'Act justly, Love tenderly, walk humbly with your God'
Micah 6.8
All posts by Stephen Cooke
Have you joined the Big Bank Switch yet?
Have you joined the Big Bank Switch yet?
Where we bank matters. In this Jubilee Year, Laudato Si’ Movement, JustMoney Movement, Operation Noah and Just Love are inviting Christians across the UK to switch from banks funding fossil fuels to a greener, more ethical bank.
Fossil fuel expansion is the driving cause of the climate crisis. Since the Paris Agreement, the five largest high street banks in the UK – Barclays, HSBC, Santander, NatWest and Lloyds – have provided $556 billion to the fossil fuel industry.
By switching to ethical banks, we send a powerful message to financial institutions: it’s time to stop funding the destruction of our planet.
Join the Big Bank Switch today!
You can take a powerful step for a fossil free future by making a pledge to switch to an ethical bank. Visit the Big Bank Switch website to find out more and sign up: https://justmoney.org.uk/the-big-bank-switch/
The Big Bank Switch The UK’s big banks are financing companies that are fuelling the climate crisis and harming nature. Switch to a greener bank with the Big Bank Switch and you’ll join a growing movement of Christians taking action with their finances to care for God’s creation. Make your Big Bank Switch Pledge! Explore […]
justmoney.org.uk
If you have already switched to an ethical bank, you can still make a difference! Please log your switch on the Big Bank Switch pledge form retrospectively to ensure you are counted as part of our collective call for change!
Bishop Paul at Dover memorial to refugees drowned in Channel. Photo: Mazur/CBCEW.org.uk
The National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN) has joined Bishop Paul McAleenan, the lead bishop for migrants and refugees in England and Wales, and the Jesuit Refugee Service UK in calling for “a fair and humane asylum system” in the UK.
Speaking on Monday evening at an NJPN meeting, Bishop McAleenan said he hoped Labour government would have had a different attitude to refugees than the former government, but lamented that, “Labour has done nothing to address our demand for safe routes.” Speaking from his experience of visiting refugees sleeping rough in Calais while trying to travel to England, and others detained at the much-criticised Napier Barracks asylum accommodation in Kent, he called for more distinction between victims and the smuggling gangs who exploit them.
He recommended Justice and Peace activists to challenge the proposed Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which, according to the Jesuit Refugee Service, “misses a vital opportunity to create a fair and humane asylum system.” The UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights is currently conducting legislative scrutiny of the Bill to assess its compatibility with international and domestic human rights standards. Evidence can be submitted up to 11 April. Bishop McAleenan said the new Bill “even talks about confiscating devices, such as mobile phones, which will deny refugees access to family, friends and solicitors.” He urged NJPN to continue supporting refugees and advocate on their behalf, and to be aware of misinformation and rhetoric which criminalises people seeking asylum.
The National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN) hosted its second event to mark Jubilee Year 2025 on 7 April. The online meeting, entitled ‘Opening Doors to Refugees and Asylum Seekers,’ attracted more than 100 participants from around England and Wales… and further afield. Sr Imelda Poole of Renate, which tackles human trafficking and modern slavery, joined from Albania. The NJPN Chair Anne Peacey welcomed participants and gave the context of the NJPN Jubilee Year programme. Brian O’Toole, of the Presentation Sisters Interprovincial Justice Desk, led working through the agenda.
During the meeting, Sophie Cartwright and Victoria Firth of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS UK) called for “a person-centred asylum system,” one which sees refugees “as human beings with a story.” Action points mentioned were the Monthly Prayer Vigil for Migrants at the Home Office in London, volunteering and offering friendship to JRS friends, offering to host refugees as an individual or a parish. Fundraising is important and Education, particularly finding out why people leave their countries or are internally displaced. Championing the refugee voice is very important, they said. Earlier this week, more than 100 refugee charities – among them the Jesuit Refugee Service – signed an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for an end to “hostile politics, racist rhetoric and demonising language.”
Azah Hasan, Coordinator of the Justice and Peace Refugee Project in Newcastle, and Liz Archibald of NJPN told moving stories of refugee friends who suffered terrible hardships trying to seek asylum in Britain. One man had slept in bushes in Calais for two months, a woman from an African country spent seven years “in limbo” in Britain. All spoke of the importance of kindness and help from Church groups. Every month, Justice and Peace people in Newcastle hold a monthly interfaith vigil at the gates of a new detention centre near Newcastle.
The next NJPN Jubilee event: ‘Opening Doors to a Sustainable World for Future Generations’ on Saturday 10 May. This will be an in-person event and places are limited.
Invitation to sign up for the NJPN National Annual conference in Swanwick – ‘Opening Doors to a Just Peace’ 25 – 27 July
I’m reaching out to you following a police raid on a Quaker place of worship last week. As you may have seen (it made national news) – 20 uniformed police, some equipped with tasers, forced their way into Westminster Meeting House and arrested 6 young women who were taking part in a Youth Demand meeting (the youth wing of Just Stop Oil) that was taking place in the building. The meeting was an opportunity for those assembled to share concerns about the climate crisis and the situation in the Middle East. You can read the (short) news story on our website here: https://www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-events/news/quakers-condemn-police-raid-on-westminster-meeting-house
The raid was not during worship, nor aimed at Quakers, but it was still at a place used for worship, traditionally a place of sanctuary.
Quakers have been campaigning to protect the right to protest, as well as campaigning for climate justice and an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine for a number of years. This aggressive violation of our place of worship and the forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest. Freedom of speech, assembly, and fair trials are an essential part of free public debate which underpins democracy.
We are now in the process of organising and helping to co-ordinate various actions that are being planned by British Quakers in response to this raid. We believe this goes beyond the Quaker community—it’s a challenge to the safety of all places of worship. It’s important and encouraging that we come together in response. We also hold in the Light communities who regularly experience the sharp end of the criminal justice system.
In the short-term, we’d like to extend a warm invite for you, and anyone in your networks, to join us at a Quaker Meeting for Worship (based on silence) outside New Scotland Yard on Thursday 3 April from 12-1pm. This meeting is being organised by a Quaker grassroots group – Quaker Support for Climate Action – and will have a member of the House of Lords, Jenny Jones, attending. We hope to have a real breadth of people of all faiths and none at the meeting and your support joining and sharing the meeting would be very welcome. You can find out more details and register here: Quaker Meeting for Worship at New Scotland Yard
For the longer-term, we have developed template email that people can use and adapt to contact their local MP:
quaker.org.uk/documents/westminster-meeting-house-raid-email-your-mp-template. Please share it with anyone who you think would be interested in taking action to defend our right to protest, and to protect places where people worship. In addition, if you know of any police raids on places where groups worship, please could you tell me? We are trying to build a picture.
Thank you for spreading the word, much appreciated. We have had expressions of solidarity from Muslims & from Jews as well as from Christians.
All good wishes and with thanks for all that you do,
Judith
Judith Baker
Ecumenical & Interfaith Officer and Conciliation & Peacebuilding Coordinator
A bumper bulletin for April leads with an analysis of ‘The common good in a time of global crisis’ by Professor Ian Linden who writes: “Prayers for a seriously ill Pope seem to have been answered. But will we hear his voice again, speaking from the heart, truth to power, at this critical time? It is so badly needed. For his words have often broken through the political gaslighting to illuminate truths that give hope, and could do so again. It says something when a Guardian editorial (17 March) describes Francis’ pontificate as making the Catholic Church “one of the west’s most combative defenders of the liberal democratic values”.
We have transcripts of two talks commemorating St Oscar Romero who was assassinated on 24 March 1980, one from Dr Gemma Simmonds CJ celebrating him as ‘a true pilgrim of hope’ and another from Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald who makes the link between Ramadan and our Lenten fast, the dates of which coincide this year, as he focuses on the theme of hope.
Regular contributor Jon Kuhrt asks: ‘Who are the positive male role models for teenage boys and young men?’ drawing on Sir Gareth Southgate’s recent BBC Dimbleby lecture (available on BBC iplayer) and the highly acclaimed Netflix drama Adolescence which can still be viewed on catch-up.
There is a comprehensive account by Chester World Development Forum member Ann McCarthy on a talk given by Dr Rebecca Collins, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, University of Chester, – on ‘Current Trends and Challenges in the Global Fashion Industry’. I’ve linked this to a report I compiled on ‘Ethical shopping and the fast-growing rise of China’s online brands’ which featured in the August 2024 issue of the NW NJPN E Bulletin. I sent this my new MP in October last year and received his response earlier this month – included in the bulletin.
UK faith leaders have sent an open letter to the co-chairs of the Ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce, Bridget Philipson, Secretary of State for Education, and Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with an urgent call for the government to go further and be ‘bold and ambitious’ in its forthcoming Child Poverty Strategy.
Formed 8 years ago, the Balfour Project which focuses on advocacy for the Palestinian people has changed its name to the ‘Britain Palestine Project’ – details on p.13.
We have exciting schools’ news: after a long campaign the government has announced the launch of a new GCSE in Natural History and North West-based Loreto Grammar has enjoyed success in the Columban Schools’ Competition for the second year running (see p.14).
Wishing you all the blessings of the Easter season.
We have a number of resources for Lent this year produced by Anne O’Connor who regularly produces a wonderful series of resources each Lent and Advent,
The resources are as follows:
A Journey from Lent to Easter 2025: “On Ash Wednesday the prophet Joel invites us to turn to God, ‘for he is all tenderness and compassion.’ For a few minutes each day we can set aside time to sit quietly and listen to God, as we ‘journey into love.’” Daily readings from the office of the day with short reflections as an aid to prayer.
Prayers around the Cross on Good Friday evening: for the past three years in my parish a group of us have gathered around the Cross to watch and wait together for an hour. This intimate service contains readings, reflections and recommended music to download. GOOD FRIDAY EVENING 2025 (2)
Opening the Doors to Refugees and Asylum Seekers – Monday April 7th at 7.30pm
Dear Friends,
On Monday April 7th next you are invited to attend the next National Justice and Peace Network Event entitled.
Opening the Doors to Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Monday April 7th at 7.30pm
To learn a little more about the sudden and forced movement of people to the UK in 2025 and how you, as a ‘Pilgrim of Hope’, can play your part in shining a light their hostile welcome as we “Welcome The Stranger” we invite you to complete the form below to ensure your attendance.
The Zoom Link to attend this Webinar will be sent to you closer to the event itself.
The NJPN Executive.
(National Justice and Peace Network)
We hope that you can be with us. You can register HERE
Brian O’ Toole for the National Justice and Peace Network.
The March issue of the NW NJPN E Bulletin contains a wide range of resources for Lent. In his Message for Lent 2025, Pope Francis invites the faithful to “journey together in hope,” and to use the opportunity of the upcoming Lenten Season to ask ourselves whether we are truly willing to heed God’s call to change our lives.
The Pope’s reflection ties into the broader theme of the Jubilee Year: ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’ Picking up on from this we look at a three-year project to promote walking pilgrimage in England & Wales by developing Pilgrim Ways between the cathedral of each Catholic diocese and one or more shrines within the same diocese and examine the many benefits of pilgrimage.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has issued a new resource which helps Catholics use Scripture and their faith to inspire effective social justice action – we take a detailed look.
Pressing issues are discussed: concern about the UK government’s decision to cut international aid in favour of defence spending in the light of President Trump’s intervention in world affairs, an excellent opinion piece from Ian Linden, and a focus on the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. Regular contributor Heather Kiernan provides first-hand accounts of the impact of these conflicts.
There’s a packed diary of events for March and April and information about upcoming conferences.
I am pleased to send the Spring Mouthpeace. With Easter being so late I have been able to include several suggestions for Lent – some to do in groups, some on your own.
Also there is quite a lot about the Jubilee – reports of the NJPN first two Opening Doors meetings and an article using Pope Francis’s own words plus information about A Day of Reflection at Workington (Lancaster Diocese) on April 5th.
Also information about CAAT celebrating 50 years, the Amos Trust’s webinars with Raja Shehadeh’s latest books and a report on Peace Sunday in Liverpool .