Thank you for subscribing to The Catholic Universe and Catholic Times Friday 6th November, 2020 Friday 6th November 2020 • £1.90 • €2.10 Subscribers only pay £1.69 www.thecatholicuniverse.com Church demands answers after public worship axed Cardinal Nichols leads criticism: ‘There is no evidence that banning services will play productive part in combatting virus’ Michael Winterbottom Places of worship will be closed, The Catholic Church in England and unless used for funerals, to broadcast Wales has launched its fiercest criti- acts of worship, individual prayer, for- cism yet on the Government’s decision mal childcare, or essential services to close churches for public services such as blood donation or food banks. from this weekend, saying the ban While the Church remained broadly ignored the enormous role faith had supportive of the closure of churches played in the nation’s wellbeing in the first lockdown, news of the sec- throughout the pandemic and de- ond provoked a wholly different re- manding to see the evidence on which sponse. As Cardinal Nichols and Arch- it was based. bisop MacMahon pointed out, “we The president and vice-president have not yet seen any evidence what- of the Bishops’ Conference – Cardinal soever that would make the banning Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Mal- of communal worship, with all its hu- colm McMahon – said churches had man costs, a productive part of com- acted responsibly in enacting Covid- batting the virus.” safe practices and deserved to know They asked the Government “to why their doors would have to remain produce this evidence that justifies closed. the cessation of acts of public wor- They said: ‘It is … a source of deep ship.” anguish now that the Government is They acknowledged that tough de- requiring, once again, the cessation cisions would have to be made in the of public communal worship,’ the country was to defeat the virus, but bishop said in a statement. in asking Catholics to give up church The Government has also said that, services they had to be told why. in addition to public acts of worship, “To counter the virus we will, as a weddings will not be allowed, and fu- society, need to make sustained sac- nerals can be attended by a maximum rifices for months to come. of 30 people. “In requiring this sacrifice, the Gov- Churches join pubs, bars, restau- ernment has a profound responsibility rants and non-essential retail busi- to show why it has taken particular nesses in being forced to close from decisions. 5th November until 2nd December. ‘Not doing so risks eroding the unity People have been told to stay at home we need as we enter a most difficult unless they have a specific reason to period for our country.’ leave – but schools, colleges and nurs- eries will remain open. Continued on page 2 ‘Please help places of worship sustain hope A man prays at the locked gates of his church during in the hearts of a great many people...’ the first lockdown Bishop Marcus Stock’s plea to Prime Minister Boris Johnson - see pg 2 Photo: Pasquale Senatore This week’s Companion £1.90 €2.10 Travis prove that togetherness is key in latest release: 10 Songs The classic French wines Banish pet hair from to sip and savour this autumn the home for good 02 For extra news go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com News Follow the Catholic Universe on twitter @ukcatholicpress ‘Loss of services is a huge blow Bishop’s ‘letter of hope’ calls to all Catholics’ Continued from page 1 The bishops said the new lockdown for U-turn on church closures would bring ‘hardship, distress and suffering to many’. Michael Winterbottom ‘Faith communities have played a Bishop Marcus Stock of Leeds has vital role in sustaining personal, spir- contacted the Prime Minister, adding itual and mental health and encour- his personal request to the statement aging vital charitable activities, which made on behalf of the Catholic bishops support hundreds of thousands of by the President and Vice-President people in all sections of the commu- of the CBCEW, Cardinal Nichols and nity, especially the most vulnerable,’ Archbishop McMahon, that churches Cardinal Nichols and Bishop McMa- be allowed to stay open for worship hon said. ‘That critical service towards and religious services throughout Eng- the common good of all is created land’s second national lockdown. and sustained by communal worship Bishop Stock wrote a ‘Letter of Hope’ and prayer. to Mr Johnson saying there is no evi- ‘Part of this selfless giving has been dence that churches have contributed a strong ethic of responsibility in the to the rise in Covid-19 cases and added way in which we have reopened our that places of worship help sustain churches so that essential worship hope for many people. A socially distanced has been enabled.’ ‘Since the beginning of July, our congregation pictured Sir Edward Leigh MP, President of churches have introduced measures in Westminster the Catholic Union described the clo- which have enabled the faithful to Cathedral during sures as “an extremely regrettable step. gather safely for acts of worship,’ Bish- summer. Catholic parishes and individual vol- op Stock wrote. Photo: Mazur unteers,” he said, “have gone to great ‘Indeed, many people who have Inset, Bishop Stock lengths and given up many hours to been able to return to their regular make churches safe. place of worship have commented “While it’s some comfort there is that the rigorous safety measures Thousands back petition calling for Mass return no return to the blanket church clo- which we have introduced have made sures we saw earlier in the year, these our churches some of the safest places A change.org petition urging Mass and weddings. Churches noting that ‘Catholic Bishops new measures are still a huge blow to for people to be.’ Prime Minister Boris Johnson to will only remain open for have said lockdown would bring Catholics across the country. People The bishop added that there is ‘no allow churches to remain open funerals, to broadcast acts of ‘hardship, distress and suffering had just got used to going to Mass evidence that our churches have in for public worship has gained worship, individual prayer, to many’.’ with face masks and social distancing. any way contributed to the recent rise support from thousands. formal childcare or where part It also points out that Churches We are now almost back to square in the rate of Covid-19 infections.’ The petition comes in of a school, essential voluntary have asked the government to one.” Boris Johnson said England would response to Mr Johnson’s and public services and support reveal evidence behind the Chair of the Church of England’s enter a second national ‘lockdown’ announcement that new groups. decision to ban public worship. Recovery Group, Dame Sarah Mullally, but did not mention places of worship tougher national restrictions in The change.org petition, titled To sign the petition see: said she will “study the detailed regu- in his announcement. However, later place across England from ‘Keep the churches open for https://www.change.org/p/uk- lations and ‘seek clarification on how his spokesman confirmed that public Thursday 5th November to Mass and public worship in this prime-minister-keep-the-church this may affect public worship”. acts of worship will be banned, but Wednesday 2nd December will winter’s lockdown measures’, es-open-for-mass-and-public- The Fellowship of Independent churches can stay open for private include the forced suspension of highlights the response of the worship-in-this-winter-s- Evangelical Churches national director prayer. public acts of worship, including Catholic Church to restrictions, lockdown-measures John Stevens said the new restrictions The handling of the announcement signal a ‘significant emotional blow’ has been criticised by faith leaders, Chairman, Clive W. Leach CBE, KSG have not only offered ‘much-needed ondary schools. for Christian couples who had planned who said they were not consulted on and Group Managing Director Joseph spiritual and moral support through- ‘To target all places of worship in their weddings for November. the changes, but in his letter, Bishop Kelly said that the proposal was “an out the pandemic’, but they have also such an unjustified and seemingly ar- He said: “In the context of Covid Stock goes further and calls for the affront” to all those in the Catholic ‘provided vital social support services bitrary way is a significant emotional where people are dying and really Government to amend its guidance community who had worked so hard to their communities.’ blow to the country. It will do little struggling with mental health, can- to “enable places of worship to remain to ensure that churches have been ‘As others, including our own car- for unity and co-operation at such a celling a wedding might seem small open for acts of public worship and ‘Covid-safe’. dinal and senior clergy have demand- critical time for the country.’ by comparison. religious services.” ‘It’s completely unacceptable that ed, we need to see some real evidence Bishop Stock’s letter can be read in “But the organisation that has gone “This truly will help to sustain the schools, supermarkets, newsagents, for this decision. full on the Leeds Diocesan Website into planning weddings and the fi- hope of many people,” he said. garden centres and public transport ‘Our churches have been exemplars www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk nancial cost… and it’s actually a really The Chairman and Group Managing remain unaffected, but churches – of how to handle coronavirus restric- The Universe statement can also be serious issue particularly for couples Director of the Catholic Universe have where access has been incredibly well tions safely and responsibly, so it’s read in full at who are Biblical believing Christians.” also condemned the Government’s monitored and is very low risk – will hugely wounding and unfair to make www.thecatholicuniverse.com He added: “For people in church plans to prevent Catholics from at- have to stop services,” said the state- them the subject of closure.