Our mission is to energise the work of Justice and Peace in our diocese.

EVENTS COMING SHORTLY
May 18^th - Spiritual Responses to Conflict
A workshop exploring the role of conflict in spiritual growth, and approaches and tools for responding consciously to conflict, led by Justine Huxley.
10 am to 5pm at St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, 78 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AG £65 (concessions £40). www.stethelburgas.org phone 020 7496 1610

May 19th - Our 2012 Spring Assembly - Aylesford Priory

We had excellent speakers on the topic from Traidcraft, CAFOD, World Development Movement and Medway Food Bank. To see the presentations click:

Bishop Pat Lynch's excellent homily from the Mass for Migrants held in Westminster Cathedral on May 7th is now available to read and there as an audio recording at:
http://www.rcdow.org.uk/diocese/default.asp?library_ref=4&content_ref=3778
or http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=20348
A small selection of photos from the day is also available http://www.flickr.com/photos/catholicwestminster/sets/72157629621439572/

Resources from our Training Day - March 10th 2012

Report on the Catholic Migration Forum Seminar - Amigo Hall December 1st.
The link below gives a full report on a most interesting day and includes links to inputs from Bishop Pat Lynch and Sr Eugenia Bonetti MC (Union of Major Superiors) ‘Counter-Trafficking Office’ Rome. Also to a podcast from Detective Inspector Kevin Hyland of Scotland Yard's Trafficking and Prostitution Unit.
http://www.catholicnews.org.uk/Home/News/Human-Trafficking-Seminar

'Big Society? - Fair Society? - Just Society?'
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation: Autumn Assembly

Our Commission for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation Autumn Assembly was held in the Amigo Hall of Saturday, 22nd October 2011, with over fifty attending. We were particularly pleased to welcome Bishop Patrick Lynch and Bishop Howard Tripp.

The day started with table discussions which gave everyone the opportunity to discuss matters of interest and each table then gave feedback to the whole room.

The first speaker was Daniel Hale from Progressio, accompanied by Semhar Mengis, one of their young volunteers. They gave us a world view speaking on ‘Building the Really Big Society’.

Their presentation was followed by Barbara Kentish from Westminster J&P who gave the Southwark launch of ‘100 Days of Peace’, an initiative to involve all schools and parishes in creating a legacy of peace during and after the Olympics. Leaflets are available of request from our JPIC office. There is more information at www.peacelegacy.org.uk

Bishop Patrick with Francis Davis

At lunchtime we were most pleased to host a book launch. ‘Catholic Social Conscience: Reflection and Action on Catholic Social Teaching’ sets out, in a collection of essays, to explore the possibilities for a renewed Catholic social conscience in these times of change.

In the afternoon we listened to two excellent speakers on the topic of ‘Big Society? – Fair Society? - Just Society’. Francis Davis, who is one of the editors of the book which was launched at the meeting, is a fellow of Blackfriars Hall, Oxford University, and a director of the Las Casas Institute on Ethics, Human Rights and Social Justice. Alison Gelder is Director of Housing Justice and a member of our JPIC committee.
The day concluded with a question and answer session with a panel comprised of Bishop Patrick and all the day’s speakers.

Resources from our Training Day - September 10th 2011

The Big Society - A call to true Apostolate"
"Why does the Lord want you to work for Justice and peace?"
Go to our Resources page to read or print these two new articles

2011 Migrants Mass: On Bank Holiday Monday, May 2^nd a congregation of some 1,500 people - many from London's diverse ethnic communities - attended the annual Mass for Migrant Workers, held this year at St George's Cathedral. Archbishop Peter Smith was chief celebrant and about 60 priests from across London concelebrated.

The service began with a colourful procession of banners from dozens of parishes and Catholic organisations. At the Offertory, as well as the bread and wine, migrant workers brought up symbols of their work such as hammers and briefcases.

Bishop Thomas McMahon preached the homily which was greeted with a round of applause at its conclusion.

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Text of Pope Benedict's Homily on World Day of Peace
January 1st 2011 10th January 2011

Our Autumn Assembly
Our Autumn Assembly featured a talk by Archbishop Peter Smith entitled "Why Justice & Peace"
In his talk the Archbishop referred to an article by Paul Donovan and this plus his talk has sparked a lively debate.

More Than Gold have a free DVD available. To help your Church capture the potential of the Games. Fast-moving and with music by Delirious?, the creative production shows what's been done at past Games and what churches like yours could do here.
There are two versions, each designed for a different audience.
Church version (3 mins 39 secs) for services, home groups, etc, opening eyes to the opportunities the Games offer. Leaders version (6 mins 24 secs) as above but with additional background and advice on the next steps.
To watch, order or download go to www.morethangold.org.uk/dvd 1st December 2010

Catholic Social Teaching Web Site www.catholicsocialteaching.org.uk The launch of the LiveSimply website marks the arrival of a valuable tool for schools, parishes and beyond. The site will provide a resource for people to work with in deepening their understanding of the faith.
Once described as the Church’s best kept secret, the social teachings offer a blueprint for those working for justice both inside and outside of the Church. The site focuses on the six themed areas of human dignity, community and participation, care for creation, life and work, peace, and solidarity.
Contributors include South African Archbishops Desmond Tutu and Kevin Dowling, Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of York John Sentamu, Ellen Teague, Mary Colwell and Bruce Kent. The launch of the site comes at a timely moment with Pope Benedict recently stressing the urgent need "for commitment to educating Catholic laity in Church social doctrine". 1st December 2010

Welcome to Archbishop Peter Smith and thank you for the encouragement in your homily: "I have no doubt that the faith of the Church is alive and active today. It is manifested in the lives of so many good and holy laypeople, in the vibrant life of our parishes and religious communities, and in the dedicated and selfless ministry of our priests and deacons. It is being fulfilled day by day in the work of our Catholic schools and colleges, organisations such as CAFOD, the Justice and Peace Networks....." 10th June 2010

Thank you to all who joined us at Aylesford on May 22nd. for our Spring Assembly on "Grassroots Social Justice" Our speakers from the eight organisations gave us a great insight to the work being carried our in our parishes and communities and our keynote speaker, John Battle, was as inspirational as always. Our picture shows John Battle with Fr Michael Scanlon at the end of the afternoon.

