Author: cjrcdow

Living Laudato Si’ Evening Monday 18th May 2020 7.30-8.30pm, Zoom

Pope Frances has called all people of good will into an urgent conversation on the care of our common home, the Earth. Laudato Si’ Week 2020 (16-24 May) marks the 5th anniversary of his papal encyclical Laudato Si’ in 2015.

The need to hear the cry of the planet and the cry of the poor has never been more urgent.

This evening event in Laudato Si’ Week will be our inaugural Zoom meeting for Justice & Peace and CAFOD supporters in the Diocese! The event will include presentations, discussion and an update on the Parish Live Simply Award, as we aim to deepen our commitment to living the message of Laudato Si’.

Hosted by Colette Joyce from the Westminster Justice & Peace Commission and Tony Sheen from CAFOD Westminster.

The focus will be on the Diocese of Westminster in the UK, but we are happy to welcome participants from anywhere in the world!

Please register your details with Eventbrite and we will send you the link for Zoom nearer the event date.

E-Bulletin May 2020

Colette Joyce, Westminster Justice and Peace Commission Co-ordinator, writes:

“Dear Friends, I wish you all peace and courage in these extraordinary days. As we start to think about what life might be like when the current restrictions are lifted, let us look forward with hope to a ‘new normal’ and dedicate our time and energy to taking positive steps to build the world we want to see.”

Westminster Justice & Peace E-Bulletin May 2020Download

Human Dignity of Refugees

Bishop Paul McAleenan, Lead Bishop for migration and asylum, has joined over 20 front-line facing organisations working with asylum seekers, refugees, and those with irregular immigration status in calling for a grant of a period of ‘leave to remain’ to those with insecure immigration status.

Bishop Paul said:

“I fully support the Jesuit Refugee Service and other charities in calling for a grant of leave to all with insecure immigration status during the current pandemic.

“One’s human dignity is the primary issue. In this crisis respect for human dignity demands that everyone without exception is given the right to protect themselves from COVID-19 and to receive medical treatment if necessary…”

Read full report on Independent Catholic News

London Homeless Article: Recommended Reading

Guardian journalist, Amelia Gentleman (left) describes the surge in newly homeless people in Central London and the struggle to respond. Caritas Westminster is already on the ground offering food and other services but we are looking into new ways to help.

“Homelessness charity says it has ‘never witnessed a more distressing situation’ than during coronavirus crisis…”

Read: Amelia Gentleman’s report for The Guardian newspaper 27th April 2020

Open Letter from Fr Joe Ryan

Fr Joe Ryan (right) with parishioners

Fr Joe Ryan, Parish Priest at St John Vianney Church, in West Green, north London writes:

An open discussion paper during our current shutdown situation with a view to making the most of our time to work out a Pastoral Plan for the reopening of our churches.

How will we, as Christians, rise again from our COVID-19 Crisis?

Read the full letter – Independent Catholic News

Fr Joe was a former Chair of the Westminster Justice & Peace Commission until 2019.

Safe Passage Appeal

Refugees are trapped by Covid-19, unable to reach their loved ones in the UK.

Their families need your help.

Add your name to the Safe Passage open letter to Home Secretary, Priti Patel, and Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, and help bring these refugees to safety.

Sign the letter

Bishops of Asia join call for UN Global Ceasefire

Cardinal Bo

Report from Independent Catholic News

The Bishops of Asia have joined the call of the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres and Pope Francis, for a global ceasefire in the face of the unprecedented threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference (FABC), said in a statement that they were calling for “an end to hostilities worldwide”. Without cessation of fighting everywhere, “the suffering of many will be prolonged the world over and healing delayed indefinitely.”

The Cardinal said: “The whole planet is in crisis. The pandemic’s consequences are catastrophic for public health and for social and economic life. If we truly wish Myanmar to emerge a united, peaceful, prosperous people, now is the time for speedy, aggressive, respectful decision. Now is the time for wise, coherent, future oriented action. This is no time to escalate conflict, but to end the disease of war that is devastating our world.”

The message takes up the words addressed by Pope Francis who, visiting Myanmar in 2017, recalled that “conflicts are not resolved through war and antagonism, and differences must be overcome through dialogue and a constructive search for peace.”

Referring to Myanmar, the Archbishop of Yangon said: “Myanmar’s national and ethnic group leaders are able to choose between the path that seeks trust and cooperation for the good of all and so unite the nation,” but he notes that “heightened military operations, by whatever sides, contradict all these enlightened initiatives. Civilians are endangered, even by bombardments purportedly aimed at military targets. An economy under severe strain is put at risk by military adventures. Any spike in contagion in IDP camps, among detained persons, or in crowded spaces, gravely threatens the surrounding populations as well.”

“The fury of the virus illustrates the madness of war,” the Cardinal said, quoting Antonio Guterres.

The message praises nations in various parts of the world that have already responded positively to the call for peace, such as Cameroon, the Philippines, Yemen and Syria. It urges all armed groups to lay down their arms and arm themselves with sincerity and truth” and take “the most difficult path of overcoming differences face to face with courage and intelligence.”

Westminster Justice & Peace Campaigns

Chair of Justice & Peace Letter to Ofcom over Channel 4 Documentary

Read report from Independent Catholic News

22nd April 2020

Complaint to OFCOM
Regarding:  Channel 4  –  Dispatches – ‘The Truth About Traveller Crime’
From: Justice & Peace Commission, Diocese of Westminster

I am writing on behalf of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster to add our voice in complaint about the Channel 4 ‘Dispatches’ programme – ‘The Truth about Traveller Crime’ – which was broadcast on Thursday, 16th April 2020 at 9:00 pm. 

Within our Diocese, which covers most of metropolitan London and the county of Hertfordshire, there are many communities of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers. Very many families in these ethnic minorities are Catholic and are well known to our priests and those providing pastoral care and practical support for them as an integral part of our diverse multicultural urban population.  

We have close knowledge of these ethnic groups and know how they feel keenly their marginalisation and discrimination by many in society. As Fr Dan Mason, National Catholic Chaplain for Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, pointed out in his letter to you “almost every man, woman and child has suffered some form of hate and speech crime”. 

This programme was highly biased and sensationalist,  resulting in a grossly unbalanced and discriminatory picture of this unjustly marginalised group which Fr Dan Mason, the National Roman Catholic Chaplain  to the GRT Community, has already pointed out, “risks stoking racism against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities”.

Coming at a time when minorities in our society appear to be at greatest risk during this pandemic this was particularly irresponsible broadcasting. 

We would like to add our voice in requesting you to ask Channel 4 to apologise for this broadcast. 

With every best wish,

Yours Sincerely,

Fr Dominic Robinson, SJ
Chair, Justice & Peace Commission, Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster