Ykwztvxz Ethanol-run vehicles increased through new distribution channels. 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In India they are pri- cles which mixes gasoline and price of deforestation marily being used for residential ethanol. Their share increased from tween public sector research insti- lighting and street lamps. z | nsvnvj s| –vz–G‘‘ A–yxcB7–k| u–r| z y–xl tutes and industry, including the azpvwOt–MWL–yuwztvyvxz –vt–|tyvmwy| p new cars sold just five years later – government-funded ‘Sugarcane to save more than 40 terawatt hours and has remained constant since. 0 | z xm| –1uxE|ryOd (TWh) of electricity each year – There are some environmental Our analysis shows that it is possi- roughly enough to power 37 million and socioeconomic impacts. These ble for emerging economies to begin average Indian households or the include deforestation for sugarcane from a technologically and econom- whole of Denmark for one year. In plantations, soil erosion, air and wa- ically disadvantaged position and three years, the country grew from a ter pollution, and the consolidation yet successfully accelerate the tran- negligible share of the global LED of land ownership among large sition to clean energy technologies. mwub| y–yxcwj xoy–T‘ –k| u–r| z yd ethanol producers. But when you These lessons provide good news, look at the lifecycle of sugarcane since success or failure in this en- deavour will have long-term energy ethanol fuel, from crop to car, its Solar energy soars and climate consequences for all. greenhouse gas emissions are lower in China than gasoline or corn ethanol. An equally remarkable transition Ajinkya Shrish Kamat is an occurred in China, which has be- Associate at the School of come the top manufacturer and Three lessons for the Engineering and Applied Sciences, largest market of solar photovoltaic rest of the world Harvard University, Massachusetts (PV) cells and modules, accounting Based on these unexpected clean- Institute of Technology. lxu–,P–k| u–r| z y–xl–nsxj ws–kuxporyvxz d energy transitions, we have identi- This article first appeared on In the past 40 years, solar panel fied three insights that are relevant www.theconversation.com 32 For extra news go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com Heart of the Matter Follow the Catholic Universe on twitter @ukcatholicpress Church groups co-ordinate aid to new wave of Venezuelan migrants

Thousands of people are once again leaving Venezuela as neighbouring countries like Colombia, Ecuador and Peru reopen their economies and lift restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, reports Manuel Rueda.

Jan Piñeros walked along a Colom- (left) Venezuelan migrant Jan bian highway with his family, brav- Pinero of Caracas shares a meal with his son as they rest in early ing the midday heat. October in Pamplona, Colombia. With both of his arms stretched Pineros and his family were forward, he pushed a pram that car- making a 1,500 mile long journey, ried his two-year-old son while car- on foot, to Ecuador. rying his belongings in a blue back- pack that hung from his shoulders. Piñeros was making a 1,500 mile- (below) A worker for the long trek to Ecuador, where his fam- humanitarian group Consornoc ily had been offered work in a farm. registers Venezuelan migrants He left his hometown of Caracas, arriving in late September in Venezuela, in the middle of Septem- Pamplona, Colombia. Consornoc ber, on foot, because he could not hands out backpacks with food afford a bus ticket. that are supplied by Caritas France. “In Venezuela, we could no longer (Catholic News Service feed our children properly,” said photos/Manuel Rueda) Piñeros, who had been walking with his wife and three children for three weeks. “It may not be the best time to travel,” he admitted. “But we are wards cities in Colombia, Ecuador willing to do anything to improve and Peru, humanitarian groups ex- our quality of life.” pect large numbers of Venezuelans The poorest are leaving on foot, to leave their country in the follow- and joining five million people who ing months. have already left Venezuela to es- Colombian immigration officials cape hyperinflation, food shortages said in September that around and the lowest wages in the Western 200,000 Venezuelans could enter the Hemisphere. country before the end of this year. This new wave of migration has The minimum wage in Venezuela is prompted Church groups in Colom- currently less than £2 a month, bia to reactivate aid programmes while in Colombia and Peru, it’s that had been suspended this about £195 a month. spring, as lockdowns slowed down Pamplona is located at 10,500 feet Many reported having to pay travelling with her mother to the city “We can stay in Venezuela and die Venezuelan migration. above sea level and gets cold at bribes to these groups to get across of Cali, where they hoped to find of hunger, or come here to find a so- In the Colombian border city of night. It’s one of the first stops along the border. Some had to give up work. They were trying to get a ride lution,” said Carlos Olivera, a 44- Cucuta, by the end of this month the a mountainous road that leads into most of the cash they carried with outside a gas station near Pamplona. year-old construction worker who local diocese plans to have distrib- the centre of Colombia. them. “We had a Samsung Galaxy and a was walking along the highway with uted bags with food, face masks and “We had four shelters here in “We had to pay about £4 each and Motorola.” his family. sanitising gel to 4,000 migrants Pamplona, but all of them were shut give them our mobile phones,” said Despite the risks and hardships “I think God will help us,” Olivera walking along roads that lead out of down because of the pandemic,” Englis Ochoa, a 17-year-old who was encountered along the journey to- said. “He helps those who persist.” the city. The supplies were pur- said Angie Rincon, co-ordinator of chased with the support of Caritas Let’s Share the Journey, the project fi- Poland, a local supermarket chain nanced by Caritas France. and the Vatican’s Dicastery for Pro- “There is a lot of frustration moting Integral Human Develop- among the migrants because they ment. expected support that is no longer “What worries us is that there are there,” Rincon said. many more families on the road Her project is providing 8,000 mi- now,” said Mgr Israel Bravo, vicar grants with backpacks that contain general of the Diocese of Cucuta. energy bars, toiletries, gloves and ski “Before it used to be mostly men, masks for the cold weather. but migrants are now bringing their The project is also trying to organ- families.” ise transport on buses across the The pandemic has made leaving freezing Paramo de Berlin, a plateau Venezuela harder. located at an altitude of 13,000 feet Gasoline shortages force migrants that separates Pamplona from the to walk for weeks just to reach the centre of Colombia. But that has not border. In Colombia, municipal gov- been possible yet, Rincon said, be- ernments have ordered shelters and cause of regulations imposed by the soup kitchens to shut down in a bid Colombian Government since the to prevent large gatherings. pandemic broke out. To make the journey less danger- “Bus companies are only allowed ous, some Church groups are trying to take migrants with residence per- to provide migrants with assistance mits or with stamped passports,” along the toughest stretches of the Rincon explained. “That’s very hard road. to obtain nowadays.” In the mountain town of Pam- Colombia has shut down border plona, Caritas France is supporting a crossings with Venezuela since the programme run by the local diocese pandemic started. Most migrants that provides orientation, food and now entering Colombia are using il- clothes for cold weather to Venezue- legal crossings controlled by crimi- lan migrants. nal groups. The Catholic Universe | Friday 23rd October 2020 33 Faith Alive Called to religious life: Sister Mara Grace Gore

“God wants to fulfil the desires of A sister’s vocation story your heart.” This was the message that stayed with me after attending a retreat when I was a teenager and continued to resonate in my soul as I discerned my vocation. Looking back, I realise that throughout my discernment the Lord continued to reveal to me the true desires of my heart. I was blessed to grow up in a lov- ing family and witness a beautiful marriage. Seeing my parents’ love for each other and for the Lord natu- rally caused me to dream about my future husband and family. In fact, I did not realise there could be an- other option for my life until I was a teenager. Much to my surprise, when I was in eighth grade my older brother an- nounced to the family that God was calling him to be a priest. I was stunned. At that point the only priests I knew were well into their 60s, so I did not realise that men still joined the priesthood. I imagined that there must be something wrong with my brother. A couple of years later when I wit- nessed his first profession of vows and especially the prostration before the altar, I knew in the depths of my heart that my brother was responding to an invitation to lay down his life. I also knew by his manifest joy that only love causes one to offer Felician Sister Marget Padilla talks such a gift. This stirred in my heart a with pilgrims at the World Youth deep desire to do something radical Day evangelisation centre in for God. Krakow, Poland, in 2016. National This desire continued to resonate Vocations Awareness Week is November 1st-7th. in my heart as the Lord drew me to (CNS photo/Bob Roller) himself through the sacraments, eu- charistic adoration, catechesis and good friendships. My priorities be- back burner. gan to shift, and my focus was I attended a small, Catholic liberal changed. arts college where I could learn Decisions that I had once meas- more about the faith and develop ured by the question, “What do I my relationship with Christ both in want?” I now began to assess in classes and through college life. prayer: “Lord, what do you want?” It was wonderful to be surrounded My first encounter with religious by the faith, and in fact I was sur- life was during my junior year of prised during my sophomore year high school. My dad told me about a when I started to feel very restless. retreat that was happening at the I was not sure what the source of motherhouse of the Dominican Sis- this restlessness could be, but I ters of St Cecilia in Nashville, Ten- knew I needed a change. I decided nessee, USA. to transfer to a different school, but At first I was intimidated by the idea that summer the thought of religious of spending time at a convent. But I life continued to surface. decided to call the vocation director to In growing closer to Christ inquire about the retreat. The sister’s throughout college, I had begun to pleasant voice and warm personality learn more deeply how to hear his gave me the courage to sign up. voice, and I could not deny that he The retreat experience was a was inviting me to consider religious tremendous grace. I found the sis- life again. ters to be full of joy and life. I was In visiting St Cecilia again that impressed that each sister was her- summer I received the grace to un- self, with her own personality and derstand my desires more fully. In gifts, and that each sister possessed wanting to be married, I was really an unmistakable freedom. By the longing to be dedicated to one other. end of the retreat I wanted to be a Christ was inviting me to dedicate religious sister. myself to himself alone. However, this desire faded, or This realisation gave me so much seemed to, when I got back to school joy that it became a source of peace. and the dream to be a wife and I entered St Cecilia as a postulant mother remained. When it came that summer. Now, after 14 years as time in my senior year to declare a Dominican sister I cannot imagine what I was going to do the following my life any other way. year, I decided to go to college and In his will – in allowing his desires put the discernment question on the to be our own – is our peace! 34 For extra news go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com

Follow the Catholic Universe on twitter @ukcatholicpress AroundUniverse weekly pullout the Parishes CatholiC news and information from aCross the Uk and ireland Birmingham welcomes new auxiliary bishops

Octogenarian cyclists raise funds for Costessey parish East Anglia: Although many charity other cyclists. events were cancelled this year, We entered again this year, but in Michael and Paula Hughes were order to be sure we maintained so- still on their tandem raising funds cial distancing opted to avoid most through sponsorship. Michael of the inner-city churches in Nor- Bishops David Evans and shares this report. wich. Gone were the tea and cakes, Stephen Wright flank Amid all the Covid-19 gloom, the gone were the chats with those sign- Archbishop Longley Norfolk Churches Trust was still able ing us in at most of the churches and to run its annual sponsored Walk, even stranger, we saw no one else Birmingham: On Friday 9th of St John Henry Newman. This may Srampickal and Bishop David Oak- Ride and Drive event. On 12th Sep- cycling on the same quest. October, the archdiocese of well be the first time that two bish- ley. tember cyclists and others were en- The overall result won’t be known Birmingham rejoiced at the ops have been ordained together in The Archbishop welcomed all who couraged to tour the county’s his- until early next year as the sponsor- episcopal ordinations of two new St Chad’s Cathedral. attended the Mass, both in person toric churches to raise funds for the ship money can be handed in for the auxiliary bishops. Archbishop Bernard Longley was and via the livestream, saying: “We upkeep of the fabric of church build- next couple of months, but I expect The Episcopal Ordination Mass principal consecrator, joined by are truly united in prayer for our two ings and also to support the work of there will be a shortfall. In our case, for Bishops David Evans and Bishop William Kenney and Bishop ordinands.” active parishes. the £840 we raised was a little short Stephen Wright took place at noon David McGough alongside Bishop Please pray for our new bishops, Last year, as the event came close of our £900 target but almost in St Chad’s Cathedral, on the Feast Patrick McKinney, Mar Joseph we wish them every blessing. to the date of our Diamond Wedding, matched what we collected last year. Paula and I set ourselves the target Pictured are Paula and Michael of visiting 60 churches in the day. We Hughes with Fr David Ward at Our Filipino community pays actually managed 64, beating all Lady and St Walstan, in Costessey tribute to respected leader Fr Dick Healey retires East Anglia: The Filipino after 40 years of ministry community at St John’s Cathedral, Norwich gathered in numbers at a Fr Dick Healey, who has been serv- Requiem Mass to honour and pray ing as parish priest in Fakenham, for Ermie Astorga, a much-loved has retired after a ministry span- leader. ning 40 years and moved to Mon- Ermie’s given name was Herminio tana in Great Barton, near Bury St Astorga but he preferred to be called Edmunds. Ermie ‘Pogs’ Astorga. He was in- While resident there Fr Dick will volved in the development of the Fil- be the chaplain to the Community ipino civic group PINAS, which of the Benedictine Sisters of Our helps to serve the community. He Lady of Grace and Compassion and was also a singer and guitarist, and the nursing home. was very active in serving the He was brought up in Ipswich Church locally through the choir at and was a regular altar server in St St Walstan’s, Costessey, and through Ermie Astorga Mary’s and St Pancras parishes. He the Couples for Christ community. pictured with tried his vocation in 1973 and was Ermie was part of the group which his family sent to Campion House, Osterley. In Looking forward to a deserved arranged the yearly Walsingham Pil- 1974 he transferred to Oscott Semi- retirement: Fr Dick Healey grimage for the Filipino community cathedral, and further tributes were think that my dad passed away do- nary and was ordained as a priest then as part of the clergy team at – something he was incredibly made at the regular cathedral Mass ing what he loved most, devoting in 1980. Our Lady and the English Martyrs, proud of. He was a Marian devotee – and a special funeral Mass the fol- himself in service to the Lord. After that followed 40 years of de- Cambridge. especially to Our Lady of Penafrancia, lowing morning. “He was a humble man and was vout ordained ministry across the His final four years have been as and he loved to serve on her feast Ermie fell ill unexpectedly while seen as a pillar in the community – diocese. He served in St George’s, parish priest at Fakenham. day at Wroxham Broads every year. taking part in a Novena which the he was truly cherished. He will be Norwich and St Edmunds in Bury St Over the past few years Fr After the Requiem Mass, his fellow Filipino community was praying to- sorely missed. His love for life, fam- Edmunds, as parish priest at St Dick has had health setbacks, but Filipinos remained in prayer gether on Zoom. ily, music and service will be the Mary’s, Ipswich, at Brandon and looks forward to his retirement at through an all-night vigil at the His daughter Kate said: “I like to things he will be remembered for.” Mildenhall, at Woodbridge and Montana. The Catholic Universe | Friday 23rd October 2020 35 Around the Parishes

Obituary Salford’s Laudato Si centre moves Priest who would go the forward with planning request extra mile Salford: The Laudato Si Centre at Wardley Hall has entered the next stages of its journey after planning mourned permission was submitted to Salford St Andrews and Edinburgh: Fr City Council’s Planning Department Hugh Purcell (1958-2020) died unex- in a bid to launch the first phase of pectedly at St John Vianney’s parish building at the site. house in Gilmerton, Edinburgh. He The completion of the first phase was 62. will see a converted reception area He was born on 6th August 1958 with the hopes of being able to wel- and baptised at St Margaret’s in come the centre’s first visitors in time. Loanhead. He studied for the priest- The Laudato Si Centre is an ambi- hood at the Pontifical Beda College tious multi-phase project which will in Rome and was ordained at Our create a space for parishioners, Lady’s in Currie in 2000. school children and organisations This year marked the 20th an- across the diocese to take practical niversary of his ordination. In a action to tackle climate change. Mass of Thanksgiving at Our Lady of All buildings and conversions at Loretto in Musselburgh Fr Purcell the centre will be completed to be as spoke openly of his addiction issues eco-friendly and sustainable as pos- and his deep love and thanks to sible. Initially, visitors to the site will God. be able to explore the walled garden He said: “The more I’m around which is home to beehives, green- and trying to stay in recovery a day houses and a sensory wild garden, tance of a care for all of creation and tre to visitors. world for future generations.” at a time I do realise better what St all designed to be accessible to encouraging all people to undertake “The centre will be a place for Lisa Heywood, project manager at Paul’s words essentially mean – that people of all ages and abilities. an ecological conversion. practical action, rooted in prayer the diocese of Salford said: “This love is the greatest of the virtues. So The centre, which is housed in the Bishop John Arnold said: “There is and a place that we can learn about next step is a really exciting one and it’s in love and thanksgiving that I of- grounds of the Bishop of Salford’s no doubt that we are becoming our environment and how we can we hope that through the Laudato Si fer up this Mass…I thank Him residence at Wardley Hall, was cre- much more aware of the damage live more simply. Centre, the diocese will be able to deeply for these 20 years.” ated following Pope Francis’s chal- that we have done, and are continu- “We hope that it will encourage become a flagship for effective ac- ‘Fr Hugh was lenge in Laudato Si for us all to care ing to inflict, on the Earth, our com- the local community, schools and tion of climate change.” enormously kind for our common home. The encycli- mon home and I am pleased that we parishes to transfer some of the Find out more: www.dioceseof and compassionate, cal explores the interconnectedness are moving on to the next step in our ideas on display into their own com- salford.org.uk/diocese/laudato especially to of all things, highlighting the impor- journey to open the Laudato Si Cen- munities, helping to build a better sicentre/ people with addiction – he was willing to travel miles for them.” In July last year he had moved to Diocese’s Youth Mission Team is staying the parish house in Musselburgh, a placed he “loved”. There he received support and friendship from parish fired up during these unusual times priest Fr Basil Clark, who studied at the Beda College with him. Fr Basil said: “I will miss his hu- East Anglia: The diocese of East Anglia’s Ignite Pictured are mour and earthy goodness. He was Youth Mission Team has just celebrated its fifth Ciaran Losasso, enormously kind and compassion- birthday but this academic year, unsurprisingly, Hamish MacQueen ate, especially to people with addic- poses some unique challenges to their work of and Fr Luke tion problems – he was willing to evangelisation among children and young peo- Goymour, chaplain travel miles for them.” ple. to the Youth Fr Hugh was well known across In a normal autumn, the Ignite Team would Mission Team. the archdiocese having served in be beginning a period of initial formation and While much of life parishes in the Borders, East Lothian training as a new community prepare to live has changed, and Edinburgh. and minister together over the coming months. Ciaran said, one Archbishop Cushley said: “My sin- This year, however, the diocese decided to post- thing that cere condolences go to the family pone new recruitment until 2021 because of the certainly hasn’t and friends of Fr Hugh. complications posed by the pandemic. changed is how “The archdiocese and many of the “It certainly will be an unusual year,” our Catholic faith clergy, laity and friends, especially in can transform the says Hamish MacQueen, the director of the these last months, endeavoured to Diocesan Youth Service. “The team will be lives of young people. assist him with his problems about smaller – only Ciaran (the Ignite Team Leader) which he was very honest, and I’m and I will be working full-time – but we hope to very grateful to all of them. May he still be able to reach many young people online rest in peace.” and in person, when possible. So much of our Tributes flooded into the arch- work has previously been based around face- Catholic and Catholic, will continue to invite with Ignite. “One thing that certainly hasn’t diocesan Facebook page to-face sessions and retreat days. them to run sessions either in person or online. changed is how our Catholic faith can trans- Silvia Maccagnano wrote: ‘Fr “The real challenge is making sure that we There’s still a question mark, however, over form the lives of young people,” says Ciaran Hugh held a special place in my can still present the message of Jesus and his whether the main face-to-face events of the Losasso, the Ignite Team leader. “The Ignite family’s heart. He was so good to my Church in a way that is just as compelling, even year will go ahead as before, such as the Team still gets to share how great it is to have a parents during his time at St Mary’s if we can’t do everything we’ve always done.” local Glow days around the diocese and the an- relationship with God lived out in the arms of Cathedral. RIP and heartfelt condo- Plans for the year include First Fridays, a new nual Ignite Festival. our mother, the Church. It’s the best message in lences to his family and friends,’ monthly online chat show, bringing the dioce- “We’ll have to keep our eyes on the ever- the world. No virus can change that.” while fellow parishioner Sally Flow- san primary schools together for special changing situation,” Hamish reflects. “The well- ers posted: ‘Rest in peace Father. He streamed assemblies and continuing to boost being of children and young people is para- If you would like to invite the Ignite Team to was such a lovely man. We were Ignite’s presence on social media, where so mount so we’ll only run a face-to-face event if work with children and young people in your blessed to have him at St Mary’s for a many young people spend much of their free we are confident it can be done safely.” parish or school – in person or online – then while. I loved his homilies and he time. In spite of the challenges, though, there is a please contact Ciaran Losasso via said Mass so beautifully. Now he’s in The team also hope that schools, both non- still an air of enthusiasm about those involved [email protected] his true home.’ Fr Hugh is survived by a brother and two sisters. 36 For extra news go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com Education Bambisanani auction helps rebuild lives for South African children Menston-based charity The Bam- the homes that were burnt to the bisanani Partnership recently held an ground. auction in order to raise funds for the “All the labour required for the build- community of Vumanhlamvu Primary ing work will be provided by volunteers School, in South Africa. from the local community. With In particular, it was looking to help thoughts of these children not just 21 children who lost everything in re- surviving but thriving, our fund raising cent wildfires. efforts will also enable us to provide The school’s principal, William Vi- reading books, sports equipment and lakazi, asked for support when ten other educational resources for the families were left homeless in the children affected”. St Dominic’s asks the saints to rural, remote Nkandla region which In response to the funding news, suffers high levels of poverty and dep- William Vilakazi said: “I really do not rivation. have the words to thank the Bam- help overcome 2020 challenges William said: “The recent wild fires bisanani Partnership for helping us St Dominic’s Sixth Form College to help us do good works with a big have destroyed homes, livestock and at this time of great tragedy. marked the celebration of ‘Dominican heart and small things with great love.” forests. 21 of our learners were badly “This community is very poor and Week’ from 28th September-2nd Oc- He added: “Our prayer this year is affected by the fire. They are homeless, some families lost everything they tober, in what was a week of reflection that we confront the difficulties we without clothes and food; some of had. The impact of the Bambisanani and prayer, contemplating its Do- face with confidence and encourage- the children cannot return to school Brooking, Alan Shearer and Wayne support will give the children every- minican heritage. ment, cheered and strengthened by right now because of the situation”. Rooney, The auction proved to be a thing they need: food, clothing and a This stretches back over a century the ‘great cloud of witnesses’ that have The partnership hastily organised tremendous success, raising an amaz- home again; they will be back in school but the college still finds ways to apply gone before us. an auction which included some rare ing £4,205. again, happy and learning. All the it to the lives of its students and staff “Let us pray for St Dominic’s Sixth and unique signed items the worlds The auction was organised by David support will help rebuild this com- here in 2020. Form College this year (and all our of sport and music. many had a York- Geldart, chair of the charity, who said: munity giving hope and opportunity. Through a series of PowerPoints extended family and Dominican in- shire flavour, including items from “Working with William, his local com- Thank you so much to everyone in- sent out each morning to the whole stitutions).” Sir Geoffrey Boycott, Leeds United, munity and Eshowe Rotary Club we volved, this really will transform the Father. Thank You for our great community, the college asked the Do- Leeds Rhinos and Leeds-based rock will now be able to provide the school lives of twenty one children and their heritage. For the Dominican saints minican saints in their wisdom to in- band The Kaiser Chiefs. In addition uniforms, blankets and emergency families.” who have gone before us. Those of tercede for the college community in there were lots connected to fanous food parcels required. We will also be David Geldart added: “People have faith who bear witness. this most difficult of years, with so footballers Sir Geoff Hurst, Sir Trevor able to provide the materials to rebuild been so kind and generous supporting many affected by the pandemic and In the trials and difficulties that we the auction and making donations. a challenging return for all staff and face this year may we be filled with The events in Williams’s community students. confidence that they watch over us. clearly touched the hearts of many The message to all was it is good to This great cloud of witnesses cheer people and the response has been remember the saints who have gone us on from above as we run this race. wonderful. This funding will genuinely before us, watching over us all at St Help us to discard every encum- help to change lives and the quality Dominic’s. brance that may hinder us. of people’s lives in the remote, rural A spokesperson for the college Give us perseverance as we press Nkandla region. I simply cannot thank added: “During these difficult times, towards the final goal. our supporters and our teams on the we also asked St Dominic to give the May we patiently endure all the ground enough for making this hap- community the strength and courage obstacles in life in the power of the pen.” it needs to face the challenges as a Holy Spirit and help us to be a living college family; St Thomas Aquinas to witness to Your Word of truth. Left, two of the auction lots: A help us bloom and grow with abun- Amen signed Kaiser Chiefs album and dant fruit; and St Catherine of Siena St Dominic, Pray for us. football from Leeds FC The Catholic Universe | Friday 23rd October 2020 37 Education

GCSE resits come with health risk warning Going ahead with GCSE resits next month could pose “public health risks”, ministers have been told. In a letter to Schools Minister Nick Gibb, Association of Colleges chief executive David Hughes said some institutions were expecting more than 500 students to sit exams in parts of England under the top two tiers of restrictions. “There will be even greater logistical challenges in summer 2021 than this November due to the numbers of stu- dents involved,” he said. “For many it will result in the closure Leading Catholic prep school of entire campuses to other students on the exam days to manage numbers safely. “Controlling entry and exit points will be a particular issue because ex- delighted with plan to go co-ed ams have fixed start and end times... At the very least we would urge you The trustees of St Ambrose Preparatory a family-based school which can serve coming co-educational will enable to express themselves in a mixed en- to consider supporting the additional School have announced the school daughters and sons together.” boys and girls to work together, respect vironment.” costs for these colleges.” will become co-educational from 2021, Currently the only independent each other, form friendships and better The school will initially admit girls It comes after a Scientific Advisory welcoming boys and girls aged three Catholic prep school for boys in the prepare them for the future. from three to nine-years-old from Jan- Group for Emergencies (Sage) docu- to 11. country outside of London, Mr Driscoll “We strongly believe that with men uary 2021, with those aged 10 and 11 ment, dated September 21, suggested Headmaster Frank Driscoll revealed added: “This is an exciting moment and women working and socialising able to join the school from September. all college teaching should be online the news to parents of the Catholic in the school’s 70-year history and together, we need to equip the next Chair of Governors, Mark Butler, unless face-to-face teaching is “ab- school in Hale Barns, and said: “We’re one that has been carefully considered generation of young people with the commented: “St Ambrose Preparatory solutely essential”. delighted to offer families of both girls over several years. skills to thrive and develop in our di- School has a long tradition of providing The intervention also came before and boys an opportunity to be part “We continue to be committed to verse society. its pupils with a warm and focused secondary schools and colleges in of our wonderful, caring community. providing our pupils with a secure, “Being part of a co-educational educational environment and we are wales were closed as part of the Gov- “By extending our rich and diverse stimulating environment in which community can promote respect and excited to offer this opportunity to ernment’s national ‘firebreak’ lock- education we will be able to provide they can flourish and believe that be- understanding and enable the pupils families of boys and girls.” down. Schools will be last www.thecatholicuniverse.com to close pledges NI Be part of the conversation... education minister We’re looking for articles Closing schools again in Northern Ire- more socially disadvantaged at a hard- for future issues of land would hit disadvantaged children er level than others. the hardest, the Education Minister “I think there has been a strong Education magazine. has warned. commitment from the executive to If you would like to contribute Peter Weir said he would do all in try as much as possible to support his power to ensure schools remained education. It (closure) is certainly not please contact me – open as much of the rest of Northern something I would want to see on Irish society was forced into a new the radar.” on details below. lockdown phase. He made his comments as Northern Mr Weir also cautioned against Ireland entered a new lockdown last Northern Ireland going on a “solo Friday, with pubs, restaurants and run” and suggested any move to lock- cafes forced to close for the next four down should be done in co-ordination weeks. with the rest of the UK and the Irish Mass events involving more than Republic. 15 people (except for allowed outdoor “I think from the point of view of sporting events) are also banned, and the circuit breaker, my preference cer- close-contact services such as hair- tainly would be that schools still re- dressers and beauticians are also to main open, no matter what other close. steps we take,” he said. However, places of worship are al- Mr Weir highlighted that the Irish lowed to remain open but face cover- Government also planned to keep ings are mandatory when entering schools open even if it moved to the and exiting. highest level – level five – of its Covid- Weddings are limited to 25 people 19 plan. with no receptions, as are funerals – He added: “If children miss further again with no pre or post-funeral gath- elements of school I think that would erings. be damaging to their education and Weir cautioned Catherine Kelly Editor on 0161 820 5722 also there is a strong argument that against Northern or email [email protected] the more children miss, however much Ireland going on we try to put mitigation measures in a “solo run” over place, it will also hit those who are closing schools PART OF THE UNIVERSE NEWSPAPER DIGITAL NETWORK 38 For extra news go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com News Extra ‘Spot, Respond and Support’ programme aims to drive modern slavery out of Salford

