Cardinal Vincent Nichols celebrated a National Mass of thanksgiving and renewal for priests at Westminster Cathedral on Friday lunchtime, welcoming everyone and then saying:

“In recent days, in the IICSA Report and in the media, there has been sharp criticism of our work of Safeguarding in the Catholic Church, and of aspects of my ministry in Birmingham. I acknowledge this, of course.  

“Yet this not the time nor place for those matters. Rather today is about you, my brother priests, about your faithfulness, your steadfast generosity, your ministry of healing, your endurance, not least under the burden of the grievous damage done to innocent victims by just a very few of our brother priests. I thank you for your faithfulness, your generosity, your perseverance. I thank you, as do each of us bishops, and the people of your parishes. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!”

He then moved on and did not refer to the topic again in his homily. 

In June, Cardinal Vincent Nicholls was criticised in the report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse for putting the reputation of the Church before welfare of children. 

He was the Archbishop of Birmingham between 2000 and 2009, the Archdiocese which was looked into thouroughly. 

Once example of Cardinal Nichols’ behaviour was that the report found he was “misplaced and missed the point” when he…

The SNP MP for Paisley & Renfrewshire North, Gavin Newlands, has raised in parliament the issue in parliament. 

In a debate on Thursday about immigration Mr Newlands said: “Recently, the UK Government also imposed changes for tier 5 entry visas, including, notably, the removal of ministers of religion from the eligibility criteria.

“That decision has generated much concern from faith leaders throughout my constituency and in religious communities across the United Kingdom. If we take the example of Catholic communities, that change will have a significant impact on priests coming into the UK because most Catholic dioceses regularly use the tier 5 religious worker visa route for them to come here on supply placements while parish priests are away for short periods.”

Tier 5 visas are for temporary work, issued for no longer than 12 months, and previously open to ‘ministers of religion’. 

Church ministers would use this if covering for another minister’s sabatical, for example. 

Mr Newlands told the House: “The supply placements are imperative as they enable people to continue attending mass and receiving sacraments, while keeping parish activities running smoothly – activities that are of benefit to the entire community, not just to Catholics.

“Under the new Home Office guidance, priests on supply placements will now be required to use the tier 2 minister of…