Views – Diocese of Leeds: Justice and Peace Commission

A Paschaltide Reflection

April 5, 2026

The Easter message of the Risen Christ invites us not to forget those women and men seeking a better future

Contributed by: John Battle

Categories Education,Peace,RacialJustice,Refugees & migrants

Tags Easter,Reflection

In the UK, most of us live in cities and 'our tribe' lives alongside other tribes who may believe different things, have different cultural practices, or look different. The advent of social media means that many young people have virtual, worldwide ’tribes’. This can lead to a feeling of ‘apartness’ in the real world. In our minds we have a picture of ‘us’ and a picture of ‘them’.

Contributed by: Sara Forrest

Categories Catholic Social Thought

Tags Easter,tribe,us and them

It’s Not Fair!

April 3, 2026

Any wildlife programme shows that predators, at the top of the food chain, have the advantage. I learnt that as I grew up and matured. However over the millennia we have evolved and developed ‘Rules of Law’ to protect the weaker, more vulnerable people and constrain the power of the strongest.

Contributed by: Sara Forrest

Categories International Development,Peace,Prayer

Tags big tech,Easter,fair,rights,women's rights

Easter Reading

March 15, 2026

A selection of book reviews

Contributed by: Sara Forrest

Categories Catholic Social Thought

Tags Afghanistan,book reviews,reading,Reflection

The Russians are coming!

March 12, 2026

The solution given to this insecurity is, apparently, to buy more weapons.

Contributed by: Kirsten (CAAT)

Categories Catholic Social Thought,Peace

Tags America,arms trade,CAAT,China,Lakenheath,Russia,Taiwan,Ukraine,weapons

International Women’s Day

March 8, 2026

Across the world, whatever you measure, the majority of women do less well than the majority of men. Sometimes the difference is significant.

Contributed by: Sara Forrest

Categories Catholic Social Thought

Tags gender inequality,international women's day,women

Tolerance, It’s Important

February 27, 2026

It is all too common for politicians to use fear of difference to create a cohesive force that increases their hold on power and the oppression of their people.

Contributed by: Sara Forrest

Categories Catholic Social Thought,International Development

Tags India,Lent,Pakistan,Social media,tolerance

I am Privileged

February 12, 2026

Younger people tend to vote less so they are less politically powerful. Is that why their benefits are lower? To me that isn’t fair and just.

Contributed by: Sara Forrest

Categories Catholic Social Thought,UK Poverty

Tags house prices,pensions,student debt,vote,welfare

Lent Reflection Ideas

February 4, 2026

This Lent why not listen and reflect on something different?

Contributed by: Sara Forrest

Categories Catholic Social Thought

Tags Lent,music,Reflection,songs

SANCTUARY: WAYS OF TELLING, WAYS OF DWELLING

January 23, 2026

The presence of “arrivers” is increasingly contested , whether “legal” or “illegal” and asylum has shifted in meaning from a positive term for a traditional place of refuge to a language of rejectionism ; “asylum seekers are not welcome here”.

Contributed by: John Battle

Categories Refugees & migrants

Tags asylum,Marina Walker,Refugees,sanctuary

TRUMP TIMES: THE RISE OF THE CATHOLIC RIGHT

January 16, 2026

Is Christian nationalism slowly infiltrating the far right through insistence on "Christian identity” as a condition of citizenship? Jesus - What the hell kind of Christian is this guy anyway?

Contributed by: John Battle

Categories Catholic Social Thought

Tags America,Catholic Right,JD Vance,MAGA,Trump,USA

This New Year I'm Thankful For...

January 3, 2026

This New Year I'm Thankful for.....

Contributed by: Sara Forrest

Categories Catholic Social Thought

Tags gratitude,New Year,Thankful

This gives me hope

November 25, 2025

I take hope from...

Contributed by: Sara Forrest

Categories Catholic Social Thought

Tags beatitudes,hail mary,hope,Live Simply,our father,penitential rite

REALISING THE SACRED -The Ways of a Contemplative Synodal Church

September 25, 2025

How best can we be equipped to bring the love of God to a fragile and threatened world, to empower all the baptised to become the missionary, synodal church of the first Christians and Popes Francis and Leo?

Contributed by: David Jackson, author and former Laudato Si animator for the Leeds Diocese

Categories Catholic Social Thought

Tags contemplative,david jackson,Laudato Si,synodal

Working for peace in a time of war – how do Christian peace and justice activists keep going?

August 17, 2025

So, what should be our response as Christians to all of this pain and misery? An obvious response by many people is to try and ignore it in a feeling of hopelessness and powerlessness. It is immensely hard to watch the daily news and see all this thoughtless death and destruction. But we need to ponder daily what Jesus would do, and I think he would want us always to stand up and be counted. But what to do?

Contributed by: Sean Morris

Categories Palestine,Peace,Prayer,RacialJustice

Tags Just Stop Oil,justice,Palestine Action,Peace,war,whatwouldJesusdo

Summer Reading

August 14, 2025

Looking for some summer reading on J&P issues?

Contributed by: Sara Forrest

Categories Catholic Social Thought,Climate Change,UK Poverty

Tags book review,Climate change,economy,Labour,UK Government

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