Cardinal Vincent Nichols has said he is delighted by the appointment of Theresa May as Prime Minister because of the commitment she has shown in the fight against human trafficking.
The cardinal, president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, made his comments in a letter of congratulation to Mrs May, reminding her of her attendance at the Vatican in 2014 for the launch of the Santa Marta Group, set up by Pope Francis to help victims of the human trafficking. Mrs May was Home Secretary at the time.
“This is a clear indication not only of your determination to use high political office for the protection of some of the world’s most vulnerable people but also of your willingness to work with the Catholic Church at its highest levels,” the cardinal said in the letter.
“I am personally delighted at your appointment,” he wrote. “I know from the work we have done together that you have so many qualities to bring to the service of our countries at this time.”
“I appreciate the maturity of judgment, the steely resolve, the sense of justice and the personal integrity and warmth you have always shown.”
The cardinal added: “As you take up this new and demanding office of Prime Minister, I assure you of my personal support, and I look forward to working with you across a wide range of issues in service of the common good.”
Mrs May, 59, the MP for Maidenhead, took office as Prime Minister last Wednesday, when the Queen summoned her to Buckingham Palace and invited her to form a government.
Manchester parish prepares to look after Syrian refugees
A parish in Greater Manchester is preparing to look after Syrian refugees as part of a Home Office scheme. The Community Sponsorship scheme allows groups, such as churches, to help to resettle and integrate refugees into Britain.
One of the first communities expected to welcome refugees is St Monica’s in Flixton. The Diocese of Salford is acting as lead sponsor and will support the parish in implementing the programme.
So far, the parish has raised the funds required to cover the living expenses for a two-year sponsorship of one refugee family. The local authority will decide at the end of July to determine whether the family can stay in the area.
The selected refugees will be entitled to a five-year humanitarian visa and will be permitted to work in Britain immediately upon arrival.
The sponsoring groups welcome the refugees to their neighbourhood by meeting them at the airport, helping them settle into their home and teaching them how to pay bills. Sponsoring communities must also provide funds of £4,500 per adult refugee which will be passed on to the local authority in order to contribute towards expenses.
Pugin church is awarded grant
Parishioners in Staffordshire were delighted last week by news that an £80,000 government grant had been awarded for repairs to the spire of St Giles Catholic church in Cheadle.
Damage to the belfry had allowed rot to set in to the spire’s structure and birds to take roost. St Giles is a Grade I-listed building, designed by architect AWN Pugin, and has been a part of the North Staffordshire skyline since 1846.
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