Following our Stations of the Cross liturgy in Holy Week, this Eastertide the Leeds Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission is announcing its new programme to address Britain’s “Five wounds”:
The reduction in our International Aid
The increase in poverty and inequality at work
The hostile policy towards refugees and asylum seekers
The investment in nuclear weapons
The lack of urgent commitment to tackling climate change
John Battle, Chair of the Commission, spelt out the programme: “Our Five Easter Season priorities are:
1 To campaign for an increase in development aid and humanitarian relief -including taking positive action to ensure global access to Covid vaccines
2 To address the causes of poverty and work inequality by calling for effective social security support as well as campaigning for a real Living Wage.
3 Offering practical support to refugees and asylum seekers and promoting a culture of welcome and hospitality
4 To campaign for Peace by challenging investment in and increased numbers of nuclear weapons and addressing the issue of the escalation in domestic violence by seeking appropriate resources.
5 Committing to a process of Eco-conversion, as set out in Pope Francis’ 2015 Encyclical,‘Laudato Si.’ We will do this through
promoting individual and community transformation by engaging with the Live Simply Award Scheme managed by CAFOD.
through encouraging efficient energy and resource management in implementing the new Diocesan Environmental Policy
By challenging and campaigning against global economic systems that damage the Earth’s eco-systems
John Battle added ” The El Salvadorean martyred Jesuit Fr Ignacio Ellacuria urged us to ” face the crucified people” in our world today and ask ourselves ” What must I do to uncrucify them? What must I do for these people to rise again?’ For Catholics throughout the Diocese of Leeds, our new Easter programme is a call to action. “
By Elizabeth Palmer, CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society (England and Wales)
We reproduce, and endorse, all that the SVP say in the press statement below.
Today’s Budget delivered by Chancellor Rishi Sunak represents one of the most important political statements of recent times and comes at a critical time for the nation. Last year, the UK economy shrank by 10%, the worst decline in 300 years. Predictions show that around a third of the population will be living below the minimum income standard this year. This Budget has the power to shape the strength and nature of the recovery from the COVID crisis and capitalise on the positivity created by the Prime Minister’s roadmap out of national lockdown.
The Government has to date introduced welcome measures such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and the uplift to Universal Credit. These temporary measures have ensured millions of households remain afloat at a time of deep crisis. The SVP applauds these initiatives, which demonstrated vision and ambition. While we welcome the extension to the CJRS, today’s Budget is a missed opportunity to set out a progressive plan which would have given millions of households and businesses a support package capable of guiding the country out of the crisis with confidence. The vaccine rollout has so far given us hope. This is the time for bold action to lift millions out of poverty and we are disappointed the Chancellor did not take this opportunity to deliver a compelling vision for a more levelled up and equal nation.
Summary of our response
• The limited extension of temporary measures to support households should be expanded and made permanent. A six-month extension to the temporary £20 Universal Credit uplift is not enough to support households as they struggle to get back on their feet. A permanent uplift should also be rolled out to people on legacy benefits. • While we welcome the six-month extension to the CJRS, we urge the Government to ensure adequate investment in re-training and skills is provided as the CJRS is wound down. • We welcome the Government’s commitment to levelling up the country. However, we are disappointed no details were shared on the new UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). We urge the Government to share more details of the fund as soon as possible. The focus must now be on growth, not austerity. Overall, this is the time to increase spending rather than cutting back.
On our social security system
Our social security system needs to be strengthened so that it can truly unlock the potential of millions of people. As a member of the Keep the Lifeline coalition, we are disappointed the Chancellor opted for a limited, six-month extension of the £20 uplift to Universal Credit. This is a missed opportunity to extend support to struggling families on Universal Credit by making the uplift permanent. We are equally disappointed there has been no announcement about extending the uplift to people on legacy benefits.
The temporary extension to the £20 Universal Credit uplift for only six months will undermine the road to recovery and will leave millions in limbo and at risk of falling into poverty. Cutting this lifeline in the autumn will push households into debt and will leave millions vulnerable at a time when the economic scenario is expected to be dire and unemployment is projected to be widespread. A six-month extension of the uplift also fails to meet the original objectives of the policy, which were to strengthen the safety net and protect incomes.
On employment support
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme kept nine million people in work at its peak last May. We welcome the announcement that this scheme will be extended until the end of September 2021, however support and investment in retraining and job creation must be the main priority for the Government. We welcome the announcement of the new Levelling Up Fund. With unemployment levels estimated to be at 6.5% later in the year, it will be essential to introduce measures aimed at creating jobs as well as introducing new training and apprenticeship schemes. A generation of young people will need sustained support if their life chances are not to be blighted by the economic fallout out from the pandemic. We urge the Government to share details of its UK Shared Prosperity Fund as soon as possible. While the Government’s levelling up agenda is an ambitious programme, to be successful it needs to ensure that: • There is an end to austerity measures for local government, and instead increased spending is implemented to improve the quality of public service provision and standards of living. • The new UK Shared Prosperity Fund is ring-fenced and not used to plug funding gaps in local government budgets which have been decimated over the last decade.
We need the Government to match the commitment of the millions of people who have bravely endured the restrictions and deprivations over the past year. It is only by empowering people financially, socially and spiritually that the nation can start to fully recover from the effects of the pandemic. Published 3rd March 2021
By Sr Sheila Griffiths, The Holy Family Sisters in Bradford Members of Pax Christi and J&P in the Diocese organised a prayer Service for Peace Sunday, January 17th, 2021. This was live streamed on Zoom that very same day. Since COVID restrictions on Church Services are at present in force, I tuned in to this service. Actually, since last March I have attended online meetings with the Pax Christi group in the diocese. In his message for the Catholic Church’s World Day of Peace, Pope Francis appeals to the international community and every individual to foster a “culture of care” by advancing on the “path of fraternity, justice and peace between individuals, communities, peoples and nations.” The service highlighted a culture of care for earth and humanity. In her opening introduction one of the members of Pax Christi brought out that Creation and Incarnation are an integral entity and that Christmas does not end when the decorations come down. Christ is incarnated in every event and especially in our service to one another and caring for our Common Home.
The following poem by Michael Doherty spells this out.
When the carols have been stilled, When the star-topped tree is taken down, When family and friends are gone home, When we are back to our schedules The work of Christmas begins: To welcome the refugee, To heal a broken planet, To feed the hungry, To build bridges of trust, not walls of fear, To share our gifts, To seek justice and peace for all people, To bring Christ’s light to the world.
Another highlight of the programme was a rendering of part of a speech by Oscar Romero expressing his close involvement with people. Diarmuid O’ Murchu’s Prayer to the Holy Spirit, calling the Spirit to breathe down on this troubled world, followed by a moment of quiet to allow the participants to reflect on what touched them at this moment, gave time for personal involvement. A rousing chorus of the song, ‘These are the hands…’ sung by a group of school children, brought home to all the tenderness and love expressed by the many frontline workers since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, a great symbol of peace.
What impressed me a great deal was to note how the organisers were lay people, as were most of those who zoomed in. If only the clergy of our diocese could take such an interest and be creative in liturgical services.
By David Jackson of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Shipley
“Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or secondary aspect of our Christian experience…Truly, much can be done!”
(Laudato Si’, 217, 180)
In 2015, Pope Francis published his ground-breaking letter on the environment Laudato Si’. Since then, millions of people worldwide have joined the global movement to address the environmental crisis our world is facing. This Lent, we are inviting YOU to join us for a series of reflective evenings with inspiring speakers, prayer and discussion, using the film-based resource “Global Healing”. These engaging documentaries will inform and challenge people to respond to Pope Francis’ call to Care for Our Common Home. Suitable for all who are concerned about what is happening to our world and who want to take action. Hosted by GCCM Laudato Si’ Animators in theUK, the six sessions will take place on Thursdays from 18th February – 25th March 2021, 7.30pm – 8.30pm
Speakers for Global Healing Lenten Series: • Thursday 18th February 2021 Global Healing Episode 1: Bishop John Arnold, Salford Diocese and Bishop for the Environment.
• Thursday 25th Feb 2021 Global Healing Episode 2: Jane Mellett (Global Catholic Climate Movement) . • Thursday March 4th 2021 Global Healing Episode 3: Dr. Emma Gardner (Head of Environment, Salford Diocese)
• Thursday March 11th Global Caring Episode 1. Speaker TBC
• Thursday March 18th Global Caring Episode 2: Graham Gordon, Head of Public Policy, CAFOD.
• Thursday March 25th Global Caring Episode 3. Speaker TBC.
To register please use the button below or email jane@catholicclimatemovement.global
What a year 2020 turned out to be. With a pandemic which unfolded at lightning speed, so too have other things taken record time to develop. Who would have thought a vaccine could be brought in for use in just a few months, not just one but several possibilities are being rolled out for use for health care, front line workers and older people. his year has seen an idea brought to fruition also in just a few months. Since Covid-19, when night shelters were no longer a safe place to be, a small group of five have worked very hard to bring about a more lasting solution for the group of asylum seeking men who have no recourse to public funds. From the first lockdown in March, the Government initiative of “everyone in” was brought about, where all homeless people, including those in Night Shelters were accommodated by the local authority in hotels or hostels. We kept up regular contact with the group of asylum seekers whom we have known for years in some cases.
LEDAS (Leeds Destitute Asylum-seekers Support) then came about from discussions in meetings held in early May, so that a constitution, a business plan and an application to the Charity Commission were submitted and in record time, in June, we were granted Charitable status. From then on we networked and forged links with many other charities and agencies working for the same client group. It was really affirming to have the support and acknowledgement that what we were attempting to bring about was the right way to proceed. We were offered practical assistance, help in writing policies and procedures, others wanted to have closer links and another charity wanted us to join with them in partnership. We worked very closely with Leeds City Council with elected members and senior officers from SAFER Leeds and Housing Options. Leeds is a City of Sanctuary and this is not just something to have on the letterhead or on the website, our experience showed that this is something lived; evidenced by the support and encouragement we were given. Eventually, after the initial lease for the hostel was extended from the original 6 months to the end of November; LEDAS together with Leeds City Council and PAFRAS (Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers) drew up an agreement for us to work together, in the best interests of the group of the men who had to leave the hostel.
Exactly 8 months to the day, since the Council took the men into their care, on the 25th November we moved them back into our care, in 2 houses in Harehills Leeds, preventing them from becoming street homeless. We feel we are moving towards our residents having the opportunity to live independently, for example, they are enjoying having privacy, a key to the door and being able to cook for themselves, what they want and when they want to eat. They have the time to gather new evidence whilst pursuing their claim for leave to remain. Once successful, we can then look at new referrals to our houses.
This is just the beginning of our work, as these properties, from two private landlords, are short term lets. Currently we are exploring a more permanent solution and looking for suitable accommodation. Fundraising is always a perennial task but with the current climate it is proving more difficult. We are looking for two 4 bedroom properties in Leeds that ideally could be donated or bought for our use and perhaps let to us on a peppercorn rent. We would maintain them internally, provide insurance and pay the utilities. We have received many offers of help both financially and practically; it is humbling knowing that others want to be involved too.
Could you help LEDAS enable asylum –seeking men live in dignity. Would you considered giving a regular amount to LEDAS, perhaps monthly or annually? Or if you can help with a property please contact Tony Pickles on the number below or email LEDAS or the websites has the details for donating. Tony Pickles Tel: 0113 2600844 Email: info@ledas.org.uk Website: https://www.ledas.org.uk/
Give, act and pray to ensure people on the margins are fully involved as we journey together Church Action On Poverty
“No one puts new wine into old wineskins.” (Mark 2:21-22) We live in tough times. The pandemic continues to highlight the inequalities that sweep too many people into poverty. But we have also been reminded of the values that matter most: mutuality, compassion and community. As we journey forward together, we have the chance to do things differently. If we are to build a society in which everyone can live a full life, free from poverty, we must ensure the voices of people who are struggling to make ends meet are heard. Join people around the UK in prayer, giving and action at this special online event for Church Action on Poverty Sunday, hosted by Church Action on Poverty North East and Sunderland Minster. Share a vision for a society founded on compassion and justice, where all people are able to exercise dignity, agency and power. We will share together in worship and prayer. People will share their stories of poverty and speaking truth to power. We’ll hear from decision-makers in the North East about how we can all work together to loosen the grip of poverty. And you’ll learn how you can be part of the movement tackling poverty through giving, action and prayer.
That’s torn it, all we planned is ripped asunder, the force of fermentation strains the seams; society has witnessed skill and blunder, a virus spins and tests our human schemes. Blind faith has opened wide our eyes to chaos where poverty, the consequence of greed, has highlighted our wholly human pathos, yet shut some hearts to other people’s need. Some early Christians sat in isolation while pondering the way that they should live, this was no empty prayer-filled incantation, but selfless loving, learning how to give. Be clear that as we face this sharp decision, the wineskins we are tending may well rend; the things we have defended and have treasured may tumble, shattered crumbling to their end. Whatever greets us in the years’ unfolding, we only know this crisis offers choice, to stumble on, or use the grace we’re holding to change the world, give reason to rejoice.
In March 2020, we were looking forward to continuing to deliver a number of interactive workshop sessions to our partner settings, up until July. However, lockdown meant we needed to re-assess these plans – each of the school settings very much wished to continue to set up social justice action groups and were interested to explore ways of continuing to engage pupils with the Spark project during school closure. Following reflection and consultation, we decided to launch a new You Tube channel and invite inspirational guests to share their experiences and stories about what kind of positive difference they have made and hopefully inspire young people and young adults to make a difference too. This new idea was turned around very quickly – we needed to learn a multitude of new digital skills in a short space of time! We carefully researched and invited a number of brilliant guests to feature on the episodes. Tom Allan, a local young adult aged 18yrs and past pupil of St Mary’s Menston, supported the episodes initially but then took on the role of lead host. Tom was invited to write a piece in his school newsletter about his experiences:
“Justice and Peace asked me to be a part of their newest funded project which in time became the SPARK Project. The initial aim of the project was to go into schools, colleges, universities and parishes around Leeds to set up social justice groups.
The SPARK YouTube Channel
This would then allow the creation of a network of groups across our local area which would be able to work together or separately to campaign, fundraise or raise awareness of issues. Some of this was already being done within our school, and, due to its success, I agreed to be a part of the steering group for the project allowing me have a say in the format, delivery and setting up of the project from Day 1. Since the initial meeting SPARK social justice has delivered workshops across Leeds. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, these sessions were halted, meaning students were unable to partake in the concluding sessions and the setting up of social justice groups and begin campaigning/fundraising, etc. However, this led to a reformatting of the project and the start of interviews with inspirational people across the UK. I have been fortunate to be involved in many of the interviews, and have recently been interviewed myself, for the YouTube Channel. These have been so much fun to deliver as I’ve met so many inspirational people along the way. If you are interested in campaigning, social action, social justice, how to get involved in your local community or just want to be inspired I would highly recommend these videos to anyone. Tom Allan, Year 13
The weekly You Tube episodes grew in popularity and were shared locally with our partner settings during lockdown and over time, nationally. You can see the range of videos by following this link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUdWVM2JCs7MTtwu7Kr2skA
In the Autumn term, it was agreed that we should launch some new live zoom sessions with young people from St Mary’s Menston, St John Fisher High School Harrogate and Notre Dame College in Leeds who were committed towards setting up social justice action groups. We worked in close partnership to plan and deliver the sessions with Young Christian workers – each session was inspired by the model See-Judge-Act and were effective in bringing together young people from different schools across the Diocese who shared a passion for social justice and making a positive difference. We will continue to provide ongoing bespoke support in the new year for these settings.
Comments from students taking part in SPARK workshops
One school has already set up their own Social Justice Action Group and the remaining two settings have plans to do so in the new year.
In addition to this we are launching a new a social media campaign for the last 3 months of the project, created to provide a platform to amplify the voices of young adults by inviting them to send in a 1-2-minute video with their ideas and views about a social justice issue. A token payment will be made for the first 25 contributions agreed. The next 3 months will see the existing project come to an end. However, we are in discussion with the Porticus Trust (who have funded the existing project) and are hopeful that they will be interested to fund a follow-on project.
Thank you:
Aoibheann has now finished as the manager of this project. The Commission is indebted to her for the professionalism, creativity and responsiveness that she brought to it. Luckily for us, she has agreed to remain involved as a member of the Project Steering Group until the end of the existing project and to be part of the Steering Group for any follow on project.
By Pat Gaffney, Vice President of Pax Christi in England and Wales
This article first appeared in Peace News in November 2020
I am a cup-half-full sort of person, not I hope naïve, but encouraged by the hope-filled actions around me. In the last year this includes the strengthening of the Black Lives Matter movement, the persistence of the Campaign Against Arms Trade in continuing their legal challenge to UK weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, the long-awaited coming into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Now, in the past month, Pope Francis, declaring that it is no longer possible to speak of a ‘just war’. In these sad days of Covid 19, people are seeking out opportunities to make a difference, to create nonviolent responses to all that the pandemic has exposed.
Two years ago, I wrote about the on-going project of Pax Christi International, the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative (CNI), a process of conversations and research, with the Vatican and a global peace community, to deepen understanding and commitment to active nonviolence. While we have not achieved our initial objective, for the Catholic Church to write a teaching document on nonviolence, I think we have perhaps done more to grow and root an understanding of active nonviolence in communities around the world. It is a little like running a relay race. Teams of people, theologians, peace activists, community workers, academics, dotted around a track, each carry a baton of experience and knowledge of the power of nonviolence, passing these on until they merge to create a whole picture. The work has expanded since 2018 and includes the launch of our second book, Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace in the Church and the World; the first annual Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action, the development of study guides on Making Nonviolence a Way of Life and regular contributions to the Vatican’s Covid Commission on how security might be reframed post Covid.
The fruits of working groups, conferences and commissioned essays, involving more than a hundred contributors, were honed by a skilful team of editors into Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace, published in October. Acknowledging some of the tragic failures of the Church it moves to offer examples of faith communities making connections between poverty, violence, the destruction of the environment and developing on-the-ground nonviolent responses. Commenting on the work Tiffany Easthom, Director of Nonviolent Peace force says, “Along with providing philosophical and theological foundations… the book provides practical examples of transition, like unarmed civilian protection. Active, compassionate and cooperative nonviolence is essential for our future survival. This book helps chart that path.” I particularly value the very practical sections on integrating nonviolence into the life of the Catholic community, what could be seen as a checklist of outcomes. Here are just a few. • Expand Catholic involvement in unarmed civilian protection programmes. • Strengthen the Vatican’s links with the diplomatic corps and its own diplomats to deepen a commitment to nonviolent prevention of conflict. • Create information hubs at local, national and international levels to share best practice in civic organising and nonviolent resistance. • Amplify the lives and approaches of nonviolent peacemakers from all traditions as models and a focus for learning. Some years ago Pope Francis urged that the Church be a ‘field hospital’ in an unjust and violent world. This needs people well trained in trauma healing, nonviolent resistance, diplomacy, education and more, who see that nonviolence can inform and sustain every aspect of this work.
Between 2018-2020 a group called the People of God (as the name implies, this was a ‘bottom-up’ rather than institutional process) with participants from Germany, Kenya, Korea, Palestine, Central African Republic, USA and Mexico met to plan projects for grass-roots communities that would, among other things, lead to a celebration of nonviolence. A course and survey entitled Making Active Nonviolence a Way of Life in the Church and the World, was created, drawing on the texts of the 2017 World Peace Message, “Nonviolence a Style of Politics for Peace”. Its five units included the themes Cultivating Nonviolence, Seeing Violence in our World Today, Discerning and Judging based on the Good News of Jesus, Acting with a force more powerful than violence. To support the first Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action the group built a toolkit around the themes of Prayer resources, Acts of public witness, Nonviolence as a way of life, Creating a nonviolent parish and Celebrating nonviolent heroes. The rich experiences of our group elicited films, videos, stories, prayers, discussion ideas, models of actions that were woven into the framework. Aware that no person or group could do everything, we hoped that our ‘pick and mix’ approach would allow everyone to do something! Pax Christi in England & Wales has offered the Making Active Nonviolence course twice so far. Using ZOOM, we had a core of around 45 people over five one-hour sessions. Feedback was illuminating “I had assumed nonviolence was a very minority interest in the Church – and it is – but it was good tohear the enthusiasm and activism of so many Catholics and “I have always viewed nonviolence through political and philosophical stance, this opened up the spiritual connection and how rooted in the gospel the message is”. In summer 2020 we wrote an appeal to Pope Francis suggesting that response to the pandemic requires a fundamental shift from the ‘unjust normal’ of systemic and structural violence to a culture of solidarity that seeks the fullness of life for all. We believe that ctive nonviolence – a spirituality, a way of life and a program of action – is key to this global shift. So, we keep on rolling!
Following our Stations of the Cross liturgy in Holy Week, this Eastertide the Leeds Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission is announcing its new programme to address Britain’s “Five wounds”:
