Omnibus News - Diocese of Nottingham

omnibus
quarterly e-magazine produced by the National Board of Catholic Women
C A T H O L I C
Consultative Body to the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales: Consultative status with the United Nations (ECOSOC)
“The Genius of Women”
(Letter of John Paul II to Women, 29 June 1995)
The National Board of Catholic initiate
Family Fast Day which led to the
establishment of the Catholic Agency for
Overseas Development (CAFOD)
Issue No. 53
April 2010
inside...
Click on an item to navigate to it
Section 1
The National Board of Catholic Women
2 So simple, so practical, so adaptable.
4 Tell Everyone.
5 Women continue to suffer in many
parts of the world.
6 Church needs women to unveil ‘masculine
secrecy’.
Social Responsibility
7 Domestic Abuse.
26 NBCW Election questions
Ecumenical
9 Let everything that has breath praise
God
Women in Europe
10 Andante.(European Alliance of
Catholic Women’s Organisations)
International
11 Better late then never.
Marriage and Family
11 So what is Family Mediation
Environment
12 God, Time and the Universe
Section 2 The Universal Call to Holiness
13 ‘I was in prison and you visited me.’
14 What to you call a 100 canon lawyers
at the bottom of the sea
15 Human Trafficking.
Section 3 Associated groups and agencies
16 Addressing the real wounds of the
human family: a call to action. (Pax
Christi)
17 The murder of and icon. (Progressio)
19 Caritas Chile aid reaching most in
need. (CAFOD)
21 Naturally a Martha and not a Mary!
(National Justice and Peace Network
23 Campaigning Themes. (Vocation for
Justice- Columban Fathers)
Contact Omnibus Editor:
Angela Perkins at 12 Worsall Road,
Yarm, Cleveland, TS15 9DF.
Tel/Fax: 01642 791840
Email: enquiries@nbcw.org
Website: www.nbcw.org
Editorial Team: Freda Lambert
freda@klambert.freeserve.co.uk
Verena Wright:
verenanz@hotmail.com

omnibus 2
nbcw
‘So simple, so practical, so adaptable’-
Giving hope by giving up
Original article written by Lucy Harrison (CAFOD) and edited by Freda Lambert.
How did a Belgian Nun, a poodle, and the
National Board of Catholic Women turn
giving up into giving hope
Without Fast Days, CAFOD would not exist
today. These times of compassion and
generosity have raised over £65 million and
changed millions of lives across the world!
So how did it all begin
Elspeth Orchard was the treasurer of the first
two Family Fast Days. In 1986 she wrote an
account of the history of the Fast Day which
shapes the story you are about to read of a
Belgian Nun, a pampered poodle and
Catholic women of England and Wales……
Let me take you back…
Elizabeth von Strachotinsky, the Austrian
representative of the World Union of
Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO)
was present in 1957 when the Director
General of the Food and Agriculture
Organisation(FAO) spoke to WUCWO about
the extreme situation of hunger and
malnutrition in the developing world.
Elizabeth wanted to address the plight of
those who were suffering and also to give
thanks for answered prayers and peace in her
country. This compassion sparked a Family
Fast Day in Austria.
“The idea was that every member of the
family would make a special act of self denial
– father could give up his beer, for example,
and the children their sweets, while mother
could cook with the cheapest ingredients.”
This first Family Fast Day in Austria was a
great success – and so the word spread.
Jacqueline Stuyt-Simpson was the UK
representative on WUCWO and a member
of the National Board of Catholic Women
(NBCW). Jacquie was inspired by this act of
generosity and compassion and took the idea
she had learned of to her fellow NBCW
members. Evelyn White, the chair of NBCW
at the time along with Jacquie, Elspeth and
the secretary, Norma Warmington, decided
that a Fast Day should be organised and
promoted throughout parishes in England
and Wales. As Elspeth wrote in her account,
the idea ‘was so simple, so practical, so
adaptable’.
Dominica: making the difference
But where could they make the difference It
seemed there was so much need, where
could they start At WUCWO Jacquie had
already met Sister Mary Alicia MBE, a
dynamic Belgian nun from the Missionary
Sisters of St Augustine who was trying to
raise money for a project she had founded in
Dominica, one of the Caribbean Windward
islands. Children were dying from lack of
food and this was particularly acute in the
parish of Roseau, the capital of Dominica
where the project was based. Shockingly, 80
per cent of newborns had died in one year
and a home was needed to nurse
malnourished children and babies back to
health. Plans to build the Infant Jesus Nursing
Home began straight away and the first
Family Fast Day in England and Wales had
its focus.
Success!
Delegates at the WUCWO Conference, Rome, 1957
Jacquie along with Elspeth, Evelyn and
Norma, chose the Ember Friday of Lent on
11 March 1960 as the date for Family Fast
Day. They had leaflets printed and
distributed around the parishes of England
and Wales asking people to ‘Go without so
that others may have.’
The two biggest member organisations of
NBCW, Catholic Women’s League (CWL)
and Union of Catholic Mothers (UCM) were
there to help out in force. The women hoped
to raise £500, but actually collected over
£6,000! As the donations came in thick and
fast, time was spent counting the money on
kitchen tables and responding personally to
each and every one.
Work began on the building of the Infant
Jesus Nursing Home in Dominica. However,
to ensure the home had all the necessary
life-saving equipment, more money was
needed. The decision was unanimous;
Family Fast Day would be repeated the
following year.
The Fast Day leaflets that were sent out in
1961 communicated a very clear and strong
message:
Millions of people in the world are hungry.
They are hungry largely because the good
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omnibus 3
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fruits of the earth are enjoyed by too few and
WE are among the few…….. There is
enough food for all – if only it could be fairly
shared. With our donations the HUNGRY
CAN BE FED, the IGNORANT CAN BE
TAUGHT, and OUR CONCERN WILL
REFLECT THE DIVINE COMPASSION, thus
meeting the THREE HUNGERS OF THE
WORLD, for BREAD, for TRUTH, for GOD.
The language may have changed slightly, but
the messages behind the appeal of living
simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the
poor, continue to motivate the Catholic
community today.
The difference then, the difference now
That year over £32,500 was collected for Fast
Day, and the bank asked when the Fast Day
would be in the following year so that they
could take on extra staff! The money was
sent straight to Sister Alicia and ploughed
into the hospital. The success of Fast Day
even made national news:
“The little ex-patients can be found in most
villages of the island, enjoying health and
happiness. If the Home had not existed
Dominica might have lost the greater part of
a thousand young citizens”
In 1962 there were big changes. It became
obvious that the generosity of the Catholic
community was without limit and there was
only so much kitchen table counting that
could be done by the women volunteers. At
the same time, there was a recognition that
many countries throughout the world were
in need of support, and permanent staff
members would be necessary to address this.
To date over £65 million has been raised
through Fast Days alone.
NATIONAL BOARD OF
CATHOLIC WOMEN
Consultative Body to the Bishops’
Conference of England and Wales.
Saturday 19 June
Annual General
Meeting
11am
Address given by
Julian Filochowski CMG 2pm
“History of Family Fast”
At the Bar Convent,
17 Blossom Street York YO24 1AQ
Enquiries to
Jean Horan Hon. Secretary
horan_jean@yahoo.co.uk
Mitzi – the pampered poodle
In order to gain more publicity for the 1961 Fast Day Jacquie wrote to Cardinal Godfrey and asked if he would include a mention of
Fast Day in his pastoral letter. He wrote:
“We propose to respond to the appeal for a Family Fast Day on Ember Friday 24th February. What we save thereby can be offered for
the hungry and starving. Such a sacrifice would be very much in the Spirit of Lent, for it would touch both the palate and purse.
Something could be saved too in the care of our pets. They also could benefit by being fed with less expensive foods. A plump and
pampered poodle may run more gaily after a reduced diet on simpler fare and, perhaps a denied visit to a hair stylist.”
In a letter to The Catholic Herald Mrs Joan Burn responded:
‘Dear Sir,
I am writing on behalf of my poodle Mitzi, who hastens to say she is not pampered, although her hair-dos cost 25/- a time and are
necessary as her hair just grows and never falls out. As she is expecting her third family to arrive on Easter Sunday, she feels that it
would be most unwise for her to fast even for one day a week, and as we have the children at college everything we manage to save
goes to pay their bills and clothes and books. We therefore suggest that as much as we all wish to help this fund, Mitzi offers one of
her puppies, which will be ready to go to a new home the week following Whit-Sunday....If your ladies could arrange a Dutch auction
or something of that kind, no doubt they could make more than 25gns for the fund.’
Poodle puppy Peer Gynt was born and bought at auction for £25 by Bishop Thomas Pearson.
Jacquie Stuyt always hoped that the Fast Day would continue to be in the spirit of self-denial that
was central to the original Fast Days. She said, “In many places it has become just a second
collection, but it is supposed to be a personal sacrifice so that we can say we’ve actually given
something up. That is the nearest thing to my heart – to make that clear.” In the year 2000 Jacquie,
with Elspeth, unveiled an icon of Mary the Magnificent as part of the 40 years celebration. It was
commissioned by CAFOD for their office and is dedicated to the women past, present and future
who are part of CAFOD’s work here and abroad.
Pat Jones, then Deputy Director of CAFOD, pointed out, “It’s so important for us to remember the
origins of the story. There are many unsung heroines who’ve quietly worked with CAFOD over the
years without any fuss or fanfare”. The icon represents the spirit of justice that’s integral to
CAFOD’s work. Mary the Magnificent, mother of Peter, stands for all the things we do now. And
for everyone, men and women, the icon is an invitation to travel with us.
Elspeth Orchard & Jacquie Stuyt
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omnibus 4
nbcw
Tell everyone Jesus and women in the gospels
Familiar events and stories can be read in
different ways when seen from a different
perspective. Feminist analysis identifies
strategies that women as marginal figures
use to articulate knowledge which
remains invisible to a dominant reading.
Such strategies assert the authority and
social value of that lived-experience.
Jesus’ defiance of convention is particularly
sustained in his public verbal and physical
dialogue with women, since all such
interaction is socially taboo. These marginal
encounters have little initial effect
on the dominant authority groups
(Romans and Jews). Yet they disturb and
challenge Jesus’ immediate local group (
as voiced by the apostles). Women are
also an important part of his teaching
strategy; indeed it seems to me that Jesus
actively invites and enjoys critical theological
debate with them, in a way that
does not happen with men, even the
apostles. His exchange with women like
Mary his mother, Mary and Martha of
Bethany, the Samaritan and Syro-
Phoenician woman, and Mary of Magdala
is enquiring, egalitarian and open to
mutual discovery of knowledge and
insight about faith and theology. Martha’s
faith statement ( ‘I believe that you are the
Christ, the son of God, the one who was
to come into this world’) is at least as
important as Peter’s (‘You are the Christ,
the son of the living God’). Mary
Magdalen is commissioned as ‘apostle to
the apostles’ and entrusted with the resurrection
story. In this way, Jesus demonstrates
a valuing of intellect, wisdom and
groundedness of women and ‘women’s
work’, and makes use of what is commonly
seen (and later condemned by
Paul, and the Church Fathers) as one of
women’s ‘weaknesses’. While men such
as the leper who returns to thanks him,
and the man cured of blindness, are asked
to keep quiet, Jesus urges women ( Mary
Magdalen, the Samaritan at the well) to
go out and talk – tell everyone about him.
Is this because he has tested their theology
and faith - understanding and affirms
the women as authorities
( Verena Wright, Maid in God’ Image
(p17-18). Darton Longman and Todd)
The lay vocation of a remarkable women.
Jaqueline Simpson was the daughter of
Geoffrey Simpson and Henrietta Marie-
Therese, born Princess de Linge of
Belgium. She was educated bilingually,
being fluent in French, and during the
Second World War Jacquie was seconded
by the Foreign Office to Naval Intelligence
and was responsible for activities in French
speaking regions.
In 1955 she married Giacomo Stuyt, a
Dutch architect and diplomat. They settled
in Paris where Giacomo died at the age of
46 in October 1955. Jacquie has been a
widow for over 50 years.
Jaquie was dedicated and committed to
her faith and to improving the lives of others.
She devoted her talents to numberous
roles in the life of the laity and represented
Catholic women at the highest levels,
nationally and internationally, including
being appointed by the Vatican Secretariat
of State as the only woman and lay person
on the Catholic team on the Commission
on the Theology of Marriage 1971 – 76.
She was International Secretary of the
National Board of Catholic Women, Vice
President General of the World Union of
Catholic Women’s Organisations and Chair
of its Commission for Ecumenism. She was
involved in the founding and development
of the National Council for the Lay
Apostolate, of which she was the first
Woman President. She was instrumental in
joining the European Forum of the Laity.
She was also very much involved in the
forming of the Ecumenical Forum for
European Christian Women.
Amongst those most closely connected
with UCM, she was WUCWO Board
member form 1957 – 1970 and as
described in the lead article, introduced
Family Fast Day to England in 1959.
In 1968 she received the Papal award,
Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, and her contribution
to society was also recognised by the
Queen when she was appointed a
Member of the Order of the British Empire
in 1980.
In 1995 she became the England’s first
Dame of St Gregory.
Those fortunate enough to have known
her, speak of her generosity of spirit, and
her grace and dignity which was always
leavened by self deprecating humour. She
was a life member of the UCM National
Council.
Jaquie died on May 6, 2008.
Reproduced with kind permission of The
Union of Catholic Mothers.
The National Board of Catholic Women
and the World Union of Catholic Women
are grateful beneficiaries of Jackie Stuyt’s
will.
Page 4 April 2010

omnibus 5
nbcw
Women Continue to Suffer in
Many Parts of the World
On International Women’s Day, 8 March 2010, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy
See's permanent observer at the United Nations, addressed the 54th session of the
Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Here is an edited version of his address
As this Commission undertakes a 15-year
review of the implementation of the
“Beijing Declaration and Platform for
Action”, and the outcomes of the 23rd special
session of the General Assembly,
“Women 2000: Gender Equality,
Development and Peace for the 21st
Century”, my delegation wishes you and
your Bureau a productive session for the
good of all women in the world.
From the general debate, it seems that the
assessment is not entirely positive: It
includes some light, but also many disturbing
shadows.
Achievements
Global advancements in the status of
women in the world in the last 15 years
include:
• improvements in the education of girls;
• the promotion of women as key to eradicating
poverty and fostering development;
• growth of participation in social life;
• political reforms aimed at removing forms
of discrimination against women;
• specific laws against domestic violence.
In particular, among the many parallel
events, some have stressed the indispensable
role played by civil society in all its
components, in highlighting the dignity of
women, their rights and responsibilities.
Continuing Abuse and Discrimination
However, women continue to suffer in
many parts of the world:
• Violence in the form of female foeticide,
infanticide, and abandonment are realities
that cannot be brushed aside.
• Discrimination in health and nutrition
occurs throughout the lives of girls and
malnutrition affects girls much more than
boys, stunting future physical and mental
growth.
• Girls continue to account for the majority
of children out of school;
• girls and women (15 years of age and
over) account for two-thirds of the
world's illiterate population.
• It is a sad fact that three quarters of those
infected by HIV/AIDS are girls and
women between the ages of 15 and 24;
the proportion of women infected with
HIV is increasing in Asia, Eastern Europe
and Latin America; and in sub-Saharan
Africa, 60% of all adults and three out of
four young people living with the virus
are female.
• Of those who are trafficked across international
borders each year, minors
account for up to 50% and approximately
70% are women and girls, with the
majority of transnational victims being
trafficked into commercial sexual
exploitation.
• Around the world girls and women are
victims of physical, sexual and psychological
violence, including rape as a
weapon of war in various parts of the
world, not to mention economic abuse.
The reasons for this precarious situation are
various. The analyses tend to be found
mostly, and not without good reason, in
cultural and social dynamics, as well as
delays and slowness of policy. Yet we
would do well to look also to principles,
priorities and action policies in force in
international organizations, namely, that
system of motivations, values, guidelines
and methodologies that guide the UN's
work on women's issues.
Gender equality and the dignity of women
Achieving equality between women and
men in education, employment, legal protection
and social and political rights is
considered in the context of gender equality.
Yet the evidence shows that the handling
of this concept, as hinted at in the Cairo
and Beijing Conferences, and subsequently
developed in various international circles, is
proving increasingly ideologically driven,
and actually delays the true advancement of
women. Moreover, in recent official documents,
some interpretations of gender dissolve
every specificity and complementarity
between men and women. These theories
will not change the nature of things, but
certainly are already blurring and hindering
any serious and timely advancement on the
recognition of the inherent dignity and
rights of women.
Almost no outcome document of international
Conferences and Committees or
Resolution fails to attempt to link the
achievement of personal, social, economic
and political rights to a notion of sexual
and reproductive health and rights which
is violent to unborn human life and is
detrimental to the integral needs of
women and men within society. While at
the same time only seldom are women's
political, economic and social rights mentioned
as an inescapable clause and commitment.
This is particularly distressing given the
widespread maternal mortality occurring in
regions where health systems are inadequate.
A solution respectful of the dignity of
women does not allow us to bypass the
right to motherhood, but commits us to promoting
motherhood by investing in and
improving local health systems and providing
essential obstetric services.
Fifteen years ago the Beijing Platform for
Action proclaimed that women's human
rights are an inalienable, integral and indivisible
part of universal human rights. This is
key not only to understanding the inherent
dignity of women and girls, but also to
making this a concrete reality around the
world.
The Holy See reaffirms its commitment
for improving the condition of women. Its
call to Catholic institutions on the occasion
of the Beijing Conference, for a concerted
and prioritized strategy directed to girls and
young women, especially the poorest, has
yielded many significant results, and
remains a strong commitment to implementing
and promoting this task for the
future.
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Church needs
women to unveil
'masculine
secrecy'
A greater presence of women in
decision-making roles in the Church
might have helped remove the "veil of
masculine secrecy" that covered
priestly sex abuse cases, a front-page
commentary in the Vatican newspaper,
L'Osservatore Romano has said.
Writing in the 10 March issue of the
Vatican newspaper, Lucetta Scaraffia,
an Italian journalist and history
professor, who has been a frequent
contributor to the paper in recent
years, says that despite calls by popes
and others to welcome women into
equal, though diverse, roles in the
Church, women have generally been
kept out of positions of responsibility.
As a result, the article states, the
Church has failed to take advantage of
the many talents and contributions that
could have been provided by women.
As an example of what the Church has
lost by not taking advantage of
women's contributions, Scaraffia points
to the "painful and shameful
situations" of sexual abuse by priests
against the young people entrusted to
their pastoral care.
"We can hypothesise that a greater
female presence, not at a subordinate
level, would have been able to rip the
veil of masculine secrecy that in the
past often covered the denunciation of
these misdeeds with silence," the
article in L'Osservatore Romano states.
"Women, in fact, both religious and
lay, by nature would have been more
likely to defend young people in cases
of sexual abuse, allowing the Church
to avoid the grave damage brought by
these sinful acts," Professor Scaraffia
says. (Source: Catholic News Service)
Laywoman promoted
to senior Vatican post
Flaminia Giovanelli, 61, becomes undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice
and Peace, the Vatican department that deals with issues of justice, peace and human
rights. She is the first woman ever to serve in the post, which had been vacant for four
years, and will be the second highest ranking woman in the Curia, the Vatican hierarchy.
Cardinal Peter Turkson, of Ghana, the head of the Council since last October, said the
appointment of Ms Giovanelli by Pope Benedict XVI "demonstrates the concern of the
church for the promotion of the dignity and rights of women in the world," which is one
area of special concern to his office.
Cardinal Turkson, 62, former Archbishop of Cape Coast, who is seen by some as a
potential future black contender for the papacy, noted that the late John Paul II had also
stressed the need for a “fuller and meaningful participation of women in the development
of society'.”
Ms Giovanelli, who is Italian, was brought up in Brussels in a family of diplomats. She
holds a degree in political science from Rome University and another in religious studies
from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and has worked at the Council for thirty six
years dealing with development and poverty issues.
Sister Rosanna Enrica, a Salesian nun, is undersecretary of the Congregation for Institutes
of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The last woman to serve as an undersecretary
at a pontifical council was Rosemary Goldie, an Australian, who held the post
from 1966-76 at the Pontifical Council for the Laity.
Ms Giovanelli told Vatican Radio that her work on behalf of the poor and the Third
World was "more than a job, it is a vocation...we feel the joy and the suffering of the
world, minute by minute". Il Messaggero, the Rome daily, noted that only a fifth of
Vatican employees were women, most of them in positions "subordinate to men"
despite the fact that many were highly qualified.
Richard Owen in Rome
From Times Online Jan 22 2010
Middlesbrough Diocesan Women’s
Commission
Mrs Sentamu
will speak on
Acts 4:35
“They laid it at the apostles’ feet and it was distributed to each as any
had need.”
Saturday 8th May 2010
10.30 a.m. -12.45 p.m.
followed by the AGM at 2.00 p.m.
(Tea/Coffee from 10.00 a.m.)
at
English Martyrs Church Hall
Dalton Terrace, York
Fairtrade Stall | Tea/coffee available | Bring a packed lunch | Closing Liturgy at 12.30 p.m.
A donation towards expenses would be appreciated
Page 6 April 2010

omnibus 7
nbcw - social responsibility
DOMESTIC ABUSE
“Julia had suffered a
wide range of abuse
over many years only
culminating in physical
violence on the night of
her murder.”
Frank Mullane supports the launch of the
booklet ‘Domestic Abuse’ with his personal
story.
The director of the Greater London
Domestic Violence Project, Davina
James-Hanman introduces this subject
powerfully. “Sometimes, the church reviolates
victims of domestic abuse, using
the scriptures as a club to force them
back into a dangerous situation”.
Perhaps no more if “Raising Awareness of
Domestic Abuse” published by the
National Board of Catholic Women permeates
the church community. This
excellent guidance provides substantial
theological support for a position from
which domestic abuse is not tolerated.
But those being abused, need church
members to read and react to this guidance.
Priests have unique opportunity and special
influence. They must regularly hear
many victims and perpetrators seeking
help or forgiveness or both, so we should
hear more condemnation of domestic
abuse from the pulpit. Silence is a deadly
enemy of victims, normalising the abuse
and sometimes legitimising it in the minds
of perpetrators.
A good move would be to educate priests
on the risk factors which indicate greater
likelihood of escalation to extreme violence.
http://www.caada.org.uk/practitioner_resources/riskresources.htm
They
might then not recommend mediation or
couple counselling which can put some
victims at serious risk, including murder.
Frank Mullane, Elizabeth Davies (Bishops Conference, Marriage and family), Adrian
Child ( Children and Vulnerable Adults), Phillipa Gitlin ( Bishops Confernence, Caritas
Social Action)
Diana Barren, Head of Co-ordinated
Action Against Domestic Abuse (CAADA)
which trains the Multi Agency Risk
Assessment Conferences (MARACS) “We
need them “religious ministers” to be
familiar with the risk factors on our checklist
– that alone will be a big step forward”.
http://www.caada.org.uk/
But priests need help too. They could be
supported by the safeguarding team and
lay leaders to focus on safety by providing
a safe place to disclose abuse while supporting
that individual non judgementally.
They could provide information, referrals
and religious guidance supporting non
abusive ideals. Synagogues have helpful
telephone numbers for victims in the
ladies toilets. Why don’t we do the same
straightaway in Catholic churches
But we mustn’t stop there. In parts of the
USA, hairdressers are made aware of risk
factors. http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art37984.asp
So why not the various
church groups and societies With
knowledge of risk factors, we all might
become more helpful to those that disclose
abuse and we might prevent murder.
My sister Julia often presented me with
information that indicated she was at high
risk but I was ignorant. Julia was later
murdered by her husband Alan
Pemberton who also took their son
William’s life before ending his own.
Continued on following page...
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omnibus 8
nbcw - social responsibility
http://www.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspxarticleid=16085 Julia
had suffered a wide range of abuse over many years only culminating
in physical violence on the night of her murder.
Incidentally, her priest had been a good and helpful listener. We
all attended Alan’s funeral held separately to Julia and Will’s.
Perhaps this sent a symbolic message to anyone suffering domestic
abuse that the church supports separation where there is
abuse.
Domestic abuse is not just black eyes and bruises. Linda Regan
and Professor Liz Kelly of the London Metropolitan University
told me that if you want to predict murders, look at the coercive
controllers. Their abuse may include micro-management of every
day life, isolating victims from family and friends, shaming,
degradation, intimidation, surveillance and sexual violence.
Recommendation one of the homicide review into my family’s
murders includes that faith leaders will need support and guidance
in this area. Let’s hope the church asks for it.
http://www.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspxarticleid=16085
The church can and should do much more to liberate victims of
domestic abuse.
Frank Mullane speaker at the NBCW launch
Frank Mullane is the co-ordinator of the charity Advocacy After
Fatal Domestic Abuse and a member of the government's
Victims Advisory Panel. He writes in a personal capacity
The National Board of Catholic Women
is pleased to announce the new, upgraded version of their booklet
Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse
Now available price £3.00 or £1.50 for 20 copies or more for a limited period (postage included).
From: capst4@aol.com or enquiries@nbcw.org tel: 020 8372 6865 or tel: 01642 791 840
or by post from: NBCW Enquiries 12 Worsall Road, Yarm, Cleveland, TS15 9DF
National Board of Catholic Women
Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse Booklet Order Form
I wish to order…………..copies
I enclose a cheque for £…......…… (payable to NBCW)
To be sent to:
Name .......................................................................................................................................................................................
Address......................................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................................................
Tel: .............................................................................. Email ……………........................................................……………..
An excellent resource for dioceses and parishes.
Compiled by Celia Capstick Social Responsibility Committee
Page 8 April 2010

omnibus 9
nbcw - ecumenical
Let everything that has breath praise God
On Friday 5 March over three million people gathered in 170
countries and islands around the world to observe an international
and ecumenical Day of Prayer organised by the Women’s World Day
of Prayer Movement, using a form of service prepared by Christian
women in Cameroon and translated into over 1,000 different
languages and dialects. The day began as the sun rose over the island
of Tonga in the South Pacific and the great wave of prayer continued,
day and night, until the final service was held, some 36 hours later,
when the sun was setting off the coast of western Samoa.
Eight years ago, when women from the National Committee for
Cameroon offered to write a service, they had no idea which year they
would be asked to write for or what theme they would be given. It
was a year later, in 2003, at a quadrennial meeting of the International
Committee that they were given a year – 2010 – and a theme: “Let
everything that has breath praise God.” Subsequently the WWDP
international director, Eileen King, from the head office in New York,
visited Cameroon, met with the writing group and held workshops
around the country to meet with as many women as possible, in all
kinds of different situations, to learn what they felt were the needs of
their country that should be brought before the world in prayer. The
first draft reached the International Committee in December 2008 and
the final copy was circulated to National Committees in September
2009. In November of that year members of the National Committee
for England, Wales and Northern Ireland met to edit the material
received and prepare additional resource materials for use by the
3,000 local branches that organise the day of prayer in this area.
The service each year is always far more than just a ‘service’: it is a cry
from the hearts of the women who drafted it. It reflects their hopes for
the future of their country and asks for prayers for present difficulties.
For the women of Cameroon the theme was particularly appropriate
for the Cameroonian nature is to praise God in every circumstance of
their lives – the good and the bad – for they believe that God’s greatest
gift is the gift of life itself and while there is still breath in the body
there is hope And it is hope, rooted in their strong belief in God’s
Woodcutting of women in Cameroon tilling the field
loving providence, which sustains them.
The Movement has its roots in an number of denominational days of
prayer held in the USA and Canada in the middle of the 19th century
offering prayerful support to women in missionary work, both at home
and overseas. It gradually evolved into a day of prayer supporting
women in their struggle to have their gifts and talents recognised and
accepted, both by the Church and by society and it quickly spread
throughout the world. The first service was held in this country in
1932. By focusing on a different country each year women are made
aware of the situation in other countries and can demonstrate their
concern. This sense of solidarity is very important to the women of the
writing country each year. The prayer does not end with the Day of
Prayer; we are encouraged to keep the prayer intentions in our hearts
and bring them before God in our own private devotions.
For move information about WWDP visit www.wwdp-natcomm.org
Women’s Co-ordinating Group of the Churches Together in England
Sharing News & Views
As women are leading busier lives and are finding it more difficult to
get to meetings, the group has decided that the time has come to think
outside the box and try to work and communicate in a different way.
We had come to realize that valuable and creative initiatives and
events, which had been shared at meetings, often failed to reach many
women in the pews. As a result a working party was given the job of
setting up a new web-page on the CTE website, particularly for
women in the CTE member churches to share their news and views
and advertise events. The Group will continue to meet annually in
London, and will continue to be represented on the National Council
of Women and Women’s National Commission and the Four Nations
Assembly.
This web-page was launched on 10th March suitably close to
International Women’s Day, at CTE headquarters in Tavistock Square.
It is attractive and customer-friendly. For some of us this is a new and
unfamiliar way of communicating, but for the younger generation it is
the most natural way. It can be found under Women’s Issues and
consists of six sections – a Discussion Forum, News and features,
Forthcoming Events, Book reviews etc., Prayers, poems & prose, and
the Pauline Webb Fund (which is available to subsidise women’s
travel to ecumenical events and meetings. We encourage all of you to
take a look, share your news and events and join in ongoing
comments and discussion.
Jackie Foster
(Member of the Ecumenical and Interfaith Committee & representative
of the Board on the Women’s Co-ordinating Group of the Churches
Together in England )
Page 9 April 2010

omnibus 10
catholic women in europe - andanté
Andante
Andante’s third general assembly too
place from 15-19th April in Strasbourg.
The theme of the Study day was Women,
Demoracy and Human Rights. The
principal speaker was Mrs. Eleanor
Fuller, the British Ambassador at the
Council of Europe. (Full report in next
issue).
In January I attended the NGO sessions
at the Council of Europe.
Among the many issues of interest
raised and discussed were the following:
● The European Convention on
Trafficking – 27 countries had ratified
and 15 signed, which means only 5
countries had neither signed nor
ratified. Even if a country has signed
and ratified NGOs should check
whether their government has an
action plan.
● The Convention on Violence against
Women and Domestic Violence. The
committee was given a mandate for
two years in 2008 to draw up this
Convention. A draft text has been
prepared – this and all other working
documents are available on
www.coe.int/violence. Some states
think it is too detailed, others too brief,
but there is general agreement that
services and their quality should be
improved. Prevention, Protection,
Prosecution and Policies are key
words. The pre-final text will be
available for comment in May and
submissions must be made by June. A
final text will be prepared for
September and it will be voted on in
October.
● It was claimed that unequal access to
healthcare is threatening the social
fabric of our society. Figures on infant
mortality were quoted, e.g. one death
per 1000 births in Iceland compared
with 120 to 1000 in Mozambique.
Similar inequality is visible in asbestos
and HIV/AIDS related illnesses.
● One of the delegates reported on a
recent visit to South Africa. The South
African government is reported to be
pressing for a law to allow prostitution
to be made legal before the Football
World Cup as it is in Germany and the
Netherlands. The thinking behind this
is that it would help to keep men off
the streets and reduce violence!
Also it is reported that sex abusers of
children who are found guilty in the
lower courts often have the decisions
overturned in the higher courts
because the victim may not have been
a virgin, having been raped previously.
● In preparation for the next meeting of
the European Committee for Social
Cohesion in February, there was a
discussion on taking action for social
cohesion in the context of the
economic crisis. What will the
economic landscape in Europe be like
in 10 years time More migrants will
have an impact at local level, What
migration policies are there at
European level
Migration will have a greater social
impact than economic impact. There
will be a greater demand on services. It
is the illegal migrants who will suffer.
There could be a democratic crisis as
the debate on rights will be less
vigorous because of the economic
crisis and fewer resources.
● It was reported that Thomas
Hammarberg, the Council of Europe
Commissioner for Human Rights has
published a viewpoint on the topic of
rape, discussing the shocking levels of
impunity as well as the low level of
reporting when it comes to the crime
of rape. Most rapes are never reported
either because the perpetrator is
known to the victim or because the
assault is not taken seriously by the
police or during a trial. Even when a
case is brought before the courts the
conviction rate is extremely low. It is
essential that the principle of free
consent is always necessary before
sexual intercourse is recognised. Rape
is a human rights concern as
governments have not given sufficient
protection to individuals against this
great harm.
● There is work being done on Human
Rights and media education. The
Council of Europe has a current
campaign against discrimination. This
primarily targets media professionals
and has three main objectives:
· To train media professionals on how
to treat news relating to
discrimination;
· To help people with a minority
background to make their voices
heard by facilitating their access to
media professions and productions;
· To inform public opinion about
policies that combat discrimination.
● Religions and human rights. A seminar
was arranged in the context of the
religious dimension of intercultural
dialogue. The speaker was Jean-Paul
Willaimes.
Freda Lambert, representative NBCW on
the co-ordinating committee.
Page 10 April 2010

omnibus 11
BETTER
LATE THAN
NEVER
Faithful Omnibus readers may remember
that several years ago the
International Committee devoted considerable
energy to supporting the
Tobin Tax. This tax, originally proposed
by the American economist
James Tobin in 1972, suggested a levy
of 0.1% on all foreign currency transactions
on the international money
markets, the proceeds to go towards
fighting world poverty. During the
recession of the early ‘90s the idea
was promoted vigorously by bodies
concerned with international development.
The then UK Chancellor looked
favourably on the scheme and several
countries took positive steps to include
it in their financial policies. As the
boom years returned, the triumph of
free market economics extinguished
this flickering flame of altruism and the
transaction tax seemed to have no
future. It disappeared from our committee’s
agenda as from all media
attention. But lo and behold! As the
financial storm-clouds gathered over
the past two years, politicians and
other long-term supporters of Tobin
have re-launched it under the catchier
title of the “Robin Hood Tax”.
The NBCW International Committee
considers that such a tax has much to
recommend it: £561 trillion is traded
every year on the world foreign
exchange markets. The minuscule tax
proposed would discourage short-term
currency speculation and generate
much-needed funds for developing
countries. Welcome back, Tobin!
Jenny Banks Bryer
Convenor International Committee
nbcw- international & marriage and family
SO WHAT IS FAMILY
MEDIATION
The Marriage and Family Life Committee
will be compiling a response to the
Government’s Green Paper on “Support for
All”. One of the recommendations which
the Committee will be supporting is the
greater use of mediation when couples
split up. Family mediation helps couples
(married or unmarried) at any stage of separation
or divorce to deal with family
arrangements and practical matters, arising
from their separation, avoiding stressful
court proceedings.
Couples are invited to meet together with
a mediator in an informal, but structured,
confidential atmosphere. They are helped
to identify the issues, arising from property,
finances and having children, that they
need to address, to improve communication
and then to consider different options
and negotiate together, to reach solutions
acceptable to them and their children.
Mediation can help parents plan their
children’s lives co-operatively, so that they
can see as much of both parents as possible
with the least possible conflict. The mediator
helps them to focus on the best outcomes
they can devise for their children
and for their own futures.
Mediation begins with an Initial Meeting,
to hear about mediation and consider its
future use. This meeting may be joint or
individual. The purpose of this meeting is to
enable people to make an informed decision
about using mediation. Issues such as
appropriateness, safety, confidentiality and
financial eligibility are discussed at this preliminary
meeting. There are then a number
of joint meetings, with the outcome and
any decisions reached, being drafted into a
Memorandum of Understanding or an
Outcome Statement. This is given to the
participants, so that everyone is clear about
what has been decided.
During the course of Mediation, and subject
to mutual consent, children may have
their own private meeting with the mediator,
to enable their voice to be heard.
Rosemary Keenan, convenor Marriage
and Family Committee.
Although there are fees for Mediation
Sessions and Initial Meetings, these are considerably
cheaper than going through solicitors
and backwards and forwards through
the courts. The Legal Services Commission
(LSC), pays fees for clients assessed as eligible.
The mediator will assess financial eligibility,
usually, at the Initial Meeting.
To find details of mediation services
across the UK contact:
The Family Mediation helpline on:
http://www.familymediationhelpline.co.uk/fi
nd-service.php or telephone 0845 60 26
627.
This helpline will also provide information
on mediation services dealing with
children, domestic violence, abduction and
finance:
For family mediation where couples are
separating and wish to address property,
finance and / or children, the Catholic
Children’s Society (Westminster) runs a
mediation service in West London. For further
information on this please call Leigh
Moriarty on 020 8578 6378 or visit
www.cathchild.org.uk
Rosemary Keenan
Page 11 April 2010

omnibus 12
nbcw - environment
God, Time and the Universe
In times of crisis we are always
challenged by questions about God.
Would a just God allow this to happen to
me, or my family, or those innocent
people
Our idea of God is always inadequate to
the reality of God, which is far beyond
our comprehension. Yet we want to try to
see how the God of our Christian belief,
and what we have been taught of his
action, fits into our new knowledge. This
is why teaching religion to young people
is always challenging and exciting! They
are always asking, “How can this be”.
Past generations have seen God as
inextricable linked with creation, Thomas
Berry points out that even if we might try
to talk about God as a being prior to and
independent of creation “in actual fact
there is no such being as God without
creation”. There might be such a God but
we as part of creation only know God in
creation. God was perceived as
manifested throughout the natural world,
which moved in seasonal cycles of
change. The universe so they thought,
always existed as it was,: and so it would
always be. No actions by human beings
could alter it!
In the Biblical tradition there emerges a
new sense of history, in which the
universe is thought to have come into
being at a particular moment. Time was
still thought of as cyclical, and in terms of
humans, developmental.
In the Middle Ages they had the idea of
the Great Chain of Being with all of life
linked in ascending ranks up to God at
the pinnacle.
Today we share the biblical consciousness
that the universe had a beginning in time.
But unlike the biblical writers who
thought the cosmos was created once and
for all time, we know today that the
universe is emergent, changing,
undergoing irreversible sequences of
transformations over billions of years. Our
notion of a world that “is”, must change
into that of a world that “is becoming”.
Thomas Berry says that it is vital for us to
see this new age as that of new
possibilities for enlightenment and
understanding not merely of the
enthralling revelation of what the
world/cosmos is and can be, but also of
the God that is the creator of this newly
perceived universe. Time is now not only
developmental time, it is also Sacred
Time.
Cf. Berry and Clarke: “Befriending the
Earth, a Theology of Reconciliation
between Humans and the Earth”. 1991
All Creatures
All the creatures of the sense world lead the mind of the
contemplative and wise man to the eternal God. For these
creatures are shadows, echoes and pictures of that first most
powerful, most wise and most perfect Principle, of that eternal
Source, Light and Fullness, of that efficient, exemplary and
ordering Act. They are vestiges, representations, spectacles
proposed to us and signs divinely given so that we can see God.
These creatures, I say, are exemplars or rather exemplifications
presented to souls still untrained and immersed in sensible things
so that through sensible things which they see they will be
carried over to intelligible things which they do not see as
through signs to what is signified. The creatures of the sense
world signify the invisible attributes of God, partly because God
is the origin, exemplar and end of every creature, and every
effect id the sign of its cause, the exemplification of its exemplar
and the path to the end, to which it leads.
(St, Bonaventure The Soul’s Journey Into God, trans. Cousins, NY
1978AD)
St.Thomas Aquinas: All Creatures, in the analogy of Being,
have existence insofar as they participate to one degree or
other in the very being of God
Sr Louisa Poole, Convenor, Environment Committee
Page 12 April 2010

omnibus 13
the universal call to holiness - the ordained minstry
“I was in prison and you visited me”
Father Patrick Cope - Regional Chaplain for the North East Region
(Matthew 25:36)
Having been a priest now for nearly 28
years, 20 of those years have been spent
within the closed environment of a prison
and mainly working with young offenders.
Not something I was anticipating when I
was either training for the priesthood or
indeed once ordained! However, for me, I
think this is a ministry which is at the very
heart of the Gospel and where, as a priest,
I very much belong.
Working as a priest in a prison sees no
day alike. Each morning begins with a
briefing meeting, outlining what has happened
in the prison during the last 24
hours, any incidents from the previous
evening or during the night and anything
to be forewarned about in the day ahead.
One thing you never ask in a prison: "Is
everything quiet" because you bet, if it
is, it won't be for long! Each day is structured
around the Statutory duties which,
in law, a duty chaplain has to fulfil.
Prisoners in the Segregation Unit and the
Health Care have to be visited. All newly
arrived prisoners have to be seen by a
Chaplain with 24 hours.
Applications from prisoners requesting to
see a Chaplain or requiring some help
likewise have to be responded too within
24 hours. In addition to all this there is
then the round of one to one follow up
and counselling, group work, informing
someone of the death of a relative - and,
of course, the inevitable pile of paperwork
and meetings to attend.
My present role as Regional Chaplain for
the North East gives me overall responsibility
to support and coordinate the multi
faith chaplaincy work within this Region.
This has been a great learning curve and
given me many insights into the workings
of other religions and faiths and also to
ensure that any prisoner of any faith has
adequate access and support whilst he or
she are in prison. The Multi Faith aspect of
prison chaplaincy has been a great development
in recent years alongside the
development of lay chaplaincy - all working
and cooperating together to bring an
element of faith to what could be an otherwise
bleak and cold environment.
Many prisoners make use of the
Chaplaincy and what it has to offer. This is
one of the more satisfying aspects of the
work. Helping people when they are at
their lowest rediscover a God who loves
them and accepts them. This in itself can
be a tremendous aid to recovery and the
reducing of future offending.
A priest, like any other vocation needs to
feed and sustain his ministry through
prayer and the sacraments. This is vital to
keep going and to remain focused and
energised. It is also good to know that the
wider Church appreciates and supports
this vital and difficult ministry.
Silver Jubilee
Celebration
Mass, which
unusually
was held by
special
permission in
the prison
chapel with
"my young
parishoners".
Page 13 April 2010

omnibus 14
the universal call to holiness - religious life
‘What do you call 100 canon lawyers
at the bottom of the sea A good start’.
Canon law has sometimes been described
as the ‘arteriosclerosis within the Body of
Christ’, and canon lawyers have themselves
not always had a positive image. This was
certainly my view in 1983 when, on seeing
a copy of the newly published Code of
Canon Law, my response was to shake my
fist at it and mutter something
unrepeatable. I was very much of a mind
with some of those at the Second Vatican
Council who were negative about the
purpose of canon law in a church founded
on love. However, more than 25 years
later, I find myself with two canon law
degrees and researching for a third, and
teaching the subject at undergraduate and
postgraduate levels. What brought about
such a Damascene conversion
Looking back, it was a combination of
events and influences that led me from
fierce opposition to the whole idea of
having law within the Church, to a
passionate belief that it is one of the most
enjoyable and interesting subjects that an
individual could ever engage in. One
major influence was a colleague who had
taught canon law for 40 years (and
remained sane), but who was far removed
from what might be the stereotypical dusty
legalist meticulously handing down the
rules to be followed. He taught me that it is
possible to see canon law as something
that is dynamic and pastoral, rather than
static and unbending. In short, the law
was for people, and not the other way
around.
Having progressed in my life through a
study of history and politics, to
accountancy and management, to pastoral
theology and Christian ethics, the study of
canon law has drawn these strands
together, and provided me with new
avenues to explore. From dissertation
topics on whether a person who has OCD
(Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) is
capable of giving consent to a marriage, to
the issue of clerical sexual abuse, to how
dioceses are responding to the challenge of
reporting ‘public benefit’ in their annual
financial statements, canon law has been a
revelation as to its richness, a delight in the
process of discovery, and a challenge to
my own preconceptions.
One of the MA degrees offered at
Heythrop College (which is part of the
University of London,) is in Canon Law,
and this has been running now for ten
years. During these years, it has become
clear that there is a great desire to know
more about the law of the Church, its
history, the theology underpinning it, and
the ‘why’ of the formulation of certain
canons. Many of those who have studied it
have done so to enhance their ministry,
and are pleasantly surprised to find that,
when properly understood and applied,
Canon Law can fulfil a pastoral, educative
and guiding role within the Church.
The introductory module of the degree
looks at where canon law came from and
the influences on its development. This
includes the influence of the Second
Vatican Council on the revision of the
1983 Code of Canon Law, the structure of
the Code (in comparison to its predecessor
of 1917), and how to interpret individual
canons. Emphasis is on an appreciation of
the theology underpinning the law, an
insight into the mind of the legislator, and a
grasp of the spirit, and not just the letter of
the law.
The module on Marriage in Canon Law
explores the meaning of marriage as a
partnership of the whole life, in a society
where separation and divorce is
commonplace and ‘permanence’ has
become a difficult idea to grasp and live.
The module investigates the implications of
the fact some who present themselves for
marriage in the Catholic Church might be
deemed to be ‘baptised unbelievers’, and
explores what the Church has to say to
those who are divorced and civilly
remarried. It investigates consent, nullity,
the effects of prenuptial agreements on
these concepts, and the difference between
dissolution of marriage in the Roman
Catholic Church and a civil divorce. MA
students are often preparing themselves to
work in marriage tribunals, but the topics
covered are also relevant to those who
provide marriage preparation courses.
The module on Obligations and Rights
in the Church considers how rights came
to be outlined in the 1983 Code and
classes look at rights in areas such as
sexual abuse cases, wrongful accusation,
privacy, the use of psychological screening
of candidates for the priesthood, and
canons related to financial security,
political activity, and ongoing formation.
Very topically, the module also considers
the rights of parishioners in questions
relating to the merger and closure of
parishes.
The final taught module of the MA
discusses the canons relating to the
sacraments and their celebration,
including consideration of the
corresponding canons in the Eastern Code
(1990). It looks at questions such as
whether preparation for baptism should be
obligatory, some of the canonical issues
surrounding the Sacraments of Initiation
and the treatment of the dead, clerical
formation, and obstacles to ordination.
Finally, the study of canon law is no
longer the preserve of men (or indeed
clergy). A number of women have gained
the degree, and put it to good use in
working on marriage tribunals, in dioceses
and parishes, and in civil law. If you know
of someone interested in pursuing the
study of canon law, do encourage them. It
is not a wasted journey.
Sr Helen Costigane, Programme
Director for the MA Degree in Canon Law
This degree is open to all with a first degree or equivalent qualifications (part-time, once
a week, or fulltime, twice a week). Contact h.costigane@heythrop.ac.uk. More details
can be found on the website www.heythrop.ac.uk.
Page 14 April 2010

omnibus 15
the universal call to holiness - religious life
Human Trafficking
Sr. Isabel Kelly (Franciscan Missionary of St Joseph) visited the Fflint parish on
Wednesday 10th March at the invitation of the Justice and Peace group. She
came to talk about the trafficking of women and girls for the sex industry. She
showed a moving and disturbing DVD that followed the story of a little girl,
who looked about 8 or 9years old. Actors were playing the parts but it was an
amalgam of the true stories of many.
The trafficking of human beings is now the second biggest international crime
after drug smuggling. A recent undercover investigation revealed up to twenty
five thousand people a year are trafficked into the UK.
Sr Isabel is a volunteer for the Medaille Trust, which was set up in 2006 by a
number of religious congregations as a response to the plight of the thousands
who are being trafficked in the UK. The Trust is a charity and opened it's first
safe house in January 2007. Since then they have helped 74 women to regain
their freedom and their dignity. These women have come from 25 different
countries. The largest number coming from Nigeria and Romania.
Money for the trust comes mainly from the Religious Orders and donations.This
'industry' extends to North Wales. Sr Isabel told us of one woman, rescued,
who had been held in Rhyl. There could be many others in other towns
Dioceses. Massage parlours, lap dancing clubs, restaurants even a photocopying
shop (in Milton Keynes) can be fronts for this activity.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP
She has asked us to support a letter writing campaign by ECPAT (End Child
Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children), to the Secretary
of State for Children, Schools and Families. They have a Three Small Steps campaign.
1. Improve accommodation provision for child victims of trafficking
2. Introduce a system of guardianship for child victims
3. Appoint an independent watchdog to monitor and report publicly on child
trafficking in this country and recommend changes.
She also gave us a card with questions for the candidates of the next election.
Please visit the websites listed below, inform yourself and join the campaign.
Sr Isabel would be pleased to come and talk to any group in the Diocese. She is
based in Blackburn. Email address – hstkei@hotmail.com
Websites
www.medaille.co.uk
www.crop.org.uk
chigwelljpcentre@aol.com
www.ecpat.org.uk
www.ukhtc.org
www.unanima-international.org
www.unodc.org
www.fiop.org
Maria Pizzoni
From Kings Cross to
Buckingham Palace:
Sr. Lynda MBE meets the
Queen
Sr. Lynda
Dearlove
received her
MBE from the
Queen a few
weeks ago for
her work at
Women at the
Well, the drop-in
centre for
women of the streets of Kings Cross. She
records how, on returning from the palace, she
went to visit one of the women in Holloway
prison. The screams of delight which greeted
her arrival filled the visitors’ centre. It encapsulates
the way in which the honour is felt as a
shared award – by the women, the staff of the
centre, the Sisters of Mercy, and even the NBCW
Social Responsibility Committee which has followed
Lynda’s vision and watched it become
reality.
Lynda has been the driving force behind the
establishment of Women at the Well which last
year saw 158 women come through its doors.
Inspired by her Institute’s foundress, Catherine
McAuley’s dedication to poor Dublin women,
she opened the Kings Cross Centre two and a
half years’ ago providing a place of refuge and
support for vulnerable women, many working in
prostitution, on drugs, sleeping on the streets and
in and out of prison. Her work has been recognised
also by the Ministry of Justice which
recently awarded W@W £240,000 to expand
the work of the Centre in keeping women out of
prison. Even Lynda could not have dreamt of
such recognition and support. However she is
acutely aware that it also gives the charity new
challenges. In expansion will come the need for
sustained funding, for which we, the trustees,
will be responsible in helping her find. Ideas
from readers will be welcome (capst4@aol.com).
Celia Capstick, Trustee Women @the Well
Convener of NBCW Social Responsibility
Committee.
Page 15 April 2010

omnibus 16
associated groups & agencies - pax christi
Addressing the real wounds of the
human family: a call to action
‘They dress my people’s wound without concern: “Peace! Peace!” they say,
but there is no peace. They should be ashamed of their abominable deeds.
But not they!’ (Jeremiah 6:14-15)
In common with those at the heart of this
cry of the prophet Jeremiah, millions of
people today are offered a false and
dangerous peace which not only ignores
but often exacerbates the real suffering of
the human family and the very planet. For
too long approaches to achieving peace
and security have been dominated military
and coercive models – we seem unable to
think out of the box. The Quakers have a
saying, “If the only tool in the toolbox is a
hammer, then every problem is a nail”. As
we prepare for a General Election we have
a great opportunity to talk with prospective
candidates about the kind of ‘tools’ best
suited for world – at home and overseas.
Pax Christi, together with its sister
organisation the Fellowship of
Reconciliation have produced “Security for
the Common Good: A Christian challenge
to military security strategies” to stimulate
the debate, believing that if we use the
right tools and get our priorities right, we
can better solve problems of human
insecurity, injustice and poverty.
One indicator of the care we have for
the poor of the Global south are the
Millenium Development Goals. They tell
us that $30 billion would provide universal
primary education and $11 billion would
halve those without access to clean water.
Closer to home, Citysafe is a London based
initiative to help young people in particular
feel more secure in our cities by supporting
community-led responses to the problem
of crime and the fear of crime. The project,
which would not be costly, seeks to
building trust and confidence between a
variety of groups within communities and
encourage joint responsibility for creating
secure places to live. Support for such
projects would go a long way to meeting
human needs and create genuine human
security. Why is it then that so much is still
invested in military or violent solutions to
problem solving In 2008 global military
spending was $1464 trillion and UK
spending £38 billion
We invite churches, dioceses,
congregations, parishes, groups, and all
individuals of goodwill, to join our appeal
to build security for the common good
where the pursuit of love and justice set the
political, economic and social agenda.
Now is the time to redirect military
spending, research and development into
life-giving projects that address our real
security needs today. There will be many
new candidates standing in the General
Election, now is the time to talk with them
about reframing approaches to defence
and security in favour of security for the
common good.
To help in this process we have also
produced an Election Briefing with a focus
on four areas: Middle East, the Arms Trade,
Nuclear Proliferation and Military
Spending. Easy to use, with a short
introduction to each section followed by a
number of questions, we encourage
churches to work ecumenically in
organising hustings and other pre-election
gathering. We have an important message
to share and should not be afraid of raising
our voices now!
Both of these documents can be found at
http://www.paxchristi.org.uk/SecurityDisarmament.HTML on the Pax Christi
website or ordered from the office. Just call 0208 203 4884
St Joseph's, Watford Way,
London NW4 4TY.
Tel 0208 203 4884
www.paxchristi.org.uk
Page 16 April 2010

omnibus 17
progressio
The Murder of an Icon
A Bishop who stood side-by-side with the poor and the opressed
Back in March, I was among millions of
people around the world remembering a
man gunned down in El Salvador by a
government-sanctioned bullet. In the early
1980s in El Salvador, a single death in an
era of disappearances, repression and
massacres was not remarkable. But this
death was.
The murder of Archbishop Oscar Romero
– by a bullet to the chest as he said mass
at the altar – was not just a personal attack
on a man who was a thorn in the side of
El Salvador’s corrupt ruling elite. It was the
murder of an icon: a man who was
prepared to “speak truth to power”; a
Bishop who stood side-by-side with the
poor and the oppressed.
Far from being a ‘revolutionary’, Oscar
Romero was a quiet, mild-mannered soul
whose faith compelled him to speak out
for the people who couldn’t. When he
took office as the Archbishop of San
Salvador in 1977, violence and murder
were claiming the lives of 3,000 people
each month. In the words of one witness:
“the streets were flooded with blood.”
What was an Archbishop to do about
such brutality Most of the senior clergy
had remained tight-lipped out of fear or
out of complicity – and Romero was
expected to follow suit.
But this Bishop was different. Romero
quickly became a ‘Bishop of the people’,
demanding answers for the mounting
deaths, visiting the poorest and most
oppressed in far flung communities, and
bravely speaking out against what the poor
told him was happening. It was a
dangerous task, and one for which he paid
the ultimate price.
Romero became a martyr overnight. Over
the last thirty years, he has been a guiding
light for me and thousands of Catholics
concerned for peace and justice. Today his
memory lives on. In the towns and villages
of his home nation – and in our very own
Westminster Cathedral and right around
the UK and the world – masses, vigils and
talks were held in March to remember the
man who gave his life for the poor in El
Salvador.
But to remember Romero, as important as
that is, is only a part of the story. His life
and death also hold a prophetic message
for us now and in the future. Romero calls
on each of us to be transformed into good
Page 17 April 2010

omnibus 18
progressio
news for the poor and oppressed in our
world.
Today, there are many who say that rather
than walking hand-in-hand with the
oppressed, the hierarchy of the Catholic
Church is too disengaged from the plight
of the vulnerable and marginalised.
In principle, the Church is with the poor.
Take this, for example, from a statement
by the Catholic Bishop’s Conference just
weeks before a general election:
“Development requires that people are
rescued from every form of poverty, from
hunger to illiteracy…”
But, as Romero himself said, “things can’t
just be written on paper.” His prophetic
message is that it is our duty as Christians
to bring these values to life. We have to
act to put our principles into practice.
A young man in El Salvador, Luis
González, told me recently: “Monsignor
Romero provided a means through which
social protest could be expressed. If a poor
person said that beans were expensive,
they were killed. No-one could talk. But
he could say those kinds of things.”
His courage was such that he was
prepared to challenge the status quo, even
in the face of the threat of death. He put
his power and authority at the service of
the poor, in his denouncing of violence
and repression, in his friendship and
solidarity with peasants in villages.
Thirty years on from his death, Romero’s
life and murder is a challenge to the
Church and to all believers: are we
prepared to actually put that power at the
service of others, and to fight for justice for
the world’s poor and marginalised,
whatever the cost to ourselves
Christine Allen is Executive Director of
Progressio, an international charity with
Catholic roots that enables poor
communities to solve their own problems
through support from skilled workers. It
also lobbies decision-makers to change the
policies that keep people poor. For more
information about Progressio, see
www.progressio.org.uk. A version of this
article first appeared in The Guardian
Romero - quotes
“‘I must tell you, as a Christian, I do not believe in death without resurrection. If I
am killed, I will rise again in the Salvadoran people” (date unknown)
“Water the earth with truth, justice, love and kindness” 24.3.1980
“The shepherd does not want safety, as long as his own people are not safe”
22.7.1979
“The church suffers the fate of the poor: persecution. It is proud that it mingles
the blood of its priests with the pain of the people.” 17.12.1980
“The world of the poor teaches us that liberation will arrive only when the poor
are not simply on the receiving end of handouts from government or from
churches, but when they themselves are the masters and protagonists of their own
struggle for liberation.” From Romero’s diary
“The government should not consider a priest who takes a stand for social justice
as a politician, or a subversive element, when he is fulfilling his mission in the
politics of the common good.”
Mass at San Salvador cathedral following death of Fr Rutilio Grande
“Those who surrender to the service of the poor through love of Christ will live
like the grain of wheat that dies…The harvest comes because of the grain that
dies…We know that every effort to improve society, above all when society is so
full of injustice and sin, is an effort that God blesses, that God wants, that God
demands of us.” (Final homily, 24.3.1980)
"I am bound, as a pastor, by divine command to give my life for those whom I
love, and that is all Salvadoreans, even those who are going to kill me."
(22.3.1980)
"When the church hears the cry of the oppressed it cannot but denounce the
social structures that give rise to and perpetuate the misery from which the cry
arises." (8.6.78)
We must not seek the child Jesus in the pretty figures of our Christmas cribs. We
must seek him among the undernourished children who have gone to bed at night
with nothing to eat, among the poor newsboys who will sleep covered with
newspapers in doorways. (24.12.1979)
Progressio has been working in El Salvador since 1994.
It is one of the ten poorest countries in Latin America and despite a rapidly
increasing population - which now totals some 7.2 million people - and one of
the highest population densities in the world, there has been little economic
growth here for several years. Many grassroots organisations are now attempting to
address the economic and social problems of the Salvadoran people. Progressio is
working alongside a range of local partner groups to help strengthen their work
and expose economic and social policies that are having a detrimental effect on
the lives of Salvadorans, with encouraging results. To get involved with Progressio,
find out more about our work or become a member, visit our website:
www.progressio.org.uk
Page 18 April 2010

omnibus 19
cafod now
Caritas Chile aid
reaching most in need
Ruben Sebulbeda hugs his little 18 month
granddaughter Anina to his chest. Just like
he did a week ago. When the earthquake
struck Chile on Saturday, February 28th, in
the dead of night, he woke up. Everything
in his little house in the village of Santa
Clara had fallen on the floor.
Ruben Sebulbda and his wife had just started
to clean up, when they heard their
neighbours running by and shouting: “The
sea is coming!” By the time Mr Sebulbeda
rushed out of his door, Anina in his arms,
the wave, one and a half metres high, was
already upon his house. His wife was carried
away by the flood, but he managed to
grab her trailing hair and pulled her towards
dry land. The sea took everything, not much
is left of the little village.
Today Mr Sebulbda is living in a meeting
room, which belongs to the church of Santa
Cecilia close to Concepción. The priest who
lives here normally receives food kits from
Caritas, one kit will feed a family for two to
three days. “At the moment, providing food
for people in need is of priority: So far we
were able to hand out 25.000 food kits to
families, comprising sugar, rice, tuna, tea,
powdered milk and salt,” says Gabriela
Gutierrez, Executive Secretary of Caritas
Concepción.
Over 200,000 food kits have been donated
by people all over Chile. Caritas volunteers
in a huge warehouse in Santiago put the
food into boxes and load them on trucks,
which leave every day for Concepción and
other regions to deliver the food to victims
of the quake and the tsunami.
Ruben Sebulbeda and his family are safe for
now. They found a place to stay and they
are fed. However, with 1.5 million people
who have lost their homes all over Chile,
not just food, but shelter will become the
next big issue.
Support CAFOD’s work in Chile:
http://www.cafod.org.uk/giving/emergency-appeals
Recipients of
Caritas food aid in
the Santa Clara
township in
Talcahuano.
Haiti: the need for shelter
Phenol Estiverne’s home wasn’t
reduced to rubble, like many others
hit by Haiti’s earthquake, but he still
hasn’t returned to live in it. “It’s too
dangerous. Mr Estiverne, 54, now
lives with his wife and four children in
the garden of his small brick house in
Port-au-Prince. Poor building practices
in Haiti’s towns and capital city hugely
contributed to the destruction and
massive loss of life in the 12th January
earthquake.
Caritas has distributed emergency
shelter kits to over 60,000 people
Caritas has distributed emergency shelter
kits to over 60,000 people since the earthquake
happened
since the earthquake happened. Mr Estiverne recently received a family-sized tent which
he has pitched in his garden. “We’re so grateful and relieved Caritas provided us with a
tent,” he says. However, for Mr Estiverne and hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people
like him a tent is just a short-term answer. The massive hardship faced by Haitians will
only be alleviated when they have solid houses, new schools and a life of dignity.
Haiti: You can help lift their burden of debt
Last month’s earthquake in Haiti killed at least 200,000 people. Rebuilding will take years
and cost billions – yet Haiti is already burdened by enormous debts built up by corrupt
governments of the past. It’s wrong to expect Haiti’s people to repay this debt. Email the
Prime Minister to call on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for all of Haiti’s debt to be
cancelled immediately, and to ensure that debt cancellation is automatically on the agenda
when a poor country is struck by disaster.
For Haiti’s future, please act now. http://www.cafod.org.uk/
Page 19 April 2010

omnibus 20
Have a hand in history
What’s your vision At
CAFOD, we’re striving for a
world free from poverty and
injustice where every person
can flourish, live in dignity and
safety, and in harmony with
the rest of creation. That vision
underpins everything we do.
By influencing people in
power locally, nationally and
internationally, we believe we
can make this vision a reality
and make the world a fairer
place for millions of people
living in poverty.
Prioritising international
poverty
The decisions taken by the
incoming government, on
issues like aid, climate change
and regulating business will
have far-reaching consequences
for poor communities
worldwide. In 2009 millions of
people around the world
joined the call for climate justice
but Copenhagen didn’t
produce the deal the world’s
poor so urgently need. We
must keep up the pressure this
year by asking the incoming
government to keep pushing
for a fair climate change deal
at the UN.
But we must also ensure
other issues vital for tackling
global poverty are on the new
government’s agenda. All three
main political parties have said
they are committed to spending
0.7 per cent of national
income on aid, but we need to
cafod now
make sure that once in power
they honour this commitment,
and that this money is directed
at reaching the poorest.
We must also recognise the
growing importance of the private
sector in the developing
world, and building on the
success of campaigns such as
CAFOD’s “Unearth Justice”
campaign, make sure that the
incoming government acts to
ensure that businesses are
accountable to the people in
poor countries who are affected
by their operations there.
Election
In the coming general election, MPs and parliamentary candidates
will all be looking for our vote. It’s a great time for us to
get our issues on the agenda. Whether it’s talking to someone
knocking on your door, through to attending, or even organising
a hustings, make sure you ask your candidates what action they
would take to prioritise action on poverty.
CAFOD has produced a handy guide to the election. You can
download it at cafod.org.uk/election.
“Change is possible. But it cannot be left to politicians alone to
bring about. It needs all of us,” says “Choosing the Common
Good”, a pre-election report from the Bishops’ Conference. The
report calls on all of us to reflect on what sort of society we live
in and how we want it to be.
We know change is possible, after all less than 100 years ago
women were not even allowed to vote. Now let’s make sure we
use this vote to carry on bringing about the change we want to
see in the world.
CAFOD asks of parliamentary candidates and the incoming
government:
To make tacking global poverty a priority by:
* pushing for a fair climate change deal at the UN
* honouring commitments to spend 0.7 per cent of national
income on aid
* ensuring businesses are accountable to people in poor
countries who are affected by their operations
Time for a
Robin Hood Tax
Join CAFOD and many others to campaign for a new global
tax that will create huge change for the world’s poor. Just a
tiny tax on bankers will raise billions to tackle poverty and
climate change.We are only asking for 0.05 per cent traded
by banks - 50p for every £1,000. And yet this could raise
around $400 billion per year to help fight poverty and help
developing countries combat climate change.
We are also calling for governments in favour of these taxes to
implement a tax on trade in currencies now, to show it can be
done, and to raise much-needed cash. A Robin Hood Tax will
also ensure banks pay their share of the costs of the global crisis
they helped to generate and also discourage risky and shortterm
speculation.
CAFOD Director Chris Bain says: "It would be morally bankrupt
to miss this opportunity. At a time when the financial crisis
has pushed developing countries further back in their fight
against poverty, we need financial markets that work for development
and not against. A Robin Hood Tax is an important and
symbolic step in the right direction."
Please so your support at http://www.cafod.org.uk/takeaction/robin-hood-tax
To sign up to become a MP Correspondent, visit
cafod.org.uk/election
To order cards or support materials contact CAFOD on
020 7095 5692 or campaigns@cafod.org.uk
Page 20 April 2010

omnibus 21
national justice and peace network
Naturally a Martha and not a Mary
An Interview with Sr Pat Robb
Sr Pat Robb is a member of the Congregation of Jesus. She worked for
several years as a nurse and midwife in hospitals and refugee camps in
Africa. She is now based in Cambridge and works as chaplain at an
immigration centre. She is active in East Anglia J&P Commission.
Where do you think your commitment to
justice and peace comes from
“Initially from my mother, an Anglican, who
was always “doing good” and whom I
often accompanied on these missions of
mercy. Even though we were not well off
we shared what we had with others. I
remember, in World War 2, first of all
British Tommies, who were billeted near us,
coming to share our simple Christmas Day
fare, and then, in following years, German
prisoners of war from the local camp,
coming to Christmas tea.
It was to be many years before I realised
that, as a Christian, I was being asked to do
more than just works of charity; I was being
asked to go the extra mile. I am a nurse and
midwife by training and was working in a
poor township in Zimbabwe when a victim
of Mugabe’s first reign of terror (in the 80s)
came for help. His back had been flayed as
a punishment for being a member of the
opposition. As I treated his wounds I felt an
anger rising in me. “I must be able to do
more than just bandage the wounds” I said
to myself. “Why is this happening What
can I do”. And so I got involved with the
Justice and Peace Commission of the
Catholic Church in Zimbabwe... Since that
time I have been amazingly privileged to
work in some very difficult conflict areas
and this has heightened my commitment to
help inform others of unjust situations and
to look at possibilities for action.
Working in refugee camps in various
African countries in civil war situations I
was aware of the marginalisation of women
as they fought to get their rations, not so
much for themselves as for their children
and the sick. A lot of my time and energy
was directed towards this group through
health care and administration. On
returning to the UK I did a spell at The
Passage before going to Brazil for 6 months
to see the Basic Christian Communities at
work. That was a very interesting
experience and showed me just how much
the people on the ground are able to do
when other Christians are in solidarity with
them: not doing as I had in Africa, but
being alongside. It was a very good lesson
for me as I am naturally a Martha and not a
Mary! Now I work as a chaplain in an
immigration detention centre and am
alongside those facing up to many
injustices of our Home Office policies.
What for you are the most important areas
of concern today
Human rights abuses and the destruction of
the environment would be the umbrella for
my concerns. Human Rights abuses all over
the world are making the gap between rich
and poor grow wider by the day. Millions
lack water and sufficient food. Millions
more are driven off their land by the greed
of others who steal natural resources.
Conflict affects the lives of millions forcing
people to become refugees, others face
imprisonment, torture and death. Rich
governments seem to do little to lift the
poor out of poverty, but they continue to
support large multinationals who exploit
people and planet. (NB RBS using tax
payers money to prop up, with loans,
environmentally UNFRIENDLY energy
companies such as E:ON, instead of
supporting Green Energy projects).
As a follower of Mary Ward I am naturally
very concerned about the way women are
treated in so many cultures and
organisations. I long for ALL women to
have the right to make choices, be
educated and to be safe from sexual abuse,
but their lot seems to be getting worse. We,
however, must not give up putting pressure
on abusive powers. If we give up the bullies
and abusers have won!
I am very concerned about the inhumane
treatment the Palestinians are receiving from
Israel and feel there is a need for a much
stronger and effective United Nations to act
on this and many other unjust situations
around the globe.
In the UK huge issues of concern for me are
the inept and unjust Migration Policies of
the Government that deny sanctuary to
many who are in need, and that traumatises
many, especially children, with detention
and delays in finalising appeals.
What sustains you in your commitment
The life of the carpenter of Nazareth, the
inspiration of people like Mary Ward and
her followers, and the companionship of
others with whom I have the privilege of
working on J&P issues. And I often think of
those amazing African women I met in very
difficult situations yet keeping alive their
dignity, sense of humour, and working so
very hard to scrape a living for their
families.
Jesus’ option for the poor and the
marginalised is the energising force in my
life and also Mary Ward, who founded the
Congregation of Jesus to which I belong.
She was prepared to suffer imprisonment,
humiliation and suppression, by the
Church, of her new Institute as she
Page 21 April 2010

omnibus 22
national justice and peace network
endeavoured to carry out God’s will for a
“new way of being” which included the
education of women and girls. This did not
come about in her life time, but she never
lost faith. There are many who inspire me in
different ways: the poor women of Africa
who maintain their dignity and selflessness
in the most inhumane of situations, the
many refugees I have met in this country
who keep their hope alive and their trust in
God when the powers of the British
government are pitted against them. I find
Oscar Romero, and Aung San Sui Kyi
inspiring and I get energised by so many,
who today, work with NGOs here and
overseas, and others who dedicate time and
love to their local J&P needs, challenging
unjust structures, being alongside the
marginalised, simplifying their life styles
and being prepared to be called “Fools for
Christ’s sake.”
What are your hopes for a Church like
ours in the 21st century
I would hope to see Catholic Social
Teaching central to parish worship and
activities and the windows, originally
opened by Vatican 2, pushed even wider
open to allow for new ways of living our
faith in this multicultural world. I feel
women could play a much greater part in
the life of the church and I would hope that
the Church will speak out more on issues of
justice and peace and the environment, and
not only speak out, but give an example by
their own actions making use of modern
methods of communication and always
making the situation of the poorest and
marginalised known and responded to. I
would like to see a Church that goes out
more to those on the margins in all parts of
the world to strive for peace with justice.
The Church has a huge responsibility to
work towards lessening the gap between
the rich and the poor of God’s world. As
Archbishop Tutu said: “As long as there is
one person in the world hungry, or
oppressed, in fear and lacking dignity, the
work of the Christian is not done.”
National Justice & Peace Network
2010 Annual Conference
‘Our Daily Bread’
‘FOOD SECURITY, PEOPLE AND PLANET’
16-18 July 2010
The Hayes Conference Centre, Derbyshire
Keynote speakers include:
Vandana Shiva
Indian ecologist and environmental activist
Shay Cullen ssc
Preda Foundation, Philippines
Alastair McIntosh
Scottish writer and campaigner for justice and
environmental sustainability
Elizabeth Dowler
Professor of food and social policy,
University of Warwick
Conference will present a
‘BIG FOOD DEBATE’
Chaired by John Vidal, Environment Editor of The Guardian
Plus: Programmes for children and young people, stalls from
many organisations
Workshop leaders include:
Sarah Brown (Farm Crisis Network), Barbara and Edward Echlin
(Christian Ecology Link), Sean McDonagh ssc (Columban JPIC),
JoJi Carino (Piplinks), Mary Colwell (Alliance of Religions and
Conservation), Deborah Jones (Catholic Concern for Animals),
Ashley Ralston (Better Tomorrows), Paul Whitehouse
(Gangmasters’ Licensing Authority), Tim Gorringe (Transition
Towns), CAFOD, Progressio.
For more information contact:
NJPN, 39 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1BX,
Tel: 020 7901 4864
Email: admin@justice-and-peace.org.uk
Or download booking forms from
www.justice-and-peace.org.uk
National Justice & Peace Network
Networking Day and AGM
Saturday 15 May 2010
10.30am—4.00pm
CAFOD Offices, Southwark
SPEAKER
Frank Regan
“A Magnificat Church for Today: New Wine in Old
Wineskins”
All welcome: For more details contact:
The Administrator, NJPN,
39 Eccleston Square, London SW1V IBX
Tel: 020 7901 4864:
email admin@justice-and-peace.org.uk
General Election Resources on
www.justice-andpeace.org.uk
Visit the NJPN website for links to resources for the
General Election from around the Network
PLUS
Statements on
“Why it matters for Catholics/Christians/People of faith
to engage in the political process”.
Contributors include Clare Short, Caroline Lucas, Timothy
Radcliffe OP, John Battle, CAFOD partners, Neil Jameson
(London Citizens)
And
Article by Paul Donovan: Catholics must be participants not
bystanders in the General Election.
Page 22 April 2010

omnibus 23
vocation for justice
Vocation for Justice Compiled
by Ellen Teague
Columban JPIC Team
St. Joseph’s, Watford Way, Hendon, London NW4 4TY
020 8202 2555
www.columbans.co.uk
General Election 2010
CAMPAIGNING THEMES
CLIMATE CHANGE
• More than 80 percent of the greenhouse
gases currently in the atmosphere are
the result of emissions by rich, Northern
countries.
• Some 262 million people were affected
by climate disasters annually from 2000
to 2004, over 98 percent of them in the
global south.
“The ecological crisis offers an historic
opportunity to develop a common plan of
action aimed at orienting the model of
global development towards greater
respect for creation and for an integral
human development.”
Pope Benedict XVI
Useful websites:
www.cafod.org.uk
www.operationnoah.org
Question to candidates:
Do you support working towards a fair and
binding global climate deal as an immediate
priority By a fair and binding global
climate deal we mean this deal should:
• be legally binding,
• include emissions cuts of more than 40
per cent on 1990 levels by 2020,
• include US$195 billion each year by
2020 on top of existing aid pledges to
help poor countries cope with climate
change.
PEACE
• The estimated costs of the replacement
of Trident, the UK’s nuclear missile system,
is in excess of £75 billion.
• Each year the UK exports around £5 billion
worth of military equipment around
the globe.
“We need to work at getting relationships
right: relationships between people and
relationships between people and planet.
This is what peacemaking is about.”
Pat Gaffney, Pax Christi
Useful websites:
www.paxchristi.org.uk
www.rethinktrident.org.uk
www.caat.org.uk
Questions to candidates:
Do you think Trident should be replaced
The UK Trade and Industry Defence &
Security Organisation is a government
unit which helps private companies sell
military equipment and services overseas.
Do you think this government unit should
be closed
What are the options for the future of
Afghanistan
FOOD AND WATER
• Approximately 450 million small-scale
farmers feed roughly two billion people,
so they are a key group in fighting
poverty.
• If temperature increases in the Andes to
the extent that glaciers disappear, the
water supplies of up to 50 million people
will be endangered.
“Continuing hunger is a deep stain on our
world. The time has come to remove it –
forever. We have the wealth and knowhow
to do so. Let us do our utmost to
keep hunger at the centre of the political
lens.”
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Useful websites:
www.progressio.org.uk
www.fairtrade.org.uk
Questions to candidates:
How can the UK government give greater
support to the world’s small-scale farmers
Do you support fairtrade initiatives
What will you do to ensure the access of
poor communities around the world to
water
DEBT
• In 2006, Norway unilaterally cancelled
$80m in debt owed by five poor countries,
on the grounds that the loans were
examples of a “development policy failure”
linked to irresponsible lending.
• In November 2009, two vulture funds
won £20 million against Liberia in the
UK High Court. A ‘Vulture fund’ is a
company that seeks to make profit by
buying up cheap defaulted poor country
debt and then attempting to recover the
full amount immediately, often by suing
through the courts.
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omnibus 24
vocation for justice
“An imaginative and radical set of policies
is needed to address the triple crunch of
debt, peak oil and climate change.”
Ann Pettifor
Useful website:
www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk
Questions to candidates:
Would you recognise the concept of coresponsibility
and illegitimacy in lending
and take steps to deal with historical illegitimate
debt
Would you legislate to prohibit the activities
of vulture funds in UK courts
POVERTY AND SOCIAL
EXCLUSION IN BRITAIN
• The gap between rich and poor in the
UK is greater now than at any time in
the past 40 years. This is not only unjust;
research shows that inequality has a
corrosive effect on the whole of society,
linked with higher crime, health problems
and other social ills.
• People on low incomes who cannot get
credit from mainstream banks are forced
to borrow from doorstep lenders or
‘payday’ lenders. In the absence of any
legal limit on cost of loans, many are
forced to pay interest rates as high as
1000 percent. This traps people in a
cycle of debt.
“There must come a point at which the
scale of the gap between the very wealthy
and those at the bottom of the range of
income begins to undermine the common
good.”
The Common Good, Catholic Bishops
Conference for England and Wales.
Useful website:
www.church-poverty.org.uk
Questions to candidates:
Does the growing gap between rich and
poor in this country concern you, and if
so, what will you do about it
Are you willing to call for a legal limit on
the interest rates that can be charged by
moneylenders, and would you support
the Debt on our Doorstep campaign of
Church Action on Poverty
HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS
• An estimated 500,000 people in
England alone are ‘hidden homeless’.
These people are not visible rough
sleepers but are sofa surfers, squatters,
or sleeping in their cars, in tents or in
bin sheds.
• More than 60,000 households in
England are homeless and living in temporary
accommodation. That is over
100,000 people and includes at least
87,000 children. About 20% of these
households have been in temporary
accommodation for more than two
years.
“The change I think would do the most to
end injustice and bring about righteousness
in housing would be a move to think
of the buildings we live in primarily as
homes rather than as investments.”
Alison Gelder, Housing Justice
Useful websites:
www.housingjustice.org.uk
Questions to candidates:
It is widely recognised - at least by all the
main parties - that there is a shortage of
housing in our country. How do you propose
to ensure that there is an adequate
supply of affordable housing in this area
At the moment a large number of needy
homeless people - for example single
adults - fall outside the statutory duty of
local authorities to provide housing. What
would you do to help them
ASYLUM SEEKERS AND
REFUGEES
• Many people seeking sanctuary in the
UK are destitute. No one knows exactly
how many people have been left destitute
at the end of the asylum process,
without any status, permission to work,
or access to benefits.
• Tens of thousands of men, women and
children (both immigrants and those
seeking sanctuary) are detained under
the UK’s immigration rules each year.
“We need a ministry of welcome and
accompaniment for migrants”
Bishop Patrick Lynch, auxiliary in
Southwark Diocese and Bishop with pastoral
responsibility for migrants.
Useful websites:
www.jrsuk.net
Questions to candidates:
How can the system of asylum processing
be improved to be swifter and fairer
What are the alternatives to the detention
of children and families of people seeking
sanctuary
ENVIRONMENT
• During the past 45 years about a quarter
of Britain’s hedgerows have been
destroyed, at a rate of about 4,000 miles
a year and with a massive loss of biodiversity.
• Each family in the UK throws away an
average of one tonne of waste per year!
73% of this goes to landfill, even though
90% of this is recoverable. It could be
recycled, composted or used to generate
energy.
“Jesus encouraged love of children. If our
generation continues to disrupt climate,
not least with cars and planes, we will
destroy our children’s future.”
Edward Echlin, Christian Ecology Link
Useful websites:
www.christian-ecology.org.uk
Questions to candidates:
Will you demand that ministers and parliament
promote sustainable quality of life
rather than infinite growth
How will you personally live a low carbon
lifestyle, and persuade your constituents
to do likewise
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omnibus 25
vocation for justice
A General Election will be held sometime before 3 June 2010. Like everyone else, Christians will be engaging with a range of
important issues facing our country. Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, in collaboration with the Methodist Church, have
prepared an excellent paper:
FAITH IN POLITICS
Preparing Churches for the General Election 2010.
It can be downloaded from: www.churcheselection.org.uk
It looks at key issues, providing a concise overview, and then suggests questions to candidates. Concerns include the countering of
religious-inspired terrorism and how far the churches are listened to when they speak up for the vulnerable in the public sphere, for
example, condemning the detention of the children of asylum seekers or denouncing the British National Party when it claims to
represent British Christians.
www.whytheyworkforyou.com is a really good site for finding out what your current MP has been doing. It includes easy-to-read
summaries of how your MP voted on key issues and what their performance is like in parliament - how many times they have
attended, voted or spoken and how much they have spent.
NEW RESOURCES
DVD: Stations of the Forests
Columban Missionary Society
In the mid 1980s, Columbans in the Philippines
developed a ‘Stations of the Forests,’ using the
popular ‘Stations’ format to lament the stages
in the death of a part of God’s Creation, the
tropical rainforests. Various versions of it were
used by Catholic agencies over the next
decade. This is a revised audio-visual and incorporates
more global issues related to rainforest destruction, such as
the impact of extractive industries, all leading to climate change.
A Resource Booklet accompanying the DVD provides the script,
an agenda for public meetings using the DVD, a reflection for
each of the Stations and material for liturgies.
£7.00 inclusive of p&p from Columban JPIC OfficeSt. Joseph's,
Watford Way, Hendon, London NW4 4TY. 020 8202 2555.
And the following resources are written by Ellen Teague of the
Columban JPIC Team:
Our Earth, Our Home - Green Assemblies for Key
Stage 1-2.
These assemblies, for primary age children,
aim to help them understand their relationship
with the environment as part of the
web of life, and to develop respect for other
species and natural resources. They also
create awareness about the need for a
healthy and fruitful environment for livelihoods
and health of human society in every
part of the world. Designed to be presented by the children, they
are easily adjustable to suit both the very young and slightly
older, and incorporate arts, crafts, dance and mime. There are
suggestions for images to display during each assembly, youtube
clip ideas and activities for follow up.
£15.99 from Kevin Mayhew Publishers on 01449 737978 or
sales@kevinmayhewltd.com
Paint the Church Green
- A group course.
This guide enables church groups to
explore the relationship between faith
and concern for the natural world. By
highlighting environmental issues, unsustainable
development and the link with
global poverty, it prompts reflection on
western lifestyle and makes suggestions
for change. Paint the Church Green features
six session agendas: People and Planet, Food and Drink,
Battling the Elements, Energy for the Future, Abundant Life, and
Covenant with Creation.
Price: £5.99 + £2 p&p from Kevin Mayhew Publishers
Becoming a Green Christian.
It seems like everyone is “going green”.
What about joining them This booklet
will help individuals to do just that. There
are many different ways to be a little
greener, such as recycling, cycling to
work, reusing plastic bags, and reducing
food miles. Even growing your own fruits
and vegetables is making a comeback
among young families, and children have
fun doing it. Working together to be more
environmentally responsible in parishes and schools can be
rewarding for church communities too.
£8.99 + £2 p&p from Kevin Mayhew Publishers.
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omnibus 26
nbcw - social responsibility
NBCW Election Questions
formulated at Board meeting on 20.2.10 & revised at Soc Res Committee on 23 Feb 2010 + changes and additions 6 March
As Catholic Women we believe that policies
which promote the sanctity of life, the
stewardship of creation, the dignity of the
human person, the preferential option for
the poor, education for all and support for
marriage and family life are among the best
ways of achieving the Common Good.
The following are questions which can be
asked of all candidates for the forthcoming
election. They were formulated at a recent
NBCW meeting and set out here as suggestions
only. You may want to add others of
your own.
Education
1 How can we ensure that the fees and
support costs of HE do not disadvantage
anybody
2 How would you redress the balance
between academic & vocational education
3 Many women have dropped out of
mainstream education - what do you
think could be done to promote opportunities
for women to re-enter education
and training
4 Would you agree to support the retention
of Faith schools in our state school
system
Environment
1 What would you do to promote local
action to cope better with environmental
problems including waste management,
recycling & energy conservation
2 Where is climate change in your own
and your party’s list of priorities for the
UK