COP28 rally in central London, 9 December 2023 Image: Colette Joyce
Westminster Justice and Peace joined many other groups at the Global Day of Action march in central London for COP28 on 9 December 2023
Coinciding with the final days of the climate summit in Dubai, the London gathering brought together Christian groups including CAFOD, Jesuit Missions, Christian Aid, Tearfund, Christian Climate Action, Operation Noah, Green Christian, Laudato Si’ Movement, Columban Justice, Peace and Ecology, and the Quakers.
We also joined up with other activists from Faiths for the Climate and The Climate Coalition, marking the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice on the final Saturday of COP28 by taking part in COP28 marches and rallies throughout the UK.
We were united in calling for action at COP28 before time runs out.
The UN climate conference has now concluded and its impact is being assessed. While the negotiations have still fallen short of what is needed, in some ways the conference has exceeded expectations.
Reporting on the outcomes of COP28, Neil Thorns, Director of Advocacy at CAFOD, said:
“COP28 has confirmed what we need to do with an explicit reference to a world without fossil fuels and support to the most vulnerable communities through the agreement of a loss and damage fund.”
Neil recognises there is still a risk of delivering only the appearance of concern, rather than substantive change, but in his positive assessment, “We now have the basis to create greater ambition at our national levels. That is the way we will keep to a 1.5 degree pathway.
“It’s encouraging to see increasing government support to link the climate and food agendas, which should be reflected in future national plans and an urgent plan to transform our food system to provide greater support smallholder farmers.”
Safe in Faith, a Caritas Westminster project, providing faith-based support to victims of domestic abuse, was recognised in the London Faith & Belief Community Awards recently. The project was presented with the award in the Health & Wellbeing category, which recognises projects that create specialised services for the health and wellbeing of Londoners.
Accepting the award were Nikki Dhillon Keane, Head of Safe in Faith, and Esther Sweetman, Partnership Manager at Restored, a partner organisation that provides faith-based counselling.
Safe in Faith supports survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and exploitation in ways that understand how their faith impacts their experiences. Although it is a Catholic organisation, it provides support and counselling to anyone who would benefit from a faith informed approach.
Bishop John Sherrington, Auxiliary Bishop in Westminster and Lead Bishop for Life Issues at the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said: “This is a significant recognition of the importance of a faith formed support for victims/survivors of domestic abuse and gender-based violence (GBV).
“Congratulations to Nikki Dhillon Keane of Caritas Westminster whose dedication and persistence have led to the development of this programme. Nikki has contributed to the Domestic Abuse Working Group of the Bishops’ Conference in the past and now develops this work in coordination with CSAN (Catholic Social Action Network).”
Safe in Faith provides training for clergy, religious sisters and pastoral workers to understand domestic abuse in the context of religious faith; how faith can be a support but also at times a barrier to safety. The training equips faith leaders to provide trauma-informed and knowledgeable support and signposting to help victims/survivors access the support they need.
Safe in Faith also has an interfaith network of counsellors and psychotherapists working at the intersection of domestic abuse, gender-based violence and faith. The project provides free and low-cost training for practitioners in working with abuse and trauma in the context of faith and spirituality.
CAFOD, Christian Aid and other humanitarian agencies and Christian church leaders from around the world have signed a joint letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak MP appealing for peace in Gaza. They say: “enough is enough” as Palestinian families in Gaza are being “wiped out.”
They also condemn the vitriolic “crimes of hate” against Jews and Muslims which are “straining community cohesion and interreligious efforts”.
The church leaders say: “We write as religious leaders to say enough is enough. We cannot remain silent as generations of families in Gaza are wiped out in an instant. World leaders cannot sit by while Palestinian civilians in Gaza experience such catastrophic destruction and trauma.
“The relentless and unrestrained bombing campaign with horrific indiscriminate effects and the ground invasion by Israel must end. We weep with broken hearts as we hear of hospitals, mosques, churches, and schools damaged and destroyed by this war. In Gaza, there is no safe place. There is no refuge. There is no escape.”
Since 7 October, more than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. 1,200 Israelis have also been killed. During the seven-day pause last week more than 100 Israeli hostages were exchanged for 240 Palestinian detainees and some humanitarian aid delivered.
Along with church leaders and other relief agencies, CAFOD is calling on all world leaders to press for a full and permanent ceasefire to come into effect immediately. The charity says this is the only serious option to stop further loss of civilian life and deepening the humanitarian catastrophe.
See the full letter and signatories below:
Rt Hon Rishi Sunak
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No 10 Downing Street, London, SW1P 2AB
November 29, 2023
“My eyes fail from weeping,
I am in torment within;
my heart is poured out on the ground
because my people are destroyed,
because children and infants faint
in the streets of the city.”
Lamentations 2:11
Dear Prime Minister,
We have watched in horror and sadness at the devastation unfolding in Palestine and Israel since October 7th. As leaders of Christian communities throughout the world, we join in grief for the Israelis and Palestinians who are mourning loved ones who have died.
Our faith compels us to speak out. To make clear that we oppose violence, whether directed toward Israelis or Palestinians. Even the loss of one more life is one too many. International humanitarian law must be respected and adhered to by all sides.
We welcome the recent announcement about the release of dozens of hostages and a parallel prisoner exchange, in addition to the desperately needed few days of a cessation of violence. Now is the time to redouble our efforts to insist that a long-standing bilateral ceasefire comes to fruition.
We acknowledge the profound and existential grief experienced as a result of the actions of Hamas on October 7 as a tragedy for Jewish people in Israel and around the world. We weep with those who have loved ones held hostage, and we pray for their immediate release.
Like the author of Lamentations, our broken hearts weep as we hear of Palestinian babies in Gaza dying and of the thousands of children who have lost their lives. More than eleven thousand Palestinians have been killed, tens of thousands have been wounded, and 1.6 million have been displaced from their homes and communities.
It is unacceptable that millions of people are in desperate need of clean water, adequate food, fuel for electricity, and urgently needed medical supplies. Without safe drinking water and proper medical supplies, poor hygiene conditions have already led to more preventable deaths, especially among children.
We weep with broken hearts as we hear of hospitals, mosques, churches, and schools damaged and destroyed by this war. In Gaza, there is no safe place. There is no refuge. There is no escape.
The escalation of war cannot be adequately understood without acknowledging the conflict’s broader backdrop – ongoing Israeli occupation and the disenfranchisement of Palestinians for more than 70 years. Three-quarters of Palestinian residents of Gaza are refugees dating back to 1948. Before 7 October 2023 had already been on track to be the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since the Second Intifada in 2000.
Under the current Israeli government, there has been a significant expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank, emboldening Israeli settlers to act with impunity as they attack Palestinians and force them from their homes.
Settler violence has brutally intensified since 7th October, while there has been an increase in abuse, harassment, and discrimination of Palestinian Israeli citizens in Israel. A future where all human dignity in the region is respected looks distant if these realities are not acknowledged.
We stand up ardently against the vitriolic hatred that is being expressed around the world toward Jews, Muslims, and others because of firmly held convictions about the war. We condemn crimes of hate and uphold that all people should be able to live without fear, with security, and with equally protected human rights. We lament how this conflict is straining community cohesion and interreligious efforts.
We write as religious leaders to say enough is enough. We cannot remain silent as generations of families in Gaza are wiped out in an instant. World leaders cannot sit by while Palestinian civilians in Gaza experience such catastrophic destruction and trauma. The relentless and unrestrained bombing campaign with horrific indiscriminate effects and the ground invasion by Israel must end.
We are deeply grieved by the complicity of the United States and several other Western countries in the continued violence through efforts to actively oppose a ceasefire, including by vetoing multiple United Nations Resolutions.
Instead, we call on governments worldwide to do everything possible to secure a bilateral ceasefire, one that will stop all violence from Hamas and Israel, allow for the safe release of civilian hostages held in Gaza, and give immediate and adequate access to desperately needed humanitarian aid to be delivered, including through crossings to Israel.
Without an agreed upon end to violence from all parties – there is no path forward. We call on all governments to show support for the protection of all human life, advocating for a just and durable resolution to this crisis in which all Israelis and Palestinians might realize a vision of a just peace, illuminating human dignity, advancing security and self-determination for all.
Yours sincerely,
Christine Allen Director, CAFOD
Dr Nicola Brady General Secretary, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
The Rt Rev Christopher Chessun The Lord Bishop of Southwark, Church of England
Rt Rev Michael Doe Assistant Bishop and Preacher to Gray’s Inn (London)
Anglican Diocese of Southwark Trustee The Balfour Project
Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton Moderator of the General Assembly, Church of Scotland
Rev Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson Moderator of the General Assembly, United Reformed Church
John Hill Interim General Secretary, The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
The Most Rev Dr Michael Jackson Archbishop of Dublin, Church of Ireland
Rt Rev Dr Michael Langrish Former Bishop of Exeter
Tim Livesey Chief Executive, Embrace the Middle East
Very Rev Andrew RC McLellan, CBE Former Moderator, General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Rev Gill Newton President, Conference of the Methodist Church in Britain
Paul Parker Recording Clerk, Quakers in Britain
Father Timothy Radcliffe, OP Former Master of the Order of Preachers
Rev Chris Rose Director, Amos Trust
Patrick Watts Director, Christian Aid
The R. Rev Dr Jo Bailey Wells Deputy Secretary General, Anglican Communion, London
Joyce Ajlouny General Secretary, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian Ecumenical Director and Diocesan Legate Diocese, Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
Rev David E Bennett President, Moravian Church Provincial Elders’ Conference
Rev Bronwen Boswell Acting Stated Clerk, General Assembly Presbyterian Church (USA)
Bishop Susan J Briner Southwestern Texas Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Rev LaMarco Antonio Cable Co-Executive, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ (UCC)
Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar Oregon Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Rev Dr Mae Elise Cannon Executive Director, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
The Rt. Rev. Paul-Gordon Chandler Episcopal Bishop of Wyoming, Founding President of CARAVAN
Stassi Cramm President, Community of Christ
Rev Dr Rob Dalrymple Leadership Board, Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East (NEME)
Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe Diocese of Central New York, The Episcopal Church
The Rev Elizabeth A Eaton Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Pastor Ps L Elliott General Secretary, Rhema Family Churches
Bishop Paul D Erickson Greater Milwaukee Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Rev Wesley Granberg-Michaelson General Secretary Emeritus, Reformed Church in America (RCA)
Susan Gunn Director, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Andrew S Hamilton District Executive, Southeastern District Church of the Brethren
Lisa Sharon Harper President and Founder, Freedom Road
The Rev Deborah Hutterer Bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod, Evangelical Church in America (ELCA)
Bishop Richard Jaech Southwestern Washington Synod, Evangelical Church in America (ELCA)
Rev Kevin T Jones Bishop of Northeastern Iowa Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Rev Nicolas Kazarian Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Dr Peter Makari Co-Executive, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ (UCC)
Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Anglican Church of Southern Africa
Rev Felix Malpica Bishop of the La Crosse Area Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
The Rev Lee M Miller II Bishop of the Upstate NY Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Professor Leepo Modise University of South Africa
Bridget Moix General Secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
Bishop Joy Mortensen-Wiebe South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Rev Dr Lungile Mpetsheni General Secretary, The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana General Secretary, South African Council of Churches
Scott Murphy President, Community of Christ
Rev Siphiwe Ndebele Evangelical Alliance of South Africa
Rev. David M. Neuhaus, SJ Superior of Holy Land Jesuits
Rev. Amy J Odgren Northeastern Minnesota Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada
Rev Dr Tyrone S. Pitts General Secretary Emeritus/Ecumenical Office , Progressive National Baptist Convention Inc.
The Rt Rev Bavi Rivera Bishop of Eastern Oregon, The Episcopal Church
Richard L. Santos President and CEO, Church World Service (CWS)
Bishop GS Seane Central Diocese, Evangelical Lutheran Church of South Africa (ELCSA)
Bishop Sithembele Sipuka Catholic Bishop of Umtata, South Africa
Andrea Smith Founding Board Member, Evangelicals4Justice
Rev Jason Smith Executive Director, BPFNA ~ Bautistas por la Paz
Bishop Kevin L. Strickland outhwestern Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Bishop Pedro M Suarez Florida-Bahamas Synod. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Rev Adam Taylor President, Sojourners
Rev Dr Karen Georgia Thompson General Minister and President. United Church of Christ (UCC)
Rev N Tyokolwana Moravian Church, South Africa
Nikki Toyama-Szeto Executive Director. Christians for Social Action (CSA)
Rev Sandra María Van Opstal Founder, Chasing Justice
Father Thomas Zain Vicar General, Antiochian Orthodox Church
This Saturday, 9 December 2023, sees the Global Call to Action. Westminster Justice and Peace are joining CAFOD and many other civic groups to march and call for leaders at COP28 to commit to urgent action on the climate crisis.
We’re going to meet at 11:50am at St James’s Square, SW1Y 4LE. This is next to the office of BP, one of the world’s largest fossil fuel companies.
A large march calling for a ceasefire in the war in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory is now going to be taking place in London on the same day as we gather to call for leaders at COP28 to act on the climate crisis.
As a result, the route for the COP28 march is going to be shorter than originally planned:
Once we meet at St James’s Square at 11:50am, we’ll hold a moment to gather with people from different faith and belief groups to pray or reflect on the need for leaders to act at COP28.
There will then be a rally taking place outside BP to call for governments to stop supporting fossil fuels.
Following the rally, there will be a short march that will end just before 2:00pm at Trafalgar Square, with many people taking part in the climate march going on to join the Palestine march.
Along with Christian Aid and Tearfund, CAFOD have written a set of prayers that we will say when we meet outside BP. And, of course, if you’re unable to join us in person to call for leaders to act at COP28, you can say these prayers with us from wherever you are in the world.
We will be there with the Westminster Justice and Peace banner from 11.45am.
A group of Westminster parishioners recently completed a Taster Course in British Sign Language, (BSL) given by Shell Roca, Caritas Deaf Service, at Sacred Heart Church, Kilburn. Shell was an inspiring teacher – she taught us some basic greetings, questions, Mass parts and prayers but more importantly – gave us some understanding of what Deaf people experience in their parishes. It’s estimated that one in six parishioners is Deaf or hard or hearing – they have so much to offer the Church community – whether it is learning about our faith or other skills – but we really need to make our communities more accessible to them.
I always imagined that Deaf people were able to communicate through lip-reading – but in fact it is estimated that only 30-40 percent of speech sounds can be lip-read – even under the best conditions! More than 150,000 people use BSL. It was considered a true language in 2003, but officially recognised as a language with legal status in the UK last year. (Read more about BSL here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Sign_Language )
Shell showed us that BSL isn’t simply English with hand signs. It is a different language with its own grammar and sentence construction, using graceful combination of hand gestures, facial expressions and body language. They might take us quite a long time to time to learn – but at least we’ve made a start!
Shell also explained that there are lots of other sign languages around the world – even the Irish use a different one. (Fr Terry Murray, Parish Priest at Kilburn uses that one) – but that’s another story.
At the end of the course Shell gave us information about where we can take more courses in BSL. Several of us are planning to do that.
During the recent Synodal discussions the main response from Deaf people in Westminster Diocese, was the need for more interpreters, so that Mass and the life of the Church is more accessible to them. Deaf Catholics want to practice their faith, contribute to their parish and be fully part of Catholic Church.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday 10 December 4pm London: Signed Mass at St Mary & St Michael, 2 Lukin Street, Commercial Road E1 0AA
Sunday 17 December 11.30am Signed Mass At Our Lady Queen of Apostles, 141 Woodhall Lane, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 3TP
Sunday 7 January 4.30pm London: Signed Mass Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Avenue, Victoria SW1P 1QH – Entrance to the hall via choir school car park. Mass starts at 4.30pm and there will be the opportunity for confession before Mass starts.Mass is in BSL and in spoken English. Entrance to the hall is via the choir school car park (the Hall is also wheelchair accessible).
