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Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales urges government to lift restrictions on churches

The BBC reported, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has urged the government not to bring back restrictions on churches to combat Covid.
In a BBC interview, Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols said people can "make good judgements themselves" and "understand the risk".
"We don't need stronger impositions to teach us what to do."
The BBC said that the archbishop was speaking before Midnight Mass at Westminster Cathedral.
In his homily at a packed service in the cathedral he said the pandemic was a time of "great vulnerability".
He urged the congregation not to respond by "putting up barriers" or by trying to make sure that they, or those close to them, or other citizens of wealthy countries "come first, whatever the cost".

He said: "The vulnerability of the Christ-child challenges such thinking."
When asked about his message to the government about the possibility of further Covid restrictions, Cardinal Nichols told the BBC: "I would sincerely appeal that they do not again consider closing churches and places of worship."
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He said he believed it had been demonstrated that large, airy spaces such as churches were "not places where we spread the virus".
The archbishop said: "I think this country has shown that people can make good judgements themselves. We're at that point of saying we understand the risk. We know what we should do. Most people are sensible and cautious. We don't need stronger impositions to teach us what to do."
The BBC noted that the archbishop's plea comes as the UK reported a new record of 122,186 infections on Christmas Eve, although the head of the UK Health Security Agency said data suggesting the Omicron variant may be less likely to cause serious illness offered "a glimmer of Christmas hope".
It noted that masks are compulsory inside churches this Christmas and many churches are live-streaming services for those isolating or unable to attend in person.
Source: BBC
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- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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