Photo: Catholic Voices 

Fr Marco Villani, the Province Delegate for Justice and Peace, reports on the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton Justice & Peace Assembly 2018

 

On Saturday January 27th 2018, the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton Christian Education Centre (DABCEC) in Crawley, West Sussex, hosted the annual Justice and Peace Assembly. The title of the assembly was 'Hope Overcoming Fear', reflecting upon the Church's message on social issues with regard to the maxim of St. Irenaeus, 'The glory of God is the human person fully alive'.

After an opening liturgy presided over and led by the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, Richard Moth, there was a reflection on Luke 4: 16-22, in which Jesus Christ announced His mission to bring 'good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord's year of favour'. Bishop Richard said that in a world dominated by fear, confusion, injustice and hatred, we need to focus our eyes on the Lord so that we will have a sense of where we have come from and whither we are going.

The first speaker was Jack Valero, co-founder of Catholic Voices. This organisation seeks to equip, train and empower lay Catholics to speak up on behalf of the Catholic Church in the media. He encourages Catholic Voice members to respond to unsympathetic media stories whilst exercising compassion and honesty.

 

Jack Valero quoted Pope Francis' Message for World Communications Day 2016:

We must first listen. Communicating means sharing and sharing demands listening and acceptance. Listening means paying attention, wanting to understand, to value, to respect and to ponder what the other person says. 

 

The second speaker was Dr. Anthony Towie, currently Director of the Aquinas Centre for Theological Literacy at St. Maryís University, Strawberry Hill Twickenham. His focus was on the light shed by scripture on humanity's self -understanding. Scripture being divinely-inspired and humanly scribed, the book of Genesis teaches us that we are made in the image and likeness of God, whence comes our human dignity.

 

This dignity is inherent in the Hebrew slaves in Egypt in the book of Exodus who later escaped from slavery to gain their freedom. The speaker noted how this account impacts on the lives of those who are currently refugees fleeing persecution from around the world. Dr. Towey suggested that the biblical prophets give us a worthy example of recalling the past, judging the present and changing the future. The Lord's Prayer and the Magnificat from Luke's Gospel are seen as radically challenging the unjust status quo in a number of societies. The Washing of the Feet in John's Gospel by Jesus is another radical example of egalitarianism.

To sum up his talk, Dr. Towey recalled that Catholic Social Teaching is concerned with where the person of Christ may be seen. Hence Christ may be seen in the Eucharist (Luke 24 and the Breaking of Bread), in the hungry and weak (Matthew 25) and in the brothers and sisters whom you see to be in need (1 John 4).

The day concluded with representatives from CAFOD, Pax Christi, the Medaille Trust and others, who strove to inspire those who attended with information about their respective organisations and the work that is done on behalf of the needy and vulnerable. Martin Brown, the CAFOD Co-ordinator, enumerated the successful campaigns in which CAFOD has engaged to make a difference to others: the landmine ban; the Ethical Trading Initiative for shoe and garment workers; the Clean Up Your Computer Campaign which saw Microsoft, IBM, HP and Intel introduce industry standards for computer workers in the supply chain, tackling issues like dangerous working conditions and discrimination.

Other successful campaigns included the following: Make Poverty History; Trade Justice; Unearth Justice against 'dirty' gold, mined with scant regard for the environment; Dropping Haiti's Debt; ringfencing UK aid; encouraging the UK government to introduce the 2011 Bribery Act; Thirst for Change, calling for access to clean water, and finally Power to Be, asking governments to commit to green energy.

Martin Brown announced that 2018 will see a new CAFOD campaign called 'Share the Journey' which will focus on the needs of refugees and migrants.

The Fairtrade stall is a popular annual focal point for those who attend, with a large variety of crafts, food and drink available to purchase, thus helping to empower local communities in less economically developed countries through ethical trade. The event was well represented by laity from various parishes from all over the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton. The day concluded with a closing liturgy before departures.

 

Fr Marco Villani SDB