Caritas Salford marks The Salford Diocese bus helps share the Anti-Slavery Day anti-slavery/ trafficking message. Kath Ansley Duke wants Below, inset, the Last Sunday, 18th October, was papal encyclical ‘Moonshot’ Anti-Slavery Day, which was first Fratelli Tutti marked in the UK back in 2010 as a result of a Private Member’s Bill – the spirit to save Anti-Slavery Day Act. It provides a much-needed oppor- the planet tunity to remind everyone – Govern- ment, local authorities, organisa- The Duke of Cambridge has said tions, communities, families and in- there is “no choice but to succeed” dividuals – that we all have a respon- when tackling the problem of cli- sibility to look for and then slot to- mate change over the next 10 years. gether the separate pieces of the jig- In a Ted Talk recorded at Wind- saw, to form a complete picture of sor Castle, Prince William praised human trafficking and slavery, humanity’s ability for problem- which is happening in plain sight in solving, adding he is determined to every town in every country across remain an optimist. the world today. The future king gave the address Pope Francis, within the first few under the canopy of an oak tree in paragraphs of his newly published the castle grounds, where royals encyclical ‘Fratelli Tutti’, informs us have lived for more than 900 years. that “millions of people today…are He said: “Over my grandmother’s deprived of freedom and forced to lifetime, the last 90 years or so, our live in conditions akin to slavery”. impact has accelerated so fast that With over 27 million people current- our climate, oceans, nature and all ly believed to be held in slavery that depends on them are in peril. worldwide, it is easy to feel over- “This oak has stood here for cen- whelmed by the sheer scale of the turies but never has it faced a problem. All ‘persons of goodwill’, to decade like this. This is the most whom the Holy Father addresses his consequential period in history. encyclical, will share concern and a The science is irrefutable. sense of responsibility for the situa- victims to partner agencies who can diocese of Salford by being obser- “If we do not act in this decade, tion, but many will be uncertain assist with ongoing support and vant and noticing the behaviour and the damage that we have done will about how they personally can make protection. demeanour of those around us and be irreversible and the effects felt a difference. As Pope Francis says: “We need to reporting it when our gut feeling not just by future generations, but Certainly, lockdown restrictions ensure that our institutions are truly tells us that something isn’t right. by all of us alive today. and social distancing measures due effective in the struggle against all Caritas Anti-Trafficking is a re- The Duke of Cambridge made to the pandemic have made spotting these scourges.” (Fratelli Tutti). sponse to Pope Francis’s call for the speech as part of the launch of and reporting the signs of trafficking In addition to the auditing tool, Catholics and law enforcement offi- Countdown, a global campaign to and modern slavery even more chal- the diocese has begun developing a cers around the world to join togeth- halve greenhouse gas emissions by lenging than usual. modern day slavery statement to re- er in the fight against human traf- 2030. Other speakers at the event Caritas Salford, together with the ered essential. A Modern Slavery flect good practice and offer a mod- ficking and modern-day slavery. included Pope Francis, Al Gore and diocese of Salford, have made great Good Practice Auditing Tool has el, alongside Westminster and other It is vital the people of the diocese Jane Fonda. strides in addressing this issue been created and implemented dioceses, to develop measures to realise that human trafficking hap- The talk comes after William across their communities and net- jointly by Caritas Diocese of Salford, combat modern day slavery in sup- pens here, ‘hidden in plain sight’, launched an ambitious Nobel-style works, starting with their own inter- the Greater Manchester Anti-Slavery ply chains. and we all have a duty to be aware £50 million Earthshot Prize. nal processes. Mark Wiggin, director Network, Police, statutory and non- Our schools also have a key role to and report what we see. The global competition aims to of Caritas Salford, gives us an insight statutory agencies, charities, faith play, especially in recognising which Moreover, we are all complicit in encourage the public, scientists, here to how they have gone about it: groups and businesses. young people are potentially vulner- the poverty and exploitation that fu- businesses and even cities to come “Our plans are ambitious, with an The purpose of the auditing tool, able to being recruited into so-called els human trafficking, as Pope Fran- up with ideas and technologies to overall aim to free our diocese of which Caritas will be piloting short- ‘county lines’ drug operations. An cis explained in his earlier encyclical “repair our planet” within 10 years. modern day slavery by 2025. ly, is to assist organisations working angry, excluded pupil with no sense ‘Laudato Si’: ‘In the absence of ob- William told the Ted Talk viewers “To help us achieve this, we have with homeless and vulnerable peo- of danger and time on their hands jective truths or sound principles he has long been inspired by US adopted a policy of Spot, Respond ple to assess how well they are pro- makes for a perfect county lines other than the satisfaction of our president John F Kennedy’s 1961 and Support across the Diocese and gressing towards identifying and drug mule candidate. own desires and immediate needs, ‘moonshot mission’ to get a man to Caritas’s services, and are ensuring safeguarding victims of human traf- Private individuals can also work what limits can be placed on human the moon within a decade. that staff at all levels and volunteers ficking and modern slavery. Where to positively influence the ambitious trafficking, organised crime, the He said: “The team behind the are trained in how to recognise the appropriate, they signpost and refer target of 2025 set by Caritas and the drug trade …’. moonshot united millions of peo- signs of human trafficking and slav- ple around the world in awe that ery, how to report what they have this crazy ambition wasn’t so crazy observed and support the victims in Our Lady of the Valley provides inspiration after all. overcoming their trauma as appro- “But now, rather than a moon- priate and in line with our Safe- Caritas Anti-Trafficking was and probably isn’t. Taking the raises awareness within parishes, shot for this decade – we need guarding Policy. This is fundamental inspired by an initiative in the lead from this parish model, it schools and groups, also offering ‘earthshots’, and harness that to our commitment to combatting parish of Our Lady of the Valley in links more widely with Greater advice, signposting and pastoral same spirit of human ingenuity human trafficking and until we Salford diocese, which works with Manchester Police, the Medaille support to victims of human and purpose and turn it with laser- reach that point, to improving out- East Lancashire Police in raising Trust and the Santa Marta Group trafficking. sharp focus and urgency on the comes for the victims.” awareness and informing people in Westminster. It networks with For further information please most pressing challenge we have Developing partnerships and what to do when they see charities and groups interested in contact: ModernSlavery@ ever faced – repairing our planet.” working collaboratively is consid- something that doesn’t look right tackling modern day slavery and caritassalford.org.uk The Catholic Universe | Friday 23rd October 2020 39

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Not your average Disney princess...

Disney star Peyton Elizabeth Lee leads new superhero film Secret Society Of Second-Born Royals. She spoke to Georgia Humphreys.

16-year-old Lee, known for playing PROFILE the title role on the Disney Channel The Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing series Andi Mack. restrictions have led to families “And she also sort of struggles watching TV and films together per- with those qualities, because they haps more than ever before. can be difficult qualities if you aren’t And now there’s a brand-new Disney channelling them towards the right film, being released on streaming thing and the right purpose.” service Disney+, which its star, New Lee explains how, at the beginning York-born Peyton Elizabeth Lee, be- of the film, Sam “has this rebellious lieves has something in it for every- thing going on. bit out of place. that element and to be one of all ages to enjoy. “She’s very, ‘I’m going to do what I “And I think for Sam it’s even in- able to actually do a lot Secret Society Of Second-Born Royals want because I want to do it’, and in tensified, because your normal of the stunts ourselves.” has a princess at the heart of it – but a sense, that’s great that you have teenager has her friends looking at Was filming scenes she’s not exactly the Cinderella-type that confidence in yourself. her and has her family looking at like that harder than she character you might expect. “But she doesn’t really know what her, but Sam, she has her friends, expected? Sam is second in line to the throne she’s doing with all that energy and she has her family, and then she has “I would definitely say it of the kingdom of Illyria. that angst inside of her, and it’s not an entire country who’s looking for was challenging, and it’s one Just as the teenager’s disinterest in until she finds the secret society and her for guidance, to set a precedence, of those things you just have to the royal way of life is at an all-time finds a purpose that she really is able to be a good role model, and so I throw yourself into, you can’t work high, she discovers she has super- to say, ‘Oh, I have all these great qual- think that they are all things that up to it. human abilities and is invited to join ities and this is where I can use them they weigh down on her.” “Our stunt co-ordinator was great was really interesting to see, again, a secret society of similar extraordi- and this is where they can shine’. The story explores how, with guid- about making us feel safe and com- just how much you really have in nary second-born royals charged The star adds that most people ance from their Secret Society in- fortable. common with anybody in this with keeping the world safe. will be able to relate to Sam’s experi- structor James, Sam and a new class “There was a level of, ‘What am I world, which is, again, a theme of “Sam is super-independent, she’s ences in the film, as everyone has of royal recruits must first learn to doing? I’m out of my comfort zone the film, so it was a very weird expe- super-outspoken, which are two been a teenager at some point, and a harness their new powers at a top- right now’, which I think, in the end, rience, the same thing happening, things which I would say I am,” says fundamental part of that is feeling a secret training camp before they can is a really cool thing.” both in real life and in the film.” save the world. A brilliant set of young stars are Lee seems so much more grown- Lee and her castmates went acting alongside Lee – Faly Rakoto- up than 16; it’s easy to forget she’s through a “tonne of training” for havana as Matteo, Niles Fitch as that young until, asked what’s been their roles in the action-packed film. Tuma, Olivia Deeble as Princess giving her fun during the difficult One particularly memorable Roxana, Isabella Blake-Thomas as time of the Covid-19 pandemic, she scene, which included a lot of stunts January and Noah Lomax as Mike. replies: “I’m in school, so that takes and choreographed scenes, involved Discussing the dynamic between up a lot of my time. a laser assault course. them, Lee notes how it was interesting “I had been baking a lot before “That was a tonne of fun to film to see how art was mimicking life school started, which is something I because it brings this other aspect to because, as the cast were getting love. our characters and to the film, this closer during shooting, they were “I love chocolate chip cookies, so I level of physicality, which you don’t playing out how the Secret Society made a bunch of different versions see in a lot of films, and which I had of those. You’d be surprised how Isabella Blake-Thomas, Faly were getting to know each other as never done before,” recalls Lee. many different ways you can make Rakotohavana, Niles Fitch, Peyton people rather than just teammates. “All of the stuff I’ve ever shot has them. It was a shock to me.” Elizabeth Lee, Olivia Deeble, and “We’re all from completely differ- been very personal stories, and Skylar Astin in Secret Society of ent places, Noah lives in Georgia, never these sort of big sets and big Secret Society Of Second-Born Royals Second-Born Royals. Olivia lives in Australia. scenes, but it was really fun to add “But when we came together, it is available to watch on Disney+ now. 40

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE UK GOVERNMENT This is UK Government advice for England only Let’s get going Businesses and BREXIT changes – Let’s get going! The UK left the EU in January, and the clock is running down to the end of the transition period on 31st December. Here’s how firms are taking action to ensure they’re best placed to deal with the new trade and customs regulations ...

new customs declarations, so we’ve thought ahead to spring Exciting new opportunities ahead next year and decided to bring as steel firm hits ‘go button’ enough stock into the UK now to store in our bonded warehouse.’ John Reid & Sons Ltd To ensure border systems are fully operational after the transition One firm looking forward to new pean Union and worldwide, hav- period, the UK Government has opportunities the new year will ing drawn on its own expertise put £705million towards infrastruc- bring is John Reid & Sons Ltd while also utilising UK Govern- ture, staffing and IT. In light of (REIDsteel). ment resources such as the coronavirus, new border controls Managing Director Simon Boyd gov.uk/transition website for de- will be staggered until 1st July said: “We are incredibly positive tailed planning to ensure busi- 2021 to give businesses more about the new start, not only for ness continuity in the days, time to prepare. our business but also for the UK weeks and months leading up to Amanda says that acting ahead economy. International trade is in December 31 as well as for for the end of the transition period the DNA of our company from its longer term strategic considera- in December was extremely im- birth over a century ago to the tions. portant for her business, espe- modern day.” REIDsteel has long-standing cially amidst the uncertainty of His £30 million turnover struc- plans in place to capitalise on the Covid-19. tural steel company has exported benefits the new start will bring, to more than 140 countries to including a multi-million-pound She says: “From our wineries, date, directly employing 130 staff new manufacturing facility. we will absorb the costs. Margins we ship everywhere from New The last thing business and at peak times providing work Mr Boyd said: “We immediately in the drinks industry are notori- Zealand to South Africa but UK owners need now is a for 400 subcontractors. hit the go button on our long-held ously tight, but within just a year, trade is still the lion’s share of our few nasty surprises “I believe it is a tremendous op- plans for a new manufacturing fa- we’ve future-proofed our business business so it’s extremely impor- portunity to restore British Stan- cility once the country voted to thomsonandscott.com by producing an alcohol-free prod- tant to us. dards to their rightful position as leave the EU. It will considerably uct, which has a slightly less com- “I would hate for any fellow busi- a hallmark of excellence world- boost the company’s productivity, For a London-based company that plex margin model. ness owners to have nasty sur- wide while giving a shot in the allow us to create more jobs, take imports sparkling wines from Ger- “We’re also working on the as- prises as we approach the arm to British manufacturing,” our apprenticeship programme to many, Italy and France, Thomson sumption that bottles may initially deadline, especially in the current continued the MD. the next level, provide more work & Scott has had to be proactive take longer to reach us due to climate.” “We will be seeking to invest as for firms in our supply chain and about the UK’s new start. a company and take full advan- grow our business. “Wine imports between countries tage of the benefits the new start “But, more than that, we see it has always been complicated,” will bring, allowing us to improve is a vote of confidence in Great says founder and CEO Amanda productivity, create jobs, grow our Britain. We are an ambitious com- Thomson. business, ultimately boosting the pany, both for ourselves and the “It means we’re well-prepared economy and Great Britain’s country. This gives us the poten- for the additional legislation but place in the world.” tial to achieve those ambitions.” we’ve had to consider potential REIDsteel is well versed in the REIDsteel has used home delays at the border and mitigat- intricacies of trading in the Euro- products for most of its history ing any increased costs.’ Within the UK, Thomson & Scott supplies Fenwick, Harvey Nichols, Ocado and now Amazon, four years after creating a niche for low-sugar, organic and vegan-cer- tified sparkling wines that have total transparency on the drinks label. Noughty, their latest alcohol- free initiative, is due to launch in Waitrose at the end of this month. Amanda says: “By checking the extra tariffs and charges early, we’ve had time to consider where The Catholic Universe | Friday 23rd October 2020 41

This is UK Government advice for England only IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE UK GOVERNMENT Check, Change, Go

Thorough preparation is the key to transition CHECK, CHANGE, GO ADVICE Endomag Make sure your business is ready for the (wine, hops, eggs, poultry meat, beef and end of transition period by visiting veal, fruit and veg) meet the requirements for www.gov.uk/transition export to the EU after 1st January 2021. Actions your business might need to take includes: Check duties and customs procedures for •exporting your goods worldwide. From 1st To continue to trade with the EU after 31st January 2021 there will be changes to how •December 2020, you will need to follow new you export goods from the UK. rules including changes to processes and licensing. Check the rules on your EC type approvals •for 1st January 2021 and beyond. Ensure your staff are able to continue to •practise and provide services to clients in the Familiarise yourself with changes, such as UK after 31st December 2020 by ensuring •procurement agreements and the trade reme- their professional qualification(s) are recog- dies process. nised by their professional body in the UK. From 1st January 2021, you’ll need to From 1st January 2021, the UK Global Tar- •show that imports from the EU and European •iff will apply to goods imported into the UK. Economic Area (EEA) have been legally har- Check the tariffs that will apply to goods you vested. To do this, you will need to complete import at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ the due diligence checklist. With UK transition on the horizon tech company uk-tariffs-from-1-january-2021 Check you have the right documents to Endomag CEO Eric Mayes believes thorough •drive in the EU from 1st January 2021. preparation will ensure changes that come in on Prepare for new rules around personal but consolidated that in Decem- 1st January 2021 won’t impact the business. •data. If you receive personal data from the If you travel to the EU for work purposes ber when it made British Steel its Founded in 2007 by academics from Univer- EU for business use, you may need to take •after 31st December 2020, you may need a primary supplier. sity College London and the University of Hous- action on data protection. visa or work permit. Mr Boyd continued: “We do ton, Endomag is one of Britain’s top 50 VISIT: www.gov.uk/transition trade in Europe, but not as much fastest-growing private tech companies. Its tech- Make sure exports of certain commodities as we would like, as the bureau- nology allows surgeons to detect potentially can- • cracy and protectionism that has cerous lymph nodes using magnetic, rather than built up over many years can radioactive tracers. This means procedures that make it extremely difficult. once required expensive nuclear medicine facili- “The gov.uk/transition site does ties can now be done more widely. the hard work by identifying key With global sales of over £9m, Endomag is issues of concern for individual one of the biggest exporters to come out of ‘Sili- businesses. con Fen’ - the cluster of science-based startups “Many businesses could be around Cambridge. forgiven for wanting to switch off With sales in 40 countries already, Eric ex- but it is critical that they engage," pected to spend 2020 working on securing regu- added Mr Boyd. “It is not too late latory approval in China. Coronavirus put that on to get to grips with the issues in- the backburner - but also opened up an unex- volved, and the gov.uk/transition pected opportunity here in the UK. When the site is the best place to start. covid scare saw Manchester General move “With its interactive format it breast cancer care to a new facility in Rochdale, will only present the relevant is- Endomag technology helped patients there re- sues affecting a business, which ceive the same standard of care as they would means a hard-pressed director or have at the nuclear medicine site. time-poor SME boss doesn’t ”Since they no longer had access to nuclear have to plough through reams of medicine we suggested they use Magtrace [an information. injectable lymphatic tracer],” Eric says. “They “It serves as a checklist of is- found, ‘Hey, this works great.’ We realised this sues to consider or address, but was something we could do to help the NHS, so also has links to other govern- we began giving Magnatrace away for free to ment resources for relevant infor- hospitals. The uptake has been great from that.” mation. But, more than that, it That nimble response to covid was a good dry can also serve as inspiration for run for some of the challenges that may be potential business opportunities thrown up by the UK’s new start on 1st January after transition or for ways to im- - which may also be opportunities in disguise. prove business efficiency or pro- “There may be some initial headwinds but ductivity. we’ve been in the european market for a number “I would encourage all firms to of years and have a good sense of what our dis- view this move positively and tributors are likely to need in 2021,” Eric says. Check, Change, Go take advantage of the support on “So even if there’s a disruption in the supply offer from the UK Government.” chain, the customers will have plenty of stock al- ready on the continent.” It’s just one of the steps Eric has taken to To ınd out more about the UK’s new start make sure that the transition is a business op- portunity for Endomag, not an impediment. With T roughly £4.5m of revenue in the EU, everything go to gov.uk/transition he can do to prepare will pay dividends. In fact, Endomag is rapidly expanding and ex- pects to have over 80 staff by the end of next year. One consequence of the Transition, Eric says, is that they’re increasing the number of regulatory and administrative staff to be ready for it. Let’s get going “So I guess a good aspect of this new start is, hey - we’re hiring more people!” 42 uuniverse

Experimenting with mosaic feaures can give Give your garden your garden a new look the royal treatment TV gardener and designer Mark Lane reveals regal ideas to use in your own garden, as he celebrates 21 royal gardens in his new book.

