All posts by Stephen Cooke

NJPN eBulletin 13th February 2022

Dear Friends,

Today we celebrate Racial Justice Sunday, the theme being ‘In the image and likeness of God.’ Again, like last year, we are asked to reflect upon the importance of everyone recognising themselves, their race, their culture and their history in the life of the Church. Racial Justice really is everyone’s business.

Not really a justice and peace issue, but worthy of a mention anyway, is the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne. I felt a little bit ashamed last weekend. As it was my Mum’s Anniversary and prayers were being offered, I went to a Catholic Mass and a Church of England Service. At the latter they gave congratulations and offered prayers for Her Majesty the Queen in acknowledgement of her seventy years on the throne. This is something that in our church we didn’t mention, and indeed hadn’t remembered (and what makes it worse is that I produce our church’s newsletter).  Whether you are a royalist or not, sitting in a job and being in the public eye for all that time is an amazing achievement. Throughout all of the ups and downs, the Queen has steadfastly stuck to her religious principles, and indeed usually mentions them in her Christmas broadcast. Despite the various family issues, most of which have been aired in public, she has remained a constant presence, and yet at times I am sure she wanted to just give up and go home! Thank you, your Majesty, for the hard work that you have put into reigning this country for the past seventy years.

There are a lot of issues in this e-bulletin, although many of them all stem from the same major issue – the climate. Refugees/Migrants, Modern Slavery, the decline of species, environmental problems, the energy crisis – they are pretty much all under one umbrella. If we could just address the climate, especially the effect that it has in the Global South, then many other problems could also be helped. We all talked about COP26, but don’t forget the Biodiversity Conference, COP15, coming up in China this year, and also COP27 in Egypt in November….all is not yet lost, surely?

A reminder to everyone to get their bookings in early for the NJPN Conference in July. The price goes up after the 20th May.

I look forward to communicating with you all in around two weekends time. If you have anything in the meantime that you want mentioned, please do not hesitate to email it to me: – ebulletin@justice-and-peace.org.uk.

God bless
Sharon (Editor)

NJPN eBulletins

Upcoming Romero Events

Please find below the ad and flyer for the Ecumenical Romero Service at St Martin’s in the Field, Trafalgar Square on March 19th 2022.

Edgardo is a Methodist theologian, and Dean of the Divinity School at Duke University in North Carolina. He has written an absolutely superb volume on Romero entitled ‘Oscar Romero’s Theological Vision – Liberation and the Transfiguration of the Poor’.

 

He will also be speaking in Durham Cathedral on Thursday March 24th at 7.00pm and in Birmingham (Newman University) on Tuesday March 22nd at 17.30.  On Saturday March 26th he will speak in Cardiff at 11.00 am at a meeting organised under the auspices of CYTUN.

More details in the weeks ahead.

 

St Oscar Romero

NW NJPN E BULLETIN FOR FEBRUARY 2022

A packed NW NJPN E Bulletin for February has information on current campaigns and forthcoming events plus resources for Lent including an Ash Wednesday lament from Leeds-based Climate Change activist Revd Jon Swales.

Henrietta Cullinan provides eye-witness accounts gathered by Afghanistan Peace Project on the dangerous situation in Kabul facing many people, especially women, under the rule of the Taliban;  Amnesty International has issued a new report –  “Israel’s Apartheid against Palestinians”; Ian Linden looks back over the pivotal role played by  Durban’s Catholic Archbishop Denis Hurley  in the fight against apartheid; Social Justice Co-ordinator for Justice and Peace Scotland, Danny Sweeney reflects on the recent Edinburgh celebration for the beatification of Fr Rutilio Grande and companions, and US social justice activist Sr Joan Chittister documents Santa Fe’s Archbishop John Wester brave call for the abolition of all nuclear weapons.

Closer to home, anti-poverty campaigner Jack Monroe is setting up a price index to monitor supermarket costs for economy range staple goods; a new bill officially recognising British Sign Language is on the way to becoming law; the SVP say that the government’s long-awaited Levelling Up White Paper represents a missed opportunity to address the ingrained social and economic disparity across the UK and Church Action for Tax Justice are dismayed that the Economic Crime Bill has been dropped. The appointment of a new Archbishop for Glasgow is good news for Justice and Peace. Bishop Willian Nolan shares Pope Francis’ concerns for the plight of migrants, protection of the planet and opposition to the arms trade.

There is still (just!) time for young people to enter the Columban’s media competition before the closing date of 11 February. Recent years have showcased some outstanding original thought from the winners.

Finally, it’s hard to keep up with the latest developments in UK politics following the publication of Sue Gray’s ‘partygate’ report – information was current at the time of mailing this bulletin – but Boris Johnson’s premiership looks to be increasingly under pressure.

Please read and pass on to others.

Best wishes

Anne O’Connor

NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin February 2022

NJPN North West

NW NJPN eBulletin January 2022

The NW NJPN E BULLETIN for January 2022 celebrates CAFOD, whose 60th Anniversary occurs this year, as well as Church Action on Poverty (40 years), and the publication of  the document The Common Good and the Catholic Church’ Social Teaching 25 years ago.  This Sunday is Peace Sunday and we have a wide range of resources which can also be used throughout the year. There are links to talks and zoom meetings on a variety of topics plus book reviews and other diary dates. Please look through the bulletin for additional dates of interest.

NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin January 2022

NJPN North West

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