11th June 2010

“Meeting God in Friend and Stranger: fostering mutual respect and understanding between the religions” is a new teaching document on interreligious dialogue from the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. Our own Archbishop Kevin had a leading role in its development and production. See our Local Events page for details of a workshop.

Choosing the Common Good
The keenly awaiting document from the Bishops' Conference, developing the Church's position on topics relevant to the incoming government, is now available

Correspondence with Gordon Brown
Following the publication of Caritas in Veritate, our chair Fr Michael Scanlon wrote to the Prime Minister sending him a copy of the Holy Father’s encyclical and inviting his thoughts. In his reply Gordon Brown pays tribute to the Pope’s concern for peace and justice throughout the world and also thanks Fr Michael for the practical steps being taken in the Catholic communities to encourage justice and peace.

"If You Want To Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation" is the theme of Pope Benedict’s message for the celebration of the forty-third World Day of Peace.
To download the Holy Father's message 14th December 2009

The Wave - climate change protest.

On 5^th December more than 50,000 came together in London to demand action on climate change at The Wave, the biggest ever UK climate change march. Not only did Ed Miliband (Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change) hear us, but Gordon Brown invited 24 Wave supporters to 10 Downing Street after the event to hear their demands.

Some started from Grosvenor Square and walked a 3 mile route passing the Houses of Parliament and crossing Lambeth Bridge to come back over Westminster Bridge. Others started at the ecumenical service in Westminster Central Hall led by Archbishops Vincent Nichols and Rowan Williams.

Passing Piccadilly Circus 7th December 2009

Our Autumn Assembly

	The main topic of our Autumn Assembly, held at St Peter's, Woolwich“ on 17th October was "The Changing Face of Britain” celebrating 25 years of CARJ (Catholic Association for Racial Justice). The pictures show Bishop Howard Tripp with Haynes Baptiste, one of the speakers from CARJ and Bishop Pat Lynch with
	Margaret Ann Fisken, the Chair of CARJ, Tony Lobo and Richard Zipfel. Other speakers were Mr Pat Winston, head teacher from St Paul's Academy and Petra Kjell, Environment Policy and Advocacy officer from Progressio who spoke on "Water, Climate Change and Copenhagen.

2nd November 2009

Report from National Justice & Peace Network conference 2009
On the Road Together: A~Mazed by Migration
A summary of the report on the Open Space debate from the conference is now available to download please click

Also Bishop Pat's homily "Our mission to, with and for migrants today: the context, the principles and the pastoral strategy" and the views of all the keynote speakers .

If you have difficulty downloading or printing any of the above we are happy to post copies from the office. 14th October 2009

Holy Father’s Video Message to Climate Change Summit
Pope Benedict sent a video message to participants in the UN summit on climate change, which was held in New York on 22 September.
Speaking in English his message started: "I wish to reflect today upon the relationship between the Creator and ourselves as guardians of His creation. In so doing I also wish to offer my support to leaders of governments and international agencies who are meeting at the United Nations to discuss the urgent issue of climate change….” 28th September 2009

Tobin Tax developments
Foreign minister David Miliband was named by his French counterpart as a supporter of a Tobin tax on financial transactions in a move designed to show growing support for a clampdown on excessive bank profits.
Bernard Kouchner, the French foreign minister, said in an interview that Miliband agreed on the need for a new tax on financial transactions to fund development.

For more information follow this link to The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/sep/17/miliband-tobin-tax-french
see also our September 21st 2009

Pope Benedict urges leaders to be responsible stewards of creation

World leaders should address global environmental issues "with generous courage", that Man is called to responsible governance of creation and the current model of global development needs transformation, Pope Benedict said yesterday.

August 27th 2009

Government slashes support to asylum seekers awaiting a decision.

The government has announced that it is cutting its cash support to destitute asylum seekers waiting for a decision. Currently, single asylum seekers over the age of 25 receive £42.16 a week, which is 30% less than a single person over the age of 25 who is resident in the UK. The government is planning to reduce this to £35.15 per week from October, leaving asylum seekers with only £5 per day to live on.

Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council said:
“ These changes mean asylum seekers will receive a little over half of what the government says is the minimum people need to live on.... Surely a more practical solution would be to allow those that can to work and contribute to the growth of our economy, rather than penalising the poorest and most vulnerable?” www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/stopcuts for more information and a draft letter to send to the Home Secretary. August 24th 2009

August 19th 2009

Bruce Kent leads a peaceful demonstration outside the American Embassy calling for health care provision for the 50 million Americans who have inadequate cover.

Look at our Resources section to read

or print the new Papal Encyclical “Caritas in
Veritate” together with comments from various sources.

Southwark Archdiocesan JPIC Office Phone / Fax 020 7928 9742 e-mail: office@southwarkjandp.co.uk

'Big Society? - Fair Society? - Just Society?' Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation: Autumn Assembly

Government slashes support to asylum seekers awaiting a decision.

'Big Society? - Fair Society? - Just Society?'
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation: Autumn Assembly