A nationwide project to encourage local action against human trafficking and modern slavery in partnership with police and statutory agencies is being launched at a Catholic parish in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, on Thursday, 30 November. The project aims to mobilise local communities across the United Kingdom to recognise and report the signs of human trafficking to the police and call on all government agencies to ensure their neighbourhoods become slave-free.
Hitchin was chosen as the launchpad for this nationwide project as it has had a long association in the struggle against slavery. It was one of the first towns to set up its own anti-slavery society in 1825, following leading abolitionist Thomas Clarkson setting up the first national society. A monument to Clarkson was erected in nearby Wadesmill, Hertfordshire in recognition of the place where he famously devoted his life to anti-slavery in 1785 while resting at Wadesmill on his way to London from Cambridgeshire. Freed slave and leading abolitionist Henry Garnett also visited Hitchin in 1850 in recognition of the town’s place in the movement to abolish slavery.
The Hitchin event is organised by the Santa Marta Group and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster, which also covers Hertfordshire. The Santa Marta Group was set up in 2014 when Pope Francis instructed Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster to lead the work to end human trafficking and modern slavery as an important mission for the Catholic Church across the world. SMG now has partners in over 40 countries, working with leaders in police, the justice system, diplomats, business as well as local communities.
The United Nations currently estimates there are 50 million people trafficked across the world, making over $150bn in profits for criminal gangs. In the UK alone last year 17,000 victims of trafficking were identified, with around 40% being children and 25% of victims being UK nationals. The scale of this crime against humanity led to all United Nations members making the eradication of human trafficking and modern slavery one of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8.7 – which calls for immediate action by all UN members to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and eliminate the worst forms of child labour by 2030).
Cardinal Nichols, president of the Santa Marta Group, said: “This crime against humanity damages individuals and communities everywhere, for these victims of human trafficking are not remote; they are in our midst, in our local communities here in the UK.
“We are all part of this endeavour. Individuals and local communities can change events through what we do and what we demand is done by the police, government agencies and businesses in our neighbourhoods. I appeal to all of you to take up this challenge. These resources, prepared by the Santa Marta Group, will inform you about human trafficking and show what you can do to bring about the changes that will end this evil trade and help to restore freedom and dignity to so many of our brothers and sisters.”
The aim of the Hitchin event is to start a process that will enhance awareness and understanding of human trafficking and modern slavery around Catholic parishes and other local community groups. At the end of these sessions, these groups will have received awareness and guidance on how to use their individual and collective voices to increase actions in countering this horrific crime in their localities and improve services for victims.
SMG’s new ‘Guidance and Awareness Handbook’ for parishes will be distributed for the first time. It will provide ideas and suggestions on increasing prevention, protection, support to victims, and accountability led by communities but delivered by statutory agencies.
By initiating the conversation and equipping local communities with knowledge on how to spot and combat human trafficking and modern slavery within their own communities, the UK will be brought one step closer to eradicating this crime and fulfilling the aims of SDG 8.7.
This event has been organised through the collaboration of Bishop Paul McAleenan from the Westminster Diocese with the Santa Marta Group. The presentation and subsequent discussion will be led by SMG’s Global Strategy Director, Kevin Hyland, formerly the UK’s first Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. This event is the start of a series of events in the Hertfordshire area and across the UK that will continue over the coming year.
‘Awareness and Guidance for Communities’ will take place at Our Lady Immaculate & St Andrew Parish Hall, 16 Nightingale Road, Hitchin, SG5 1QS, November 30, 2023, 7pm – 9pm
World Aids Day Mass will take place in London on Friday 1 December, 6pm, at Farm Street Jesuit Church, Mayfair, in the presence of the City of Westminster Deputy Lord Mayor, the Hon Alderman Cllr Guthrie McKie.
The chief celebrant and preacher will be Fr Kieran Fitzsimmons OFM.
(For those joining the Music Group for this Mass, there will be a practice at 5.30 prompt.)
A display on HIV/AIDS pastoral support has been mounted in a side chapel – available to visit from now until 4 December.
Diocese of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission 