Thank you for subscribing to The Catholic Universe and Catholic Times Friday 4th December, 2020 Friday 4th December 2020 • £1.90 • €2.10 Subscribers only pay £1.69 www.thecatholicuniverse.com Hark, the herald angels can sing! Christmas bubbles of joy as families can join together for Mass – and go carol singing Nick Benson strictions on who they can meet while 27th December, composed of people The Government has confirmed that there dependent on the tier their area from no more than three households. its new Covid-19 guidelines for Eng- is in. An individual can only be in one land will allow family members to at- However, ‘between 23rd and Christmas bubble and cannot change tend Mass together for a short period 27th December, you may also attend it once they are in one. They can only over Christmas. a place of worship with members of meet their Christmas bubble in private The Guidance for the Christmas Pe- your Christmas bubble. This applies homes or in their garden, places of riod, published on Sunday 29th No- in all tiers,’ the guidance states. worship or public outdoor spaces. vember, also gives the green light to “Thanks to the work of the Faith On singing, the Government has outdoor carol services, as well as door- Task Force and the advisers to various said that carol singing or carol services to-door carolling. faiths in drawing up guidance for re- can take place if all attendees follow The Catholic Bishops’ Conference opening, we have demonstrated that advice on the suggested principles of of England and Wales welcomed the places of worship can be among the safer singing, published on 20th No- guidelines and reminded people that most Covid secure in the country,” vember, and guidance for the Per- while Christmas may be different this said the spokesperson for the Catholic forming Arts developed by an expert year, it provides the world with “a Bishops’ Conference. group co-ordinated by Public Health beacon of hope”. “We believe, on scientific advice, England. “The Christmas Guidelines are wel- that worship services with appropriate However, the guidance reminds Pope Francis greets his come in that they enable people to precautions are safe and should be churchgoers that ‘Covid-19 spreads predecessor in Benedict’s mark – albeit in a way still different allowed to continue safely in any tier. from person to person through small private chapel from other years – this great Festival We are pleased that government has droplets, aerosols and through direct of Christ’s Birth bringing joy and hope recognised this following joint advo- contact. Therefore, singing, shouting to the world,” a spokesperson for the cacy by faith leaders, led by Cardinal and physical activity increases the Catholic Bishops’ Conference told The Nichols and Archbishop Welby. risk of transmission through small Popes meet to share in new Catholic Universe. “The opportunity for all Catholics droplets and aerosols. “Pope Francis has spoken movingly is to work together, to play our part ‘If singing does take place, steps cardinals’ celebrations of the call during this pandemic to in suppressing the virus. Taking the should be taken to reduce the risk of recommit ourselves to being doers of key steps to prevent infection like transmission, including limiting the Popes past and present were on hand to make sure that the consistory the Word. This great celebration of physical distancing, hand washing number of people participating as far for 13 new cardinals was a joyful occasion, after a personal appearance Christ’s Incarnation gives us both a and wearing face coverings. The as possible. The cumulative effect of at Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s private residence in the Vatican was beacon of hope that this pandemic greater care we put into this, the soon- aerosol transmission means the more the new red hats’ first official engagements. shall pass, and a call to continue our er we can look forward to the great people involved, the higher the risk The creation of 11 new cardinals – two were prevented from attending efforts to share in Christ’s mission by celebrations of the Church’s year being of transmission.’ the consistory by Covid-19 restrictions – was described as a moving, bringing light, hope and healing.” able to be observed with closer re- The guidelines state that this applies heartfelt event, with just 100 people in attendance for the ceremony in The guidance states that people semblance to former years.” to both professional and amateur the cavernous space of St Peter’s Basilica. can attend places of worship in all People will be allowed to form choirs. • Full story on cardinals’ consistory: see pg 12-13 tiers from 2nd December, with re- Christmas bubbles between 23rd and Continued on page 2 This week’s Companion £1.90 €2.10 High performance: How a simple act The top track cars of kindness lead to for any budget Cormac’s first album Jamie Oliver’s flavour-packed The joys of guide to the online shopping festive season 02 For extra news go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com News Follow the Catholic Universe on twitter @ukcatholicpress Nichols critical over aid U-turn Cardinal Vincent Nichols has told MPs our responsibilities to the world’s most that combatting the Covid-19 pan- vulnerable people, especially as com- demic is ‘an international endeavour’ batting the spread of Covid-19 will as he expressed his concerns about necessarily mean richer countries the Government’s decision to cut UK supporting poorer ones in purchasing spending on overseas aid. vaccines. In a letter sent to all MPs, the car- ‘Combatting Covid-19 is an inter- dinal urges all parties to not step back national endeavour and we cannot from the UK’s responsibilities to the neglect those countries that benefit world’s most vulnerable people. from our aid. I hope that compas- The Government’s announcement sionate and wise counsel will prevail.’ Catholics attend Mass in marks a U-turn on a Conservative The cardinal also highlights the im- Westminster Cathedral. manifesto pledge to protect UK aid pact the cut will have on forced mass Photo: Mazur/cbcew.org.uk spending, reneging on its legal obli- migration and human trafficking. gation to spend 0.7 per cent of UK ‘Trafficking must be tackled at its gross national income (GNI) on poorer source. Carefully targeted and well countries. The decision came as the World ‘If we truly wish to Hark, the herald angels can sing Bank predicted that extreme poverty be a great nation, will rise in 2020 for the first time since then cutting the Continued from page 1 participants. If there are more than 1998, with the Covid-19 pandemic ex- overseas aid Those performing or rehearsing in Can school hold six people in total, each ‘group’ must pected to push a further 115 million budget is a a professional capacity or as part of a not interact, ‘mingle’ or otherwise so- people into that category, undoing retrograde step.’ supervised activity for under 18s are a nativity? cialise. Carollers should adhere to decades of progress to reduce poverty managed overseas aid programmes not limited in number and do not public health advice, including social and hunger. are an essential part of this effort,’ he Yes, within existing school have to adhere to gathering limits but distancing from anyone they do not In his letter to MPs, Cardinal Nichols writes. bubbles – but audiences can should still follow the performing arts live with. says that in today’s figures, a reduction Cardinal Nichols also cites the words attend only in Tiers 1 and 2 guidance. Supervised activity for children is of UK aid from 0.7 per cent of GNI to of Pope Francis, who in his recent en- (with safeguards in place). For adult amateur performances exempt from limits on gatherings in 0.5 per cent amounts to a cut of around cyclical Fratelli Tutti, wrote: ‘Poverty, No audiences in Tier 3. In all and rehearsals, the Government ad- every tier, meaning that children’s £4 billion in spending. decadence and suffering in one part cases, livestream if possible. vises that organisations, including choirs and other out-of-school settings ‘A clear measure of a nation’s great- of the earth are a silent breeding churches, ‘should consider the case can continue. ness is the manner in which it re- ground for problems that will end up for proceeding (or not), given the congregations should not participate Volunteers supporting people over sponds to the needs of its poorest,’ affecting the entire planet. wider health context in your area’. in singing, shouting and chanting. the Christmas period can continue he writes. ‘The same is true for the ‘If we are troubled by the extinction Those that do proceed, should fol- Professional and amateur choirs in all tiers. Where possible, this should response to poverty between nations. of certain species, we should be all low performing arts guidance and will may perform outdoors and congre- be done from home but if this is not If we truly wish to be a great nation, the more troubled that in some parts be subject to local gathering limits. gations may join in with singing but possible, they can volunteer outside then cutting the overseas aid budget of our world individuals or peoples This means that if more than one should follow social distancing of 2m. their home. is a retrograde step. are prevented from developing their group of six (in tier 1) or household Outdoor attendees should also re- Volunteers should follow advice on ‘Promises were made by all parties potential and beauty by poverty or (in tier 2 or 3) is performing or re- main seated where possible and the how to help safely, published on on aid spending at the last election.