Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark has welcomed the House of Commons vote against extending Sunday trading hours. “I am pleased that MPs have decided to protect the existing arrangements,” he said.
The Government proposal, contained in the Enterprise Bill, was voted down by 317 votes to 286 after 27 Conservative MPs rebelled. The proposal, which was opposed by the bishops of England and Wales, would have allowed councils to decide whether to let large shops stay open for more than six hours on a Sunday. The Government claimed that this would bring economic gains.
But in an open letter published last week, Christian leaders including Archbishop Smith denied that there would be any such benefit. The leaders – from six different denominations – said deregulating Sunday trading would disrupt family and community life, and would put employees under pressure to work on Sundays. Archbishop Smith said the existing arrangements “meet consumer needs while recognising the unique and important atmosphere of Sundays.”
He said: “There is little evidence that further deregulation would bring any tangible benefit to the UK and today’s debate highlighted how it would negatively impact upon family time, community cohesion and faith groups.”
The amendment was defeated after David Burrowes MP, a Conservative backbencher, put down an amendment to remove the Sunday trading plans from the legislation. Labour and the SNP voted for the Burrowes amendment along with the Conservative rebels. Business Secretary Sajid Javid said the result was “extremely disappointing”.
The Sunday trading Bill was not the only defeat for the Government last week. In the House of Lords peers voted twice in favour of changes to the Immigration Bill opposed by ministers. One change would allow asylum seekers the right to work if their claims have not been processed for six months. The other allows migrant domestic workers to change their employer without deportation.
Catholic peer Lord Alton said the first change would end the “enforced workhouse destitution” faced by asylum seekers. “How many of us could exist on just over £5 a day while an asylum application was being considered?”
Portable Door of Mercy goes on the road in Wales
Doors of Mercy have become a familiar sight during the Holy Year, present in every cathedral and in some churches. But the Diocese of Wrexham has gone one further, with a portable Door of Mercy to travel its parishes.
Bishop Peter Brignall of Wrexham said the portable Door of Mercy made the indulgence available to those who could not travel.
“It allows for those who are less able and who are sick to pass through and receive the Mercy of the Father,” he said.
The door is being transferred to different deaneries each Saturday in Lent. During the Year of Mercy, Catholics can gain an indulgence by passing through a Holy Door, receiving the Eucharist and going to Confession, and praying for the Pope’s intentions.
In a statement, the Diocese of Wrexham said: “The diocese has an ageing population and many would be unable to make the journey to the cathedral. “Last weekend, the portable Door of Mercy was taken to the parish of Buckley, Flintshire, where many hundreds of people from all over North Wales attended ‘24 Hours for the Lord’, where priests were stationed to hear Confessions.”
Catholics mourn Queen’s composer
The Latin Mass Society (LMS) has paid tribute to composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who has died at the age of 81. The musician suffered from leukaemia and died at his home in Orkney, it was announced on Monday. Sir Peter was known for modernist and avant-garde works, including his solo piano work Farewell to Stromness. The LMS said he was “one of the greatest composers of our time” and that “a deep knowledge of early Catholic music was central to his work”.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.