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Social Issues

Our Catholic faith motivates us to take a deep interest in the world around us. We help to make the Catholic viewpoint known on a range of issues from migration, the environment, to homelessness. We have a particular regard to Catholic education, especially Catholic schools. We are committed to supporting family life through advocating for a fairer tax and benefit system for families and creating a society where children can flourish.

Catholic Union encourages Government to partner with faith groups

The Catholic Union has called on the Government to unlock the potential of faith groups in helping to tackle local problems.

 

In a letter to the Faiths Minister, Lord Greenhalgh, the Catholic Union has called for better guidance from the Government to encourage local authorities to work with faith groups at the ground level. The Catholic Union believes that “some small changes to existing guidance” could make a big difference in supporting the work of faith groups.

 

The Catholic Union has called for civil society to be at the heart of plans for recovery from the pandemic, and expressed concern that there was no mention of faith or family in the Queen’s Speech on 11 May, which set out the Government’s plans for the year ahead.

 

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Catholic Union welcomes lifting of “arbitrary” cap on Mass attendance in Scotland

The Catholic Union has welcomed the decision by the Scottish Government to remove the cap on the number of people allowed to attend religious services in Scotland.

 

Churches in Scotland were able to reopen for public worship on 26 March, having been closed since the beginning of the year, but a maximum of 50 people could attend religious services.

 

The Catholic Union, along with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, argued that this cap was arbitrary and was preventing some people being able to return to Mass.

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Catholic Union calls for clarity on Scottish church openings

The Catholic Union has called for churches across Scotland to be open in time for Easter.

 

In a letter to Nicola Sturgeon, Catholic Union President Sir Edward Leigh, called for a commitment that churches in Scotland will be allowed to open for Easter at the latest and urged Scotland’s First Minister to set out guidance on this as soon as possible.

 

Nicola Sturgeon set out Scotland’s route map out of a lockdown on Tuesday 23 February. In her statement to MSPs, she said her hope was to see places of worship in Scotland reopen on Monday 5 April “or possibly a few days earlier.” Easter Sunday this year falls on 4 April.

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Catholic Union warns lockdowns risk fundamental rights

The Catholic Union has warned about disproportionate interference with people’s freedom of religion or belief during lockdowns imposed during the coronavirus pandemic.

 

In evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR), the Catholic Union states that the Government was slow to reopen churches after the first national lockdown. It also highlights the lack of evidence for closing churches again in England last November.

 

The JCHR – which is made up of MPs and peers – is carrying out an inquiry into the impact of lockdown measures on human rights. As part of the inquiry, the JCHR called for evidence on the impact of lockdowns on freedom of religion and belief, and in particular on collective worship.

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Catholic Union calls for evidence on Scottish church closures UPDATED

The Catholic Union has called on the Scottish Government to publish evidence for its decision to close places of worship again.

 

In a letter to Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, the Catholic Union said it was extremely concerned about the decision to close churches for private prayer and worship as part of new lockdown measures in Scotland.

 

In November last year, the Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty, said there was no evidence of places of worship contributing to the spread of the virus.

Read More »Catholic Union calls for evidence on Scottish church closures UPDATED

“Family tax” adding to food poverty warns Catholic Union

The Catholic Union has warned that the two-child cap on the childcare element of Universal Credit and Tax Credits is contributing to food poverty.

 

In a letter to food charity, Fair Share, the Catholic Union has called for a focus on addressing the underlying causes of poverty and inconsistencies in support offered to people out of work or on low wages.

 

Fair Share is one of the groups behind the new Child Food Poverty Taskforce.

Read More »“Family tax” adding to food poverty warns Catholic Union

MPs and peers call for Christmas church guarantee

A cross party group of over 70 MPs and peers has called on the Prime Minister to guarantee that church services will go ahead this Christmas.

 

In a letter to Boris Johnson, they call for churches in England to be open for worship as soon as possible, and at least in time for Christmas.

 

The current lockdown restrictions in England, which are due to expire on 2 December, ban religious services from taking place.

Read More »MPs and peers call for Christmas church guarantee