Views – Diocese of Leeds: Justice and Peace Commission

Election Results 2026 - Oh Dear!

May 14, 2026

I remember a Jewish colleague in early 80s Manchester telling me to stay vigilant because after the Jews in this country were forced to leave through persecution the Catholics would be next in line.

Contributed by: Sara Forrest

Categories Catholic Social Thought

Tags elections,if,powerless

Cost and Value

May 7, 2026

We live in a complicated world where we can see that what we did years ago is impacting us today. We know that and what we do today will impact future generations. There are few ‘quick fixes’. But we can choose what we spend our money on and how we vote.

Contributed by: Sara Forrest

Categories Catholic Social Thought,Climate Change,International Development

Tags elections,fairtrade,Live Simply,ozone layer,value

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

Our Tribe - Seasonal Hope

April 4, 2026

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

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