In response, Bishop Paul Mason, lead bishop for safeguarding in the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, has vowed to ensure the Church is safe for all.

"I would like to assure Catholics, and indeed anyone who has concerns, that safeguarding is integral to a bishop's work and ministry and that we will not rest in our efforts to make the Church a place of safety and sanctuary for all."

Bishop Mason also issued an apology "for the failings of the past" and pledged to "listen attentively" to victims of abuse.

The report, titled "Attitudes of Catholics in England and Wales to Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church", was conducted by Durham University's Centre for Catholic Studies.

The centre surveyed over 3,000 Catholics in June/July 2022, revealing that 79% of respondents believe the Church must undergo significant change to prevent further abuse.

Lost moral authority

One of the most concerning findings in the report is that over three-quarters (77%) of Catholics believe the Church has lost its moral authority due to the abuse crisis.

The sample featured regular and occasional Mass-goers alongside those identifying as Catholic but no longer maintaining Mass attendance.

"Overall, our analysis of the data shows that the Catholic community feels abuse is not a uniquely Catholic or clerical problem" said Marcus Pound, one of the report's writers. "However, there is also a conviction that the Church needs to make changes to prevent such abuse happening in the future."

The report follows earlier research published in April titled "The Cross of the Moment" and continues to offer insights on how the Church can improve its safeguarding practices.

Bishop Mason welcomed this ongoing research, stating "We as bishops will never pass up an opportunity to learn from research that can improve our safeguarding work".

Sources

Catholic News Agency

CathNews New Zealand

Speaking to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, Bishop Alex Lodiong Sakor Eyobo of Yei, South Sudan, was critical of tactics being used in the war between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

Fighting broke out between two rival armed factions in the capital in April 2023. According to the Center for Preventive Action, the civil war has so far triggered the deaths of almost 15,000 people. More than 8.2 million have been displaced, with about 2 million of the displaced finding refuge in equally volatile environments like Chad, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

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In March 2011, popular discontent with the government of Bashar al-Assad led to large-scale protests and pro-democracy rallies across Syria, echoing the Arab Spring protests taking place in other countries.

Assad ordered a harsh response by the military, causing thousands of deaths and detentions. Soon, a full-scale civil war erupted. Since the war began, around 600,000 people have been killed - over half of them civilians - and 13.5 million have been displaced, half of these are refugees that fled the country.

CAFOD, the international aid agency of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, says the Syrian people have suffered so much since the beginning of the conflict 13 years ago.

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Since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict on 7th October, the UK Jewish charity the Community Security Trust (CST), has recorded approximately 800 incidents of antisemitism.

Particularly alarming is the spike in antisemitic incidents in London. More than 400 such offences occurred between 1st and 27th October compared to 28 during the same period last year, according to the Metropolitan Police.

Fr Jan Nowotnik, Secretary of the Committee for Catholic-Jewish Relations, expressed his deep concern:

"As followers of Christ, we are a people of peace, and the figures recorded by the Metropolitan Police for these crimes in London are alarming. Antisemitism has absolutely no place in our society."

He also condemned any faith-related crimes, emphasising the need for unity.

Increase in Islamophobic offences

Fr Nowotnik is also Secretary for the Office for Relations with Other Religions and highlighted the "disturbing rise" in crimes against Muslims.

The Metropolitan Police reported a 140% increase in Islamophobic offences between 1st-18th October compared to the previous year.

Fr Nowotnik stressed "It is important to remember that we are all made in the image and likeness of God and recognise that violence begets violence." He called on all believers to pray for peace in our troubled world.

These concerns align with Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the archbishop of Westminster, who recently appealed for "restraint" following violent responses to the war in London and across the UK.

"At home, I appeal for restraint and the total avoidance of hateful language and action, as the impact of this conflict is felt in communities here," Cardinal Nichols said.

Sources

Universe Weekly

CathNews New Zealand

The Lectionary includes the scripture readings for Mass and the sacraments.

The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has confirmed approval for the updated Lectionary.

Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery, has written to Cardinal Vincent Nichols confirming the new Lectionary's translation.

Nichols is Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.

The new translation was made in collaboration with the Bishops' Conference of Scotland.

"The use of the English Standard Version - Catholic Edition, already in use in India, along with the Abbey Psalms and Canticles, will help to ensure that the Word of the Lord reaches God's holy people without alloy" says Roche.

"The collaboration of the Episcopal Conference with the Bishops' Conference of Scotland is another notable feature of this project which highlights the importance of different episcopal conferences within a small geographical area working together for the overall good of the Catholic population in the British Isles.

"What has now been achieved ensures that a stable version of the Lectionary will endure in Great Britain for years to come. Both Conferences are to be commended for this cooperation."

The Lectionary was revised after advice from the Second Vatican Council.

Paragraph 51 of the Second Vatican Council document, Sacrosanctum Concilium, says: "The treasures of the Bible are to be opened up more lavishly, so that richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the table of God's word."

Welcome change

Archbishop Emeritus George Stack of Cardiff is welcoming the dicastery's ‘confirmatio' for the Lectionary:

"As we mark the sixtieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council we can see that the Lectionary is one of the great fruits of the Council.

"It fulfils the mandate of the Council Fathers to open up the scriptures for the faithful so that Sunday by Sunday Christ himself speaks to us in the word.

"The new Lectionary gives us an opportunity to hear that word with fresh ears as we engage with a text which is intended for public proclamation and reflects up-to-date biblical scholarship.

"I hope that parishes and other communities will engage in preparation for the Lectionary so that all the faithful will hear the word of God with deepened faith and understanding."

The new Lectionary will be published by the Catholic Truth Society (CTS).

Source

• Universe Weekly