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| Cardinal calls for Catholics to pray to uphold the dignity of human life
Cardinal Vincent Nichols has called for Catholics in England and Wales to join him, and the Bishops of our countries, to pause for an hour at 5:30pm on Wednesday, 13 November to pray for the dignity of human life.
On that day, the Bishops will pause for an hour in the middle of their autumn plenary meeting to kneel in front of the Blessed Sacrament for a holy hour in light of the bill passing through the UK parliament that seeks to legalise assisted suicide. |
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| Caritas Social Action Network on Assisted Suicide legislation
Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) firmly opposes the Assisted Dying Bill currently before Parliament, which threatens the fundamental principle of human dignity and undermines society’s duty to care for its most vulnerable members. The Bill represents a significant shift in the understanding of life and suffering, risking serious ethical and social consequences. |
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| Assisted suicide bill will profoundly affect the very fabric of our society, says Bishop
The Bishop of Nottingham, Bishop Patrick McKinney, has issued a pastoral letter on assisted suicide, that was read in the churches of his diocese on 26 and 27 October 2024. The bishop warns of the grave dangers of MP Kim Leadbeater’s bill passing through the House of Commons that seeks to legalise so-called ‘assisted dying’. |
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| Mobilise, act, campaign and pray to oppose assisted suicide becoming law, says Bishop of Portsmouth
In a pastoral letter to the people and priests of the Diocese of Portsmouth, Bishop Philip Egan, has made a passionate call to action urging Catholics and those of goodwill to oppose assisted suicide before it’s too late. Bishop Egan offers what he calls four plain reasons, based on common sense, and a further two reasons explaining why the Church teaches that assisted suicide and euthanasia are profoundly wrong.
The letter was read in the parishes of the Portsmouth diocese on 26/27 October 2024. |
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| Bishop Hudson looks to the next step on our synodal journey
After almost a month in Rome, Bishop Nicholas Hudson, a papal pick for our delegation from England and Wales, offers this concluding reflection on the second session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops – the so-called Synod on Synodality. |
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| Cardinal Nichols celebrates 50 years of the Neocatechumenal Way
On Saturday 26 October, Cardinal Nichols celebrated Mass at Westminster Cathedral for the 50th Anniversary of the Neocatechumenal Way in Great Britain.
In his homily, Cardinal Nichols praised the contribution the Neocatechumenal Way has made to the Catholic Church in England and Wales and the impact it has had on the “many who have come to know the Way and appreciate the gifts it brings”.
The Neocatechumenal Way was founded in 1964 by Kiko Aguello and Carmen Hernandez who met in a shanty town outside of Madrid, and developed a programme of evangelisation for the slum’s residents. |
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| Synod’s Final Document has Magisterial value
A press conference was held on the evening of Saturday, 26 October, to discuss the Synod’s Final Document. Synod leaders pointed to the need to shift the language and perspective with which we understand the Church.
Moving away from a vision of the universal Church as a kind of multinational corporation, the Church is instead to be seen as a “communion of Churches,” with growing contributions from laypersons and women. The ongoing question of female diaconate also remains open. |
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| Opposing Assisted Suicide
We are calling on Catholics in England and Wales to unite in prayer and compassionate action to oppose assisted suicide.
In early September 2024, Our Lead Bishop for Life Issues, Bishop John Sherrington, called for Catholics to unite in prayer and compassionate action. That call is renewed now as on Wednesday, 16 October, the House of Commons heard the first reading of a new bill on assisted suicide tabled by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. This is another attempt to legalise assisted suicide and we need you to contact your MP to voice your opposition. |
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| Take action on the two-child cap policy
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales continues to be seriously concerned about the implications of the current two-child policy on Universal Credit payments for vulnerable, larger families.
Introduced in 2017, the policy has been undermining the financial security of families with three or more children. Such families often have no choice but to make claims for Universal Credit as a result of common, but unpredictable, life events, such as job loss or the onset of disability. The majority of families affected by the two-child policy are working families.
Use our e-Action form to contact your MP to outline your opposition to the two-child policy on Universal Credit payments for vulnerable, larger families. |
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| Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme
Help us ensure that our most important architectural treasures remain open for future generations by contacting your MP to encourage them to secure the future of this vital scheme to protect historic places of worship. |
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| Holy Hour for the Dignity of Human Life
Wednesday, 13 November, 5:30pm
Join the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales as they pause for an hour in the middle of their autumn plenary meeting to kneel in front of the Blessed Sacrament to pray for the dignity of human life and to uphold a culture of life in our countries.
They will gather in the Chapel of the Holy Family at Hinsley Hall, Leeds, to unite in compassionate action in light of the bill passing through parliament that seeks to legalise assisted suicide. The holy hour will end with Evening Prayer before a concluding Benediction |
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| Jubilee pilgrimage for people with disabilities
26 April - 01 May
A pilgrimage to Rome for people with disabilities titled Living Fully with Value and Hope has been organised by the Kairos Forum for Jubilee 2025. It takes place from 26 April to 1 May 2025 and will offer accessible events, prayer, friendship and a morning with Pope Francis.
Bishop Paul Hendricks, an auxiliary Bishop for Southwark Archdiocese, will be celebrating Mass each day of the pilgrimage. Pilgrims will visit the Holy Door and have the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As well as the meeting with the Holy Father in St Peter’s Square, the pilgrimage will also see attendees participate in the official Jubilee events for people with disabilities on 28 and 29 April. |
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| | Lectionary Video Resources
In this section, you will find filmed resources, such as talks and addresses, that provide more information and insight into how the new lectionary will become part of our life and faith. |
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| Lectionary
A new edition of the Lectionary, the book which contains the readings which are proclaimed at Mass, will come into use in England and Wales on the First Sunday of Advent 2024. |
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| Director of Communications – Diocese of East Anglia
The Diocese of East Anglia needs a dynamic and experienced Director of Communications to play a pivotal role in telling its story, creating engaging content for its website and monthly newspaper, managing social media channels and advising on PR matters.
You will take a leading role in providing an effective communications service to the bishop, diocesan departments, clergy and parishes across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. |
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