Catholic bishops ‘deeply alarmed’ at abortion decriminalising amendment
Catholic bishops say they are deeply alarmed that MPs have voted, by a large majority (379:137), to decriminalise women having an abortion in England and Wales. The amendment would prevent women from being prosecuted if they terminated their pregnancy after the legal limit of 24 weeks, but – but those who assist the termination such as medical professionals, would still be subject to criminal charge. Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, who moved the amendment, said it was a matter of compassion and justice and no woman facing one of the hardest moments in her life should have to face criminal investigation as well. Stella Creasy MP had tabled a more far-reaching amendment, decriminalising all participants including providers, and enshrining abortion as a human right, but once the other amendment passed, hers fell.
Archbishop John Sherrington, lead bishop for life issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said bishops were “deeply alarmed by this decision” and sought compassion and protection for both mothers and unborn babies. The amendment would make more women alone and vulnerable he said, and he vowed to carry on campaigning for dignity,, saying the church would not “abandon pregnant women and their unborn children in their most vulnerable moment”.
Catherine Robinson of Right to Life said the change was pushed by people covering up for the disaster of the “pills by post scheme”, where women can get abortion pills online or over the phone, without a face to face appointment or examination. She said: “We urgently need to reinstate in-person appointments. This simple safeguard would prevent women’s lives from being put at risk from self-administered late-term abortions”.
Protesters outside parliament as the debate took place, included religious, evangelical, and Catholic groups including Christian Concern, Alliance Defending Freedom UK, 40 Days for Life, Rachel’s Vineyard, and SPUC.
Sandford St Martin awards for religious broadcasting presented at Lambeth Palace
The Sandford St Martin awards, honouring broadcast content which engages with religion and belief, were presented to a packed audience last night at Lambeth Palace. The Special Award went to Horrible Histories, in recognition of its impact on how young audiences understand history, including what people believed, who they were and why they did what they did. Made by Lion TV, its chief creative officer Richard Bardley told the audience that faith and religion are at the heart of British and world history and the series reflected people who did marvellous things because of their faith. Other awards were:
- TV/Video: “Young, British and Anti-Abortion”, Firecrest Films for BBC One
- Young Audience: “Sunday Worship: True Identity”, by BBC Audio North for Radio 4. Features rapper, Still Shadey.
- Radio/Audio: “Staggering in the Dark”, by Falling Tree Productions for Radio 3. Audo montage of shared grief among friends.
- Journalism: “Praying for Armageddon”, by Up North Films for BBC Four. Exploring the power and influence of American evangelical Christians as they prepare for Armageddon, the final battle.
- Radio Times readers award: “Ramadan: A Journey Across Britain”, by ITV news production for ITV. Shehab Khan follows Islam’s holy month of Ramadan as practised by Muslims in Britain 2024.
- Trustees Award: Peter Kominsky, director of hard-hitting documentaries and dramas, passionate supporter of creative industries and public service broadcasting.
Full list is here
Covid showed ‘accelerated trend towards secularisation’
A global project to examine the changing role of religion in public life during the Covid pandemic has reviewed what happened in five societies – Canada, Germany, Poland, Ireland and Northern Ireland. Academics looked at the place of religion in the health services, with, for example, disagreements over the ethics of using certain vaccines; the changing relations with governments over closure of places of worship and helping vulnerable people; and digital innovation where online worship and prayer transformed religious practices. The researchers found there was an accelerated trend towards secularisation, with falling numbers of people in church and a decline in religious practice. Not all those who left have come back to church, with many “nominal” church members now lost to congregations. There were also shifts in the power churches have over their governments, with smaller churches and religious groups coming together in common cause. You can view the film again, or listen back as a podcast on our link here
Liverpool’s Catholic cathedral upgraded as Grade One listed building
Liverpool’s 1960s Catholic Cathedral, known as the “wigwam” because of its design, has been awarded Grade One Listed status. The Guardian reports that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced the new status following advice from Historic England. It joins the vast majority of England’s cathedrals which are also Grade I-listed. The cathedral was designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd, the man behind the new town of Harlow and Heathrow Terminal One, and has not won universal support, once described as an aberration from the Apollo space programme. But Steve Rotheram, Liverpool’s metro mayor, disagreed. He said it was “a welcome and well-deserved honour” for one of Liverpool’s most iconic landmarks: “The bold, modern design broke new ground and has become a beacon of faith, hope and innovation, not just for our region but across the world.”
Muslim Women’s Network calls for accountability over grooming gang failures
The Muslim Women’s Network UK has issued a statement welcoming the Baroness Casey report into grooming gangs and supporting her calls for stronger accountability of institutions that have failed victims. The Network says it also supports the strengthening of laws and robust collection of ethnicity data relating to both perpetrators and victims, essential for effective response. CEO Baroness Shaista Gohir said: “A national inquiry must examine why early intervention systems failed to protect children including to what extent chronic underfunding of child protection services, along with the attitudes or inaction of frontline professionals, enabled abuse to continue unchecked. While it will also be important to recognise patterns that may exist within specific groups, including drivers that lead to their over-representation, we must not lose sight of the fact that perpetrators and victims come from all backgrounds, and a comprehensive response must reflect that reality.” The Network says it conducted its own report into sexual exploitation of South Asian girls, which found they were targeted alongside white girls, for their perceived vulnerability.
MPs reject plans for disciplinary hearings to be private
MPs say proposals for Church of England church courts to automatically hold disciplinary hearings in secret should be reconsidered. The plan is outlined in the new clergy conduct measure, intended to replace the existing clergy disciplinary measure, and bring in tighter rules to tackle allegations of serious or sexual misconduct against clergy. The ecclesiastical committee of MPs heard the proposal is out of step with other public bodies which do not meet in private. Eventually, the proposal was voted down.
Pope going on a summer holiday
Pope Leo XIV is taking a summer holiday from July 6 – 20 at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, on a hilltop south of Rome with panoramic views of Lake Albano, reviving a centuries-old tradition that had been suspended by Pope Francis. The Vatican says he will celebrate Sunday morning Mass on 13 July in the parish Church of St. Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo’s main square, followed by the recitation of the Angelus prayer at noon in the square in front of the apostolic palace. All private audiences with the Pope will be suspended during July, including the Wednesday general audiences, which will resume on 30 July.
