Following the announcement from the Prime Minister on 31 October that church services will not be able to take place in England from 5 November – 2 December, the Catholic Union has issued the following statement.
Read More »Catholic Union responds to new national restrictions in England
The Catholic Union arranged a meeting with Charities Minister, Baroness Barran, to call for extra support for charities during the coronavirus pandemic.
Catholic Union Director, Nigel Parker, and Head of Public Affairs, James Somerville-Meikle, were joined by representatives of the Caritas Social Action Network and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales for a virtual meeting on 29 October.
The meeting followed a joint call from the three Catholic organisations earlier in the year for the Government to introduce an enhanced Gift Aid scheme to support charities during coronavirus.
Read More »Catholics press Charities Minister for extra support
The Catholic Union has called on the Government to avoid “diluting the concept of human rights” as part of a consultation on the UK’s international policy.
In a submission to the Government’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, the Catholic Union calls for a focus on upholding fundamental human rights at home and abroad.
Read More »Keep ideology out of human rights, warns Catholic Union
The Catholic Union, Caritas Social Action Network, and Catholic Bishops in England and Wales have joined forces to call for a higher rate of Gift Aid to be introduced in response to coronavirus.
In their letter to the Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, the Catholic groups highlight the “perfect storm” faced by many charities at this time – with falling revenue and greater demand for services.
The letter calls on the Government to introduce an enhanced Gift Aid scheme as soon as possible, so that charities can begin to benefit immediately from any change.
Read More »Catholics unite to call for enhanced Gift Aid scheme UPDATED
Ahead of the summer recess, the Catholic Union has sent out a parliamentary update to our supporters in both Houses of Parliament.
This will be the first in a series of quarterly updates to MPs and Peers.
The email update provides parliamentarians with a summary of our news and campaigns over the past few months.
Read More »Catholic Union updates MPs and Peers on recent work
The Catholic Union will be hosting an online talk with Jen Copestake and Fr Hugh MacKenzie on the future human and ethical challenges of Artificial Intelligence.
Read More »Can Robots Love? Catholic Union Webinar: 4 August, 7pm
The Catholic Union and church groups in London have warned of a rough sleeping crisis, unless the Government acts soon.
Around 15,000 people across the country have been housed by local authorities since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. This has been made possible by extra funding from the Government to provide accommodation for rough sleepers in empty hotels and hostels as part of the “everyone in” scheme. This includes 1,400 people in London.
Read More »Catholics call for answers on rough sleeping plan
The Catholic Union has called on the Government to scrap the two-child limit for childcare support for those on low incomes and the unemployed.
The policy, introduced in 2017, limits the childcare element of Universal Credit and Tax Credits to two children per household. The policy was widely criticised by faith groups at the time, on the grounds that it discriminates against larger families.
The Catholic Union has written to the Chancellor to call for the policy to be scrapped in light of the coronavirus outbreak and the huge financial pressures faced by families across the country.
The Catholic Union will be hosting an online talk by Patrick van der Vorst
(Founder of the website Christian Art) on the history of Catholic sacred art, its place in reflective prayer, and how it can now relate to the new evangelisation.
Read More »Art and the New Evangelisation: Webinar on 17 June at 7pm
The Catholic Union has called on the Government to give greater support to people who live and work in care homes.
The number of deaths from coronavirus among care home residents has reduced, but it is still a high proportion of the total number of deaths.
In a letter to Care Minister, Helen Whately MP, the Catholic Union urged the Government to uphold the dignity of older people during the coronavirus and recognise the profound importance of care work to society.
Read More »Care homes must not become “shadows in our communities”
