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!
There have been long, socially-distanced queues in Trafalgar Square this week – but people weren’t lining up to see the latest exhibition at the National Gallery. They have all been guests of the new Homeless Refreshment Station, under the Fourth Plinth which started up on Monday.
Organised by Caritas Westminster with the Sikh charity Nishkam SWAT, the project offers drinks, snacks, toiletries and other takeaways for the growing number of homeless people stranded in a deserted central London.
Since the lockdown began, central London churches – including St Patrick’s, Farm Street and the French Church – have been serving hundreds of breakfasts and evening meals, thanks to the generosity of Claridges and the Connaught Hotel. Now homeless people also have somewhere to go during the day.
Anthony Doran, from the lead parish, Farm Street in Mayfair, explained that his group, which also includes volunteers from Holy Apostles, Pimlico and Holy Redeemer Chelsea, work on Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Holy Apostles has loaned their mini-bus to carry trestle tables and supplies. The team, (who supplied their own personal protection equipment – PPE) give out hot and cold drinks, snacks, and cookies donated by 45 Park Lane Cafe at the Dorchester, toiletries and takeaways. Anthony said: “On the first day we had 75 guests. On the Tuesday 85 people came. By the Wednesday there were 140. We think we can take up to 250 altogether.”
“These people need our support. People don’t realise – with this lockdown – even most public toilets are closed. When the weather is warm its not so bad – but when it starts raining its miserable out there.”
The Sikh charity Nishkam SWAT takes over on Thursday and Friday – as well as sometimes offering evening meals in the Square. CEO Randeep Lall told ICN that besides hot and cold drinks they offer veggie wraps with hash browns, mushrooms, veggie sausages and biscuits. This week they were also able to give t-shirts, caps, rucksacks and reusable coffee cups.
When the Covid-19 lockdown began on 23 March, it was reported that the Mayor and Government had committed more than £10m to providing London’s rough sleepers with “hotel accommodation and support during the pandemic.”
A press release from City Hall on 14 April stated that “more than 1,000 homeless Londoners are now self-isolating in hotels and other safe locations across the capital, thanks to the work of the Mayor Sadiq Khan’s rough sleeping team, boroughs and charity partners.”
No one was available to answer enquiries today, but it would seem that there are many more homeless people now in central London than there were at the start of the lockdown, many of whom have not been housed yet.
Randeep said: “Some of the people who had been given rooms in hotels, settled well, but they were given very little food and no support. We’ve heard some horror stories. Some were given frozen meals but they had no microwaves. If someone has a mental health or drug problem you can’t just give them a room. Its a recipe for disaster. They need more support. “
He added: “To be honest though I don’t want to point the finger at anyone. For us it is an honour to be able to serve the homeless. We embrace and value this opportunity to be able to serve in this way.”
Several people attending the Refreshment Station appear to be newly homeless – staff from the hospitality and catering industry, and others, who have lost their jobs and live-in accommodation – and have nowhere else to go.
Anthony Doran said: “This looks as though its going to become a growing problem – but we will be here doing as much as we can for as long as we are needed.”
Fr Dominic Robinson, SJ, Chair of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Diocese of Westminster and Parish Priest of Farm Street Church said: “Since the lockdown seven weeks ago this has been an emergency situation and remains so as the needs have escalated daily. We all need to be grateful for the incredible generosity of the volunteers from the Catholic Church and other faith groups.
“The situation has brought the best out of ordinary Londoners who simply want to step in and help. Without the local hotels and others stepping in to provide hundreds of meals every day, completely free of charge for seven weeks, these homeless would be in very dire straits. In the past week alone Catholic parishes involved have also received £8,500 in generous donations to go towards these homeless services. This has truly been a great team effort between faith groups, local hotels co-ordinated mainly through The Connaught, the police, local residents and the Westminster City Council who have gladly accepted the offer of help. There is, however, still much more to be done for the up to 200 homeless still on our streets at this most dangerous of times and we are still actively looking for accommodation through Catholic Church networks and food services from hotels”.
Fr Robinson went on to say: “As this crisis on the streets continues, the Catholic community must also ask who is really accountable for this clearly serious gap in provision being filled by the Church, other faith groups and hotels. It is particularly disturbing that our volunteers in Trafalgar Square are daily meeting desperate people who have requested help, but are unable to be accommodated and so many who have lost their jobs and are newly homeless as a result, it would seem, of the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
“But now is not the time to point the finger of blame in the midst of these complex circumstances. Rather it is time for us as faith groups, businesses, residents and local government to continue to work together to meet these vital needs of the most vulnerable victims of this current crisis. It is a time for recommitting ourselves to the most vulnerable under our noses so that the homeless will not simply be forgotten when the lockdown ends.
“It must be the hope of all involved that government will continue to work together with faith groups and agencies to ensure every individual who finds themselves homeless in these unprecedented times is given the offer of shelter, sustenance and the respect and dignity they deserve as human beings made in the image of God”.
Colette Joyce, Justice and Peace Co-ordinator for Westminster Diocese, said: “Westminster Council Rough Sleeping Team have been working miracles to get rough sleepers housed and supported in hotels but they have had to turn to the faith groups to provide the majority of the assistance to those still on the streets. We have mobilised volunteers and donors to give generously of their time and resources and we will continue to do so as long as necessary, but this shouldn’t be happening. The Council staff need to be given more resources – including more accommodation – to get people off the streets and into places where they can isolate properly to protect themselves and others from disease transmission. The government should also be ensuring that new cases of homelessness are prevented or picked up and resolved immediately.
On VE Day 1945, Trafalgar Square was a place of jubilant celebration. In 2020 it saw only those in desperate need of something to eat and drink and some human care. This shocking situation has to be dealt with as soon as possible.”
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.”
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…”
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…”
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?
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.”
Join our friends at CAFOD for an online celebration of Mass on Wednesday 29 April at 6pm. Bringing together prayers from and for CAFOD projects and supporters around the world.
Update – The Migrants Mass on Saturday will now be streamed on YouTube as well as Instagram by Brentwood Catholic Youth Service. Get ready to tune in! Everyone welcome, whether you have a migrant background or not.
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
Diocese of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission 