Nicola Sturgeon is not the only one raising the question of Trident in the run up to the elections. Martin Birdseye, Justice and Peace representative from Heston in Hounslow, wrote to the Universe last week:
“How shocking to see, in the Easter edition of a Catholic newspaper, a propaganda portrait of a gigantic war machine (“Defence spending is the key to peace in our time” 3rd April 2015). In his article Chris Whitehouse did not tell us that this new aircraft carrier is three times larger than any we have recently deployed. In urging us to maintain defence spending he did not reveal that UK defence spending is the fifth highest in the world, or that our recent good record on overseas aid still only brings it to about one third of defence spending. Even just from the point of view of our security, this ratio should arguably be reversed. From the point of view of followers of Christ, with the Easter message in mind and conscious of our mission to bring love and comfort as opposed to threats and confrontation, it should certainly be reversed.

Chris Whitehouse identifies the time since the end of the cold war as one of increasing danger and threats to our country. In that time, the Warsaw Pact has been disbanded while NATO has pushed right up to the borders of Russia, spending 15 times as much as Russia on defence. In the Middle East the West has reacted with appallingly disproportionate asymmetrical warfare to any provocation by extremist groups or despotic regimes. In terms of civilian death toll the 9/11 atrocity has been repaid more than a hundred fold in Afghanistan. Similar ratios apply to the Iraq war. The net effect has been to devastate these countries, leaving them with ineffective government and vastly greater numbers of uncontrolled weapons. From these two factors come most of the current threats to our security and, probably, the terrible position of Christians in the region.

He completes his analysis by urging that we should retain our nuclear weapons – weapons which cannot be deployed without contemplating things that are clearly opposed to everything else we believe in. Nuclear weapons have been rightly and repeatedly condemned by our church, most recently and forcibly by Pope Francis in his message to the Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons” .

You could hardly ask for a more thorough argument, which Westminster Justice and Peace endorses completely.

Can we forgive, can we forget?

Heston’s Justice and Peace Retreat

At the invitation of Martin Birdseye and the parish priest, Fr Robert Ehileme of the Sons of Mary, Mother of Mercy, Justice and Peace led a parish retreat at Our Lady of the Apostles, Heston, this Lent, on reconciliation. Based around the Pax Christi Peace Icon, on the altar from the start of Friday Mass we explored reconciliation in the context of society and the environment. The small pictures inset into the larger icon gave us stories to reflect on.

The Woman at the Well helped focus not only on our basic need for water, but on our true ide the fact that  our identity consists in relating to Christ the living water. The Jacob and Esau picture, showing the dramatic reconciliation of the brothers, gave an opportunity for discussion of conflict issues around the world: ethnic groups, civil wars, rich and poor, nuclear powers versus the rest , and so on. We realised that it is all too easy to forget the injuries we do to others, and Fr R cited the example of what the colonial powers had done in Africa, which has been quickly forgotten, yet young Africans are learning about their own history in universities, without anyone mitigating the bitterness this inevitably arouses.  A good example of where we shouldn’t forget!

The Mass was concelebrated with Fr Francis, assistant SMMM priest, and the Confirmation group joined our ‘Creation walk’ around the parish grounds and the Green, based round the Canticle of Brother Sun of St Francis (another mini-icon), meditating on Brother Sun, the stars and space exploration,  Brother Wind, air pollution and the adjacent M4 motorway; Sister Water, at the lovely water feature outside the church, scarcity, drought, Shell petrol’s pollution of the Niger Delta (Fr Francis had firsthand experience). Very handy that you could see the Shell service station just outside the parish wall! Then Brother Fire, fossil fuels, nuclear weapons, as we saw the planes coming in low to land at nearby Heathrow, with a powerful reflection from Martin who is a longtime campaigner for the ending of nuclear weapons.

The Peace icon, the central image being that of the risen Christ our Reconciliation, is now installed in the Church beside the 14^th Station, next to the Risen Christ altar.

A London Borough Faiths Network event held at London Central Mosque on 16th January promoted unity in the wake of the attacks in Paris. Dr Shuja Shafi, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, and  Vivian Wineman, President, Board of Deputies of British Jews, were among the attendees.

Cate Tuitt, from Westminster Justice & Peace, reflects on the event:

Expressions of unity and hope were delivered in a meeting called by Dr Shafi & attended by Vivian Wineman, President of the Board of Deputies.

Commitments and dedications were expressed by all faith leaders and community advocates. A calling to be more motivated and engaged following the tragedy in Paris were made by the assembled dignitaries.

Shalom Salaam was the offered greeting to reflect the Jewish and Muslim days of worship, united in their grief for the loss of life of Jewish, Muslim and secular brothers and sisters.

Catriona of LBFN recalled visiting the Jewish Museum in Brussels after the shootings last summer, saying how important it is for Jews to be able to be Jews, for Muslims to be Muslims and for everyone to be who they are. She reflected on the passage from the Qur’an chosen by Sheikh Khalifa (49:13) on living well together while remaining different. She welcomed strong leadership as well as essential grassroots work.

Sorrow was balanced with the courage and dignity to continue to work tirelessly in support of one another, our faith communities and beyond to overcome those who try to divide our unity and peace.

Dr Shafi said this was a time for unity and engagement. He expressed sadness at the recent backlashes against Muslims.

Vivian Wineman reminded us of the wonderful religions of peace and love, the common bonds they hold and of the need to protect both Islam and Judaism as minorities in Europe.

The overall consensus was that we must not fall prey to what terrorism wants by reacting in a hostile manner to those of different traditions.

We must reinvigorate our efforts, build confidence and raise trust in renewed covenants for peace.

More information can be found on the LBFN website.