Be adventurous with landscaping some of the pathways rather Don’t be afraid of using different than gravel. materials for the hard landscaping. Schwerin Castle in Germany Prince Charles’ home High- uses rendered concrete walls grove uses multi-coloured tiles, among The Floating Meadow. The apricot-peach rendered walls Alhambra in Spain has walkways and terracotta tiles to create an paved with a mosaic of pebbles Islamic Carpet Garden. from nearby rivers, along with Castle of Mey in Scotland, bricks laid sideways to form edg- home to the late HRH Queen ing, while Het Loo in the Nether- Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, lands uses corten steel to edge its uses crushed shells for covering parterres and pathways.

Work with water Water is a key feature of all of the royal gardens, from bubbling brooks to large-scale fountains. Position a fountain or water feature close to where you sit so you can enjoy the sound of trickling water, and perhaps be cooled on a hot summer’s day as the breeze skims across the surface.

Use sculpture Ornamentation and sculpture in the garden are really important to reflect your tastes and desires, says Lane. Carefully positioned sculpture at the end of a pathway or in a hidden alcove, or a well-sited fountain, can make a space come alive. “Your eye is drawn to the object, leading you through the garden.”

Love tender fruits Tirta Gangga water feature in Bali Grow tender fruit such as lemons, oranges and even Have fun with design apricots in pots so that you From whimsical sculpture to ornate can house them in a buildings and structures, have fun greenhouse or porch over with your garden. Prince of Wales smelling a winter, and then bring them Highgrove rose. Drottningholm Palace in Sweden out during the summer. has a Chinese Pavilion with lilac and Not only will you get fruit, mulberry on trellis. Fredensborg Divide your garden into but these can be used as focal Palace in Denmark has a whole area ‘rooms’ points throughout the garden. taken over by statues depicting Divide your garden into Prague Castle, Hampton Court fishermen and women in period separate areas or ‘rooms’ to make Palace, Herrenhausen, Versailles and clothing. the garden feel bigger and so you Het Loo do this every year. Statues of reclining cows with wa- Mark Lane/PA can have different planting styles in ter spurting from their mouths can each room, making the garden a be found in Tirta Gangga, the royal more immersive experience. water gardens in Bali. Fontainebleau Palace in France has a water feature GARDEN Have fun with topiary of the Goddess Diana with four peeing If you’ve missed out on visits to royal Nearly all of the royal gardens have dogs below. The Wallenstein Garden gardens and parks this year, don’t topiarised shrubs in different shapes below Prague Castle has a large wall worry, because you could be taking a and sizes, from pleached trees to with artificial stalactites imitating a right royal piece of heritage back lines of perfectly-pruned hedges. limestone cave. into your own plot. Use these as accents in the garden, While many of these are outside TV gardener and designer Mark to lead your eye through the space. everyday budgets it goes to show Lane, who celebrates 21 royal gar- Follow Danish castle Frederiks- gardens should be fun as well as be- dens, from Highgrove to the Alham- borg’s trick of pruning shrubs in the ing beautiful. bra, in his new book Royal Gardens same shape but getting smaller the Of The World, shares the takeaway further away they are from the build- The Alhambra in Spain has • Royal Gardens Of The World by tips gleaned from the gardens he ing, which emphasises the length, walkways paved with a mosaic Mark Lane is published by Kyle visited while researching it… making the space feel longer. of pebbles from nearby rivers Books, priced £35. Available now. The Catholic Universe | Friday 23rd October 2020 43

uuniverse Working together, we can NICK’S MUSIC PICKS help save Africa’s wildlife Rangers across the continent have joined an ambitious fundraising event to protect wildlife attracting tourists to the region, says Sarah Marshall. TRAVEL When an African ranger goes on Elephants in South Luangwa Fearne’s healing rhythms night patrol, they never travel light. National Park, Zambia. PA / iStock Martin Kinyua’s backpack is bulging at the seams, and when I attempt to take us to a Happy Place lift the load myself, I can barely raise But for rangers across the conti- farm land. It’s a beautiful trail, wind- it from the ground. nent, the sacrifice is symbolic: for ing through red cedar and rosewood Today, though, the 32-year-old the last few months, they’ve carried trees, covering part of an area the Popular Broadcaster Fearne Cotton curates ranger and his Mount Kenya Trust a far greater weight on their shoul- rangers passionately protect. her first album, Happy Place, featuring team are on a different mission, and ders. According to estimates from Like so many of their colleagues in place of rations and safety kits, The Game Ranger Association, many across Africa, a love of nature lies at songs from inspirational artists and friends. their bags are filled with sand. of Africa’s 50,000 rangers have had the core of their commitment to the On 3rd October teams of rangers their salary reduced by 50-80%. environment. During the pandemic, The Music Scene some of my favourite artists in across Africa ran a 21km race as part Even though the Mount Kenya they’ve had to work harder than ever Nick Benson marrying my passion for music of the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, an Trust has managed to retain its staff, to protect wild areas, as poverty in Amid these turbulent times, well- and interest in mental health. ambitious initiative set up to raise many of the rangers have friends the community drives bushmeat known TV and radio presenter “This album will soothe on a funds for African wildlife’s first line who are now out of work. poaching, deforestation and illegal Fearne Cotton is providing her stressful day and is a great sound- of defence, who’ve been heavily im- “We are doing this for our colleagues charcoal production. audience with yet another outlet track for meditation. It was made pacted by financial cuts caused by who have lost their jobs,” says Martin. It’s a similar story to promote self-care, this time, with 100 per cent love.” the coronavirus pandemic. “This is a way for us to help.” in other parts of jumping into the music world. Cotton has a history interwoven A collaboration between NGOs Setting off from their horse patrol Africa. Decca Records recently an- with music at its heart, with radio Tusk Trust, Natural State and Global base beneath the shadow of Mount “This Covid situa- nounced a partnership with Cotton career spanning across both BBC Wildlife Conservation, funded by Kenya, the team planned a route tion has been a real to release a series of dynamic and Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2, hosting The Scheinberg Relief Fund, it’s running through national forest and challenge,” admits diverse albums under Happy Place. legendary music TV shows such as hoped the event will raise US$10 Benson Kanyembo, Law Enforce- The project will see Cotton curate Top of the Pops, and most recently million through donations, sponsor- ment Advisor for Conservation an album for the very first time as hosting a 90s music podcast for ship and a generous fund-matching “We’ve had to South Luangwa in Zambia and win- executive producer. Happy Place BBC Radio 2. scheme. ner of the 2019 Tusk Wildlife Ranger will feature original songs with a Her Happy Place well-being Since World Ranger Day on 31st reduce the size of Award. blissful narrative, written and brand was born as a destination to July, when the event was announced, “We’ve had to reduce the size of recorded by a collection of inspira- create happiness and joy in the teams have been training, doing our teams to patrol our teams to patrol more areas. tional artists and friends. everyday. Happy Place engages a press-ups, burpees and sit-ups to more areas. Without tourism, we don’t have as Due for release on 30th October, community of 10.5 million on so- get in shape. It was all essential many eyes and ears on the ground. the album features an array of in- cial media, a frank and honest preparation for a race where partici- Without tourism, We have a huge area to cover in credibly talented artists across a number one podcast with over 30 pants were required to carry a 22kg South Luangwa.” number of genres, ranging from million downloads, an emerging bag – matching loads transported by we don’t have as Benson, who was involved in internationally known to discovered festival brand with over 12,000 at- rangers on patrol. training a team for the Wildlife independent talent, each with their tendees in its first year and a range To put it in perspective, that’s the many eyes and ears Ranger Challenge, admits commu- own meaningful stories. Emeli of award-winning Sunday Times equivalent of running with a nine- on the ground.” nities surrounding the national park Sande, Sam Fender, Ludovico Ein- Best Seller books that have sold year-old child on your back! are suffering from increasing audi, Billie Marten, and Steffano over a million copies in 12 poverty, resulting in illegal activities, Moccio have all contributed unique languages across the world. such as fishing, setting snares and songs, all of which focus on As a global community we find cutting timber. mental health and well-being. ourselves in a time of change, an “But we are trying to work hard The first release from the album, ever evolving, contributing factor and do what we can. When you feel Lockdown Kittens Dancing, is co- to our mental health. like you’re in a bad situation, some- written by Cotton herself with GABA, The psychological effects of mu- times your friends are even worse off.” and narrated by Dame Helen Mirren. sic have been proven to be power- Funds raised from the event will “Mental health and music have ful and wide ranging. Music can cover salaries for at least 5,000 always been linked,” said Cotton. create a safe space, within which rangers, enabling them to provide “It might not be immediately to forge connections both with for their families, protect communi- recognisable but music has the ourselves and those around us. An ties and defend endangered wildlife. potency to help us work through integral tool to help cope with But even though competitors have difficult emotions, understand stress, feel less alone, and emo- crossed the finish line, there’s still a ourselves a little better. tional peace. long way to go. “I have always used music to In keeping with the conscious “We feel sorry for our friends, but cathartically work through tough brand values, the album will be this is something that’s brought us patches. produced completely plastic-free together.We are speaking one lan- “I feel incredibly lucky to have with cardboard packaging and eco guage and trying to work together.” worked with such a pool of talent vinyl. Rangers from The Mount Kenya How to help during the making of this album.” • Happy Place by Fearne Cotton is Trust taking part in the Wildlife For more information on how to “As a massive music fan it really released on Decca Records on 30th Ranger Challenge. PA donate to the cause, visit is a dream come true to work with October. wildliferangerchallenge.org. 44 For extra news go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com Interview/Feature Follow the Catholic Universe on twitter @ukcatholicpress

Fr Pierluigi Maccalli, a member of the Predicted return Society of African of deadly locusts Missions, is pictured in a triggers fear file photo baptising a in East Africa child in Bomoanga, A predicted return of desert lo- Niger. The custs in East Africa is triggering priest, a 59- concerns among Catholic lead- year-old native ers and experts in the region, of Crema, Italy, where communities are still re- and three other covering from the destruction hostages were by the first wave early this year. released in Mali The concerns follow a UN after being Food and Agricultural Organisa- kidnapped tion warning that a new wave is more than two imminent. The agency cited in- years ago. (CNS creasing breeding in the Middle photo/Raffaella East and the Horn of Africa and Russitto, the movement of the winds courtesy across the Red Sea into East Society of Africa. African “This is a major cause of con- Missions) cern. The message needs to reach the concerned authorities. We need to prepare the people before the insects return,” Mgr Isaac Ibrahim Racho, vicar gen- eral of the Diocese of Marsabit, told reporters. His diocese is one of the Kenyan regions where the locusts destroyed crops and ani- mal pastures. At stake are the food security and livelihoods of millions in the region, according to clerics Freed missionary priest and agency officials. In May, the World Food Programme said 20 million people in Ethiopia, So- malia, South Sudan, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burun- di, Djibouti and Eritrea were recounts harrowing facing acute food shortage. The situation was blamed partly on the locusts and environmental disasters, including flood and droughts. Experts say the rise of locusts tale of kidnapping in Africa and the Middle East is linked to rapidly warming wa- ters of the Indian Ocean due to a climatic condition called the In- dian Ocean Dipole, or Indian Fides An Italian priest has given his first interview “Every day and especially every luigi told that he didn’t doubt Niño. The phenomenon – ampli- Sunday, I said the words of consecra- or regret the mission entrusted to fied by global warming – has led since he was freed earlier this month after tion: ‘This is my body which is given’ him by God. to heavy rainfall and warmer he was kidnapped by a jihadist group two as bread broken for the world and “My body was a prisoner of the temperatures, favourable condi- Junno Arocho Esteves reports Africa,” he said. “I asked for a Bible, sand dunes, but my spirit went to tions for breeding locusts. years ago. but they would not give it to me.” the villages, which I mentioned in According to the FAO, bands At other times, he found himself my prayer,” he said. “And I also re- and swarms continue to form in With his feet chained during two extremists from Jama’at Nasr al-Is- crying out to God and asking: peated the names of my collabora- Yemen, substantial hatching is years of captivity somewhere near lam wal Muslimin, a branch of al- “Where are you? Why have you tors and many people and young also occurring in northeast the Sahara Desert, Fr Pierluigi Mac- Qaida in Mali, kidnapped him in abandoned me? Until when, Lord?” people that I carry in my heart, es- Ethiopia, and the numbers and calli said he found new hope on September 2018. Now that he is free, Fr Pierluigi pecially the malnourished and sick swarms are increasing in Somalia. Pentecost Sunday as he huddled His fate was unknown for nearly said that finding out how people children that I took care of and so The swarms could increase near a shortwave radio to listen to two years until a 23-second, proof- prayed for him and organised many faces that are a living presence 20-fold until next April, said Mass celebrated by Pope Francis. of-life video was released by the ter- marches and called for his liberation in my wounded heart.” David Owino, the partner proj- In an interview last week with rorist group in April. made him realise that God was with The priest said he bore no ill to- ect manager in the Kenya office Fides, the news agency of the Con- Fr Pierluigi and three other pris- him the entire time. wards his captors who, throughout of Malteser International, the gregation for the Evangelisation of oners were released on 8th October Recalling listening to the Mass on his ordeal, “always respected me in relief agency of the Order of Peoples, Fr Pierluigi, a member of as part of prisoner swap mediated Pentecost Sunday, Fr Pierluigi said general.” Malta. the Society of African Missions, re- by the Mali government. the pope’s words felt like “a breath of “I still feel a lot of sadness about “We are very concerned about membered the joy he felt at hearing The Italian missionary said he was oxygen” that reminded him of “the these young people indoctrinated by this projection in the wake of the first celebration of Mass since wearing only pyjamas and slippers motto of my priestly ordination propaganda videos that they lis- expected below-average rainfall his kidnapping in 2018. as his captors dragged him away from the Gospel of John: ‘As the fa- tened to all day long,” he said. “They projection” for October to De- “To my great surprise, I heard from his parish. ther has sent me, I am sending you. do not know what they are doing! I cember, said Owino, whose or- Pope Francis in Italian; I put my ear “I had nothing, and I was seen as Receive the Holy Spirit.’” bear no grudge against my kidnap- ganisation is helping 1,000 closer and tuned the radio and I nothing by these jihadist Muslim “After two years of spiritual pers and jailers.” households Marsabit County found myself at the beginning of the zealots who considered me impure – drought and absence of the word of Fr Pierluigi said he prayed espe- buy food for families and live- Pentecost Mass in communion with ‘kafir’ – and condemned to hell,” he God, I felt reborn and I welcomed cially for one his captors who drove stock, following the locust surge the pope, the Church and the world. said. this gift as a breath of the Holy Spirit him to the area where he was freed earlier this year. I said to myself: ‘Today I am in St Pe- His captivity in the desert, he con- who wanted to push the radio waves in October. Some countries – including ter’s Basilica in Rome and at the tinued, “was a time of great silence” to the Sahara. I tasted the Gospel “As he drove us to the rendezvous Kenya and Ethiopia – are still same time on mission in Africa,’” he in which he spent time reflecting on and the words of the pope like never point for our liberation, I said” ‘May battling the insect, following the said. his life or silently reciting prayers his before,” he said. “They had a special God give us (the gift of) understand- hatching of eggs laid in the last Fr Pierluigi was serving in a parish mother and grandmother taught flavour and taste in that context.” ing one day that we are all brothers wave. in Bomoanga, Niger, when militant him to pray. Despite moments of trial, Fr Pier- and sisters,’” the priest recalled. The Catholic Universe | Friday 23rd October 2020 45 Classified/Catholic Universe members

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Across Down Every 1. Healthy (4) 2. Change (10) Sudoku has 8. Unconscious (10) 3. Gaelic name for a unique 9. Abandoned (8) Ireland (4) solution 10. Engrave (4) 4. Aid (6) that can be 12. Opening move (6) 5. Part of the foot (6) reached 14. Extinguish (3,3) 6. Manager (8) logically. 15. Diatribe (6) 7. Network (4) Enter 17. Elf (6) 11. Hard-shelled numbers 18. At one time (4) animal (10) into the 19. Shrink (8) 13. Bangle (8) blank 21. Stress (10) 16. Rouse (6) spaces so 22. Loan (4) 17. Light shoe (6) that each 18. Spoken (4) row, 20. Stagger (4) column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9. SOLUTION - Stuck? see page 47 see page 47 The Catholic Universe | Friday 23rd October 2020 47 Classified/Crossword/Liturgical Calendars

LITURGICAL CALENDARS THANKSGIVING PRIESTS & BROTHERS Crossword PRAYER Solution (from p46) Special Offer! An opportunity too good to be PRAYER TO THE Across: 1 Hale; Ordinary Form Liturgical Calendar BLESSED VIRGIN missed. We are not offering a job, career or even 8 Insensible; 9 Derelict; Sunday Year A, weekday cycle II MARY FOR SPECIAL a way of life. 10 Etch; 12 Gambit; ASSISTANCE: We offer an invitation to explore if you have 14 Put out; 15 Tirade; October: Month of the Holy Rosary Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, O most beautiful flower been invited by the Lord, to follow him in a 17 Sprite; 18 Once; Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Apostles Wednesday, 28th October: of Mount Carmel, fruit of special way as a priest or religious as an 19 Contract; 21 Accentuate; 22 Lend. Sunday 25th October: Ez 2:20-26; Ps Eph 2:19-22; Ps 18; Lk 6:12-19 the vine, splendorous of Augustinian Recollect friar. 17; 1Thes 1:5-10; Mt 22:34-40 Heaven, Blessed Mother Down: We offer you the fellowship of our 2 Alteration; Thursday, 29th October: Eph 6:10-20; of the Son of God, 3 Eire; 4 Assist; 5 Instep; communities… the opportunity to share prayer Monday, 26th October: Eph 4:32-5:8; Ps 143; Lk 13:31-35 Immaculate Virgin, assist 6 Director; 7 Mesh; Ps 1; Lk 13:10-17 me in this my necessity. and spiritual growth… the challenge to know 11 Crustacean; Friday, 30th October: Phil 1:1-11; Ps 110; O Star of the Sea help me yourself and your purpose in life… an 13 Bracelet; 16 Excite; and show me herein you Tuesday, 27th October: Eph 5:21-33; Lk 14:1-6 opportunity to serve God as a missionary in 17 Sandal; 18 Oral; are my Mother. O Holy remote parts of the world, or in an inner-city 20 Reel. Ps127; Lk 13:18-21 Mary, Mother of God, Saturday, 31st October: Phil 1:18-26; Ps Queen of Heaven and parish in London or New York. 41; Lk 14:1,7-11 Sudoko earth, I humbly beseech The need is always there and so is the invitation. Solution you from the bottom of Our ‘ Special Offer’ is a lifetime opportunity to (from p46) my heart to succour me follow the call of God to serve him as an Extraordinary Form Calendar according to the in my necessity. There Augustinian Recollect friar. are none that can For more information: Roman Missal of 1962 (Tridentine Rite) withstand your power. Fr Gerald Wilson O.A.R., O show me here you are St Rita’ s Centre, Ottery Moor Lane, Honiton, Sunday, 25th October: Christ the King Thursday, 29th October: Feria my Mother. O Mary, Devon, EX14 1AP. 01404 42601 ex 1 Col 1:12-20; Jn 18:33-37 Readings of Monday repeated conceived without sin pray for us who have [email protected] www.augustinian-recollects.org.uk Monday, 26th October: Feria Friday, 30th October: Feria recourse to Thee (3 Eph 6:10-17; Mt 18:23-35 Readings of Monday repeated times). Holy Mary, I Visit us on Facebook or Linkedin. place this cause in your hands (3 times). Thank Tuesday, 27th October: Readings of Saturday, 31st October: Our Lady’s Like on facebook - search: Monday repeated Saturday: Ecclus 24:14-16; Lk 11:27-28 you for your mercy The Universe towards me and mine. Catholic Universe newspaper Amen. Wednesday, 28th October: SS Simon & Compiled by Gordon Dimon, Senior MC Jude apostles: Eph 4:7-13; Jn 15:17-25 of the Latin Mass Society This prayer must be said For futher Catholic news visit our website for three days and after www.thecatholicuniverse.com that the request will be For futher Catholic news visit our website granted and the prayer www.thecatholicuniverse.com must be published. RELIGIOUS VENERATION STATIONERY ORDERS DERRY YOUTH COMMUNITY URSULINE SISTERS: Miraculous medieval Shrine Personalised Sisters living and serving Of Our Lady of Caversham together in union with (Reading, North of the Thames) Stationery Christ in the midst of the • Funeral Mass sheets world. Are you called? • Wedding Order of There is a miraculous medieval Shrine 38 Grosvenor Rd, Forest Service Gate, London E7 8JA of Our Lady available for veneration • Cards to the public. All are welcome. • Party invites W: www.ursulines.co.uk • Thank-you cards E: [email protected] The Shrine is on 2 South View Avenue, (Off Washington Road) Caversham, Reading, Remember LAY DOMINICANS: RG4 5AB, situated within the Church of part Our Lady and St Anne. pictures of the Order of are the best memories Preachers. From its The Shrine is available for veneration weekdays and weekends, 9am-5pm. Bernie O’Brien - foundation in 1216, the Photo-journalist Order has included men Car parking available. Toilets open during 07962 100 872 and women who, as well Mass times only - Mon: 9.15am; Tue: 9.15am; 7 St David’s Close, Sale, as the friars and sisters, Wed: 12 noon; Thurs: 8am; Fri: 12.30; Cheshire M33 7DL share the vision of St Sat: 5.30pm; Sun: 10am/6.30pm. Email: Bernie@Bernie Dominic and follow his OBrien.co.uk path. W: http://www.lay For further details, please visit www.BernieOBrien.co.uk dominicans.org.uk www.ourladyandstanne.org.uk/ THANKSGIVING PRAYER BOOK BINDING

Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours, this time I ask for this special one. Take it dear Heart of Jesus and place it within your own broken heart where your Father will see it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour, not mine. Amen. In thanksgiving. VOCATIONS

OUR LADY OF FIDELITY The Church needs religious sisters URGENTLY (ministers of religion) to bring Christ to others by a life of prayer and service lived in the community of Ignation spirituality. Daily Mass is the centre of community life. By wearing the religious habit we are witnesses of the consecrated way of life. If you are willing to risk a little love and would like to find out how, contact Sister Bernadette. Mature vocations considered. CONVENT OF OUR LADY OF FIDELITY 1 Our Lady’s Close, Off Hermitage Road, Upper Norwood, London. SE19 3FA. Tel: 0044 (0) 7760 297001 Email: [email protected] 48 For extra news go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com Sport (SWIFT) Like us on facebook - search Catholic Universe Newspaper Solidarity as a way of life

Mgr Vladimir Felzmann

Solidarity – a word that raised its head in 1980 above the parapet in Poland and the political party of that name went on to win the 1989 elec- tions – is a virtue our country and indeed the whole world needs if it is to eradicate Covid-19 and rebuild in NFL history, said: “If you can be- communties and economies. De- lieve it, the mind can achieve it.” To fined as ‘unity or agreement of feel- improve the ability – and confidence ing for action, among individuals – of your local community – why not and communities –with a common start each meeting with some interest’, it generates mutual support prayer? within a group. A shining example of As Carl Lewis – who won nine this is there in many parts of the Olympic gold medals during the NHS – and quite a few Care Homes – 1980s and ‘90s - put it: “If you don’t since March. have confidence, you’ll always find a The challenges are there in our way not to win.” down-trodden by Covid-19 country It’s never too late to start helping and world. You, dear reader, can play God make our world a better place. your part. If you want to. “Winning Remember, as Tom Landry put it: isn’t everything, but wanting to win “Today, you have 100 per cent of is,” said Vince Lombardi who took your life left.” Beating Covid-19 will over a downtrodden Green Bay not be easy. We might have to hun- Packers team in 1959 and turned it ker down helping each other and into professional football’s most wait for it to imitate the so-called dominant organisation of the 1960s. Spanish Flu – that started in Detroit When there is a strong enough but in Europe was reported only in will, there is a way. “I never worry the Spanish Press. It petered out in about the problem. I worry about 1920 after just two terribly lethal the solution,” said Shaquille O’Neal, years. an American former professional Thus, rather than allow yourself basketball player, a sports analyst on and your community become dis- Inside the the television programme couraged, remember the words of NBA on TNT, who is widely consid- Pele: “The more difficult the victory, ered one of the greatest players in the greater the happiness in win- National Basketball Association his- ning.” tory. As “Yogi” Berra – widely regarded ubuntu Solidarity is – good for you as one of the greatest catchers in and good for your neighborhood: baseball history put it: “It ain’t over, the whole wide world. “You have to ‘til it’s over.” Until then, we are all in do something in your life that is this together. honorable and not cowardly if you In a fortnight we will shine the are to live in peace with yourself,” spotlight on the virtue of flexibility. said Lawrence Harvey Brown, a for- (left) A mural depicting a nurse mer American basketball coach and embracing the shape of Italy is player and the only coach in basket- posted on Pope John XXIII Hospital ball history to win both an NCAA na- was created in July in solidarity tional championship and an NBA ti- with the health workers in tle. versity: “Leadership, like coaching, is borhood Action Plan’ to help those and care home teams – human na- Bergamo. (CNS photo/Sergio Why not start a conversation with fighting for the hearts and souls of who are in danger of mental health ture is inspirational. A growing num- Agazzi via Reuters) your mates to see what together you men and getting them to believe in issues. “Your biggest opponent isn’t ber of communities have formed can do – actually do – to help the you. However, you can believe in the other guy. It’s human nature,” weekly WhatsApp or Zoom ‘bubbles’ (below) This photo in May was part neediest on your manor? Street – or yourself and, once you form a co- said Bobby Knight, a former Ameri- for mutual support. How about do- of a promotional campaign for the parish- WhatsApp communities of- hort of friends, you can improve the can basketball coach nicknamed ing that for your street, block of flats Catholic Extension’s programme fering support and un-wanted ma- lives of your neighbours.” ‘The General’, who won 902 NCAA or parish? Songs in Solidarity, which was terials to others, perhaps. “One man “I’ve learned that something con- Division I men’s college basketball Ronnie Lott, elected to the Pro billed as special performances by practising sportsmanship is far bet- structive comes from every defeat,” games, a record. I would add ‘hu- Football Hall of Fame in 2000, and Catholic artists from US mission ter than 50 preaching it.” said Knute said Tom Landry, the first head man nature at its worst’. At its best – widely considered to be one of the dioceses. (CNS photo/courtesy Rockne, whose biography at the Col- coach of the Dallas Cowboys in the as experienced in so many hospital best of all time at the safety position Catholic Extension) lege Football Hall of Fame identifies NFL, a position he held for 29 sea- him as “without question, American sons. football’s most-renowned coach.” Covid-19 defeated us in the UK for Getting a few heads together can months. Ask yourself – and ask your work wonders in finding solutions. If friends – what lessons that initial you think that you are too small to lockdown – that for many felt like an make a difference, ask a mosquito. imprisonment – and all these subse- “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If quent restrictions of freedom have you run into a wall, don’t turn taught you. around and give up. Figure out how Rather than grumble about the to climb it, go through it, or work Government – and there is much to around it.” Wise words from Michael grumble about – try to be positive. Jordan who played 15 seasons in the “Make sure your worst enemy NBA, winning six championships doesn’t live between your own two with the Chicago Bulls. ears,” warned Laird Hamilton, an If only our politicians took on American big-wave surfer and co-in- board words uttered by Eddie ventor of tow-in surfing, Robinson, who for 56 years, was the Rather than just a ‘Neighborhood head coach at Grambling State Uni- Watch’, why not generate a ‘Neigh-

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