Fr Romanelli (centre) on a visit to London last year with Bishop Nicholas Hudson (l). Photo: ICN
Pax Christi England and Wales
Pax Christi England and Wales and Pax Christi International have issued the following statements in response to the deadly attack on the Holy Family Church in Gaza yesterday.
This morning’s horrific news that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) struck the Holy Family Church in Gaza is both shocking and shameful. We know that at least six people are injured, including Fr Romanelli, and that two people have been killed. Lord have mercy.
If we are ever to overcome the myth of redemptive violence, then our response is never revenge.
Our response is never apathy. Our response is never neutrality. Instead, we dare to proclaim the revolutionary power of Jesus’ way of nonviolence. The way of the cross, the way of redemptive suffering, that ultimately leads to joy, hope, peace and resurrection.
Today it might seem that we are in the darkness of the tomb. Yet even inside the tomb something is happening. Young people in Tel Aviv are burning their draft cards and refusing to fight for the IDF. Across the world people are non-violently resisting the sale of arms to Israel. Acts of solidarity, prayer and fasting are the tools by which we bring about a revolution of the heart – one person at a time.
Let us never forget the power we each have to make a difference. The works of war destroy lives, land, and futures. The works of mercy support life and bring hope. Let’s commit ourselves afresh to pray and act in every way possible to make real our solidarity with the suffering people of Gaza and bring an end to this genocide in which the UK government is complicit.
Pax Christi International
Pax Christi International supports the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem and strongly condemns today’s Israeli military strike on Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, a place of sanctuary for displaced civilians.
We stand in solidarity and prayer with all those Christians and Muslims sheltering in the parish compound.
We mourn those who have died, Mr Saad Salameh, Mrs Fumayya Ayaad and Najwa Abu Daoud. We pray that they will rest in peace and send our deepest condolences to their families and friends. We hope for a good recovery for Fr Gabriel and all those injured in the attack.
We echo Pope Leo XIV and the Latin Patriarchate in calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
As the Patriarch has said, ‘The time has come for leaders to raise their voices and to do all that is necessary in order to stop this tragedy, which is humanly and morally unjustified.’
Pax Christi calls on the international community, political and religious, to raise their voices and take urgent action to protect all civilians and humanitarian spaces to enable:
– An immediate and permanent ceasefire and immediate access to humanitarian aid for everyone in Gaza, to be distributed through UNWRA and other experienced NGOs; -The release of all hostages, Israeli and Palestinian; -A complete arms embargo on Israel; -An end to all trade with illegal Israeli settlements; -An end to the Israeli siege on Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank.
Bishop Nicholas Hudson, Auxiliary Bishop in Westminster with responsibility for Justice and Peace, Chair of the International Affairs Department of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and Moderator of the Holy Land Coordination, has condemned the alarming escalation in settler violence taking place in the West Bank town of Taybeh.
On Tuesday, 8 July, priests representing the town’s three Christian churches issued a joint statement about the repeated attacks on their land, holy sites, and property. They reported an account of arson that threatened the 5th century church of Saint George (Al-Khadr), one of the oldest religious sites in Palestine, and highlighted an on-going campaign of violence and intimidation that impacts on the security and stability of Taybeh.
Bishop Nicholas Hudson learned about the challenges facing the town and the local community when he visited the Catholic Church of Christ the Redeemer in January as part of an international delegation of bishops meeting in the Holy Land.
He said: “Just six months ago, I was in Taybeh visiting what is now the last remaining entirely Christian town in the West Bank, as part of the annual Holy Land Co-ordination meeting.
“We were able to hear firsthand from Fr Bashar Fawadleh, parish priest of the Church of Christ the Redeemer, about the extreme pressure being placed on the local community by Israeli settlers acting with impunity.
“In recent days we have learned of an alarming escalation in settler violence and intimidation that is going unchecked by the authorities. The local churches have appealed to the international community for help and solidarity, and we wish them to know that we have heard their cry. We strongly condemn these attacks and all acts of intimidation perpetrated against civilians in Taybeh and across the West Bank, and we urge the relevant authorities to take decisive action to prevent such incidents from happening again.
“Taybeh, or ‘Ephraim’ as it is known in the Bible, holds deep significance to Christians. These deliberate and repeated attacks are a violation of human dignity and international law in a place that once offered shelter to Christ himself.
“The Palestinian Christians we encountered in January stressed to us that all they want to do is live and work in peace in their own lands, without the paralysing restriction of movement placed upon them, so they can provide for their families and live side-by-side with their neighbours.
“We encourage the Catholic faithful in England and Wales to pray for the suffering Christians and all those affected by this violence in the West Bank. Equally, we invite all people of goodwill to raise their voices in the face of oppression and injustice, urging our leaders to use their influence to bring an end to this persecution.
“It is important to echo the cry of the Taybeh church leaders when they say that the Holy Land cannot remain alive without its indigenous people. As they say, ‘Forcibly removing farmers from their land, threatening their churches, and encircling their towns is a wound to the living heart of this nation’. We stand in solidarity with the Christians of Taybeh and the wider Holy Land, who have a right to live in safety and security. With them, we have faith that truth with justice will prevail.”
Auxiliary Bishop in Westminster and Lead Bishop for the Holy Land for the Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Jim Curry, has echoed Pope Leo XIV’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza1:
“This is a humanitarian disaster. Desperately needed aid supplies must be allowed into Gaza to be urgently distributed to civilians. The human cost is intolerably high with tens of thousands of weary, regularly displaced people threatened with starvation. We need an immediate ceasefire to end the suffering.
“As Pope Leo said at his first General Audience2, children, the elderly and the sick are paying a very heavy price, and I would echo the Holy Father’s heartfelt appeal for ‘dignified’ humanitarian aid to be allowed to pass into Gaza – not just an inadequate trickle of food and supplies that has been promised in recent days.”
Bishop Curry also referenced Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s joint statement, with the leaders of Canada and France, on the situation in Gaza, released on 19 May:
“International humanitarian law has to be respected and a viable pathway to de-escalation and peace sought by Israel and Hamas, supported by the international community,” said Bishop Curry.
“The remaining hostages in Gaza, held for 19 months since the Hamas terror attack on 7 October, must be released to put an end to their suffering and that of their families. I welcome the statement by the UK Prime Minister and the leaders of France and Canada, particularly the assertion that the best hope of achieving this and alleviating the pain and hardship facing the civilians in Gaza is to work tirelessly for a long-term political solution.
“It is important not to lose sight of the legitimate right of Palestinians to self-determination. The Church has consistently advocated for a two-state solution to enable Palestinians and Israelis to live side by side in peace.”
Bishop Curry said he was also praying for the Christians of Gaza:
“I continue to pray for Fr Gabriel Romanelli and the Christian community sheltering in the compound of the Holy Family Church, north of the Wadi. It is a humbling inspiration to all of us outside the conflict zone to witness their strength of faith in the Risen Christ, and how they continue to lead a humble sacramental life despite the incredible hardship and distress they are facing.”
Bishop Jim Curry is the Lead Bishop for the Holy Land for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and is a member of the Department for International Affairs.
In Holy Week our thoughts and prayers are very much on the Holy Land and particularly on the last days of Jesus, as he approached Jerusalem.
In an act of deep symbolism and solidarity a number of Catholic and Anglican Dioceses have again chosen Palestinian Olive Oil as the base for their Holy Oils. These include the Catholic Dioceses of Arundel and Brighton, Birmingham, Liverpool, Nottingham, Southwark and Westminster and the Anglican Dioceses of Coventry, Leicester, Rochester, Sheffield and Southwark.
Each year, during the Chrism Mass, the local bishop blesses new oils for the diocese. The holy oils are then taken to each parish, where they are used for Sacramental anointing throughout the year.
This year we are again deeply shocked and saddened by all we see and hear from our friends and partners living in the Holy Land.
Palestinians are living in vastly increased poverty as unemployment rises to unprecedented levels and freedom of movement is denied throughout the occupied West Bank. As well as Palestinian olive trees being burst, cut down or uprooted throughout the year, gathering the harvest last Autumn proved to be a greater challenge than normal with extreme violence from the Israeli Military and Israeli settlers. Many families were refused access to their lands and their olives were stolen. We received terrible stories were during this time and sadly one woman farmer, Hanan Abu Salameh, was shot by an Israeli soldier while harvesting olives in Faqua, near Jenin.
Never has our solidarity and support for the Holy Land been needed more and this Easter it’s good to know that we are linked in such a special way to the Palestinian families who have produced the oil that will be used throughout the year in the Sacraments of the Sick, Baptism and Holy Orders and in the anointing of new bishops.
Canon Rob Esdaile, a priest of Arundel & Brighton Diocese, who has long been active in work for peace and justice, says: “The olive tree has long been a symbol of the heritage of the inhabitants of the Holy Land.
“Psalm 133 uses the vivid image of olive oil running down a man’s beard as a symbol of peace in the community and of ‘brothers dwelling in unity’, while the same oil was used by Samuel to anoint both King Saul and King David.
“It is beyond tragic that Zionist settlers systematically and deliberately destroy Palestinian olive groves, while the annual olive harvest (always a communal effort in Palestinian settlements) in the face of military blockades and the theft of land has become a symbol of resistance and hope. Our liturgical use of Palestinian olive oil is both an act of solidarity and a very physical prayer for the peace of Jerusalem and of the whole Holy Land.”
While we take part in the services of Holy Week, we remember that many Palestinians have been refused permits from the Israeli Authorities to enable them to worship in Jerusalem. We are asked to keep them in our prayers as we hope for a Just Peace for all in the Holy Land.
More than 175,000 people of all faiths and none took part in the 24th March for Palestine in London on Saturday, 15 February.
The Christian Bloc gathered for prayers at St Matthew’s Church Westminster, before joining the main body of the march in Parliament Square to walk to the US Embassy.
The short service of hymns, readings and prayers opened with a call to worship written by Palestinian women for the World Day of Prayer 2024: “Let us praise God who brings us together to worship in love and unity – Unity in the Triune God, transcending difference in views and theological interpretations. Let us remember these essential qualities of people of faith: humility gentlest ness , patience and love.”
Another prayer written by Palestinian Christians was an appeal:
“God of Compassion, for nearly 80 years Palestinian people have endured dispossession and loss. From Gaza to the West Bank the weight of impression continues to bear down on our hearts.. We grieve the pain of those who have lived through generations of injustice …. Grant peace to the afflicted, comfort the grieving and strength to the oppressed. Embolden the world to put an end to the cycle of violence and injustice.”
After singing the final hymn: – ‘We Are Marching’ – participants began to file out with banners including: ‘Quakers For Peace’, ‘Christians For Palestine’ ‘Palestinian Lives Matter – Break the Chains of Injustice.’
The NJPN have issued the following response to President Trump’s announcement that he plans to evict the entire population of Gaza and redevelop it.
The National Justice and Peace Network of England and Wales rejects completely the proposal of the President of the United States for the ‘takeover’ of Gaza and the obscene plan to create yet another playground for the wealthy. The proposal violates international humanitarian and human rights law and blatantly disregards the basic rights of the Palestinian people.
To suggest that movement of the population of Gaza will be voluntary, when the area has been deliberately rendered uninhabitable, is contemptible.
There is no concern for Palestinian people who have no wish to leave their homeland? Where are they expected to go?
As pilgrims of hope in this Jubilee year, where is the hope for the people of the land called ‘Holy’? Hope is to be found in the countless displaced Gazans as they trek back to their homes in the desecrated neighbourhoods of Gaza. NJPN applauds their courage and supports them in their right to be agents of their own future in a Palestinian homeland.
As people of faith, we are called to speak and act with truth and integrity and to condemn injustice and any failures to recognise the innate dignity of all our sisters and brothers, who have the right to live in a land of their choosing.
We call on our elected leaders, and our faith leaders, to listen to the voices of those who condemn such an outrage, to speak out and to actively stand against the proposal from the United States, in solidarity with the people of Palestine. To remain passive is to collude in crimes against humanity. We must ALL speak out for a sustainable peace that is built on justice and on the recognition of the equal rights and dignity of all people.
Christians gathered for ecumenical prayers in St Matthews Church, Westminster, on Saturday, before joining the Christian Bloc on the latest National March for Palestine.
After a welcome by the Rector of St Matthews, Fr Philip Chester, this gathering statement was read, reminding all that it was All Souls Day when the Church comes together to remember all who have died:
“This day also marks the 107th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration… which was instrumental in the creation of the state of Israel, the dispossession of the Palestinian people and many decades of oppression and violence.
“With lament we recall the role played by Christian Zionist theology in this dark history. This same theology continues to be employed today as a pretext for ongoing ethnic cleansing, apartheid and genocide.
As we gather for prayers on this All Souls Day – mourning every life taken in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Lebanon and across the Middle East – we refuse to let our faith be used to justify so many atrocities. We are united in our belief in a gospel of liberation. None of us are free until all are free.”
After the service ended, participants from many denominations, including Anglicans, Catholics, Methodists, Quakers (and two dogs) processed out to join the main march to the American Embassy, led by a drummer.
One of the marchers, Jenny Rossiter from Kentish Town told ICN: “I had to join the service on All Souls Day to remember all those lives that have been cut short by this hideous conflict.”
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
Diocese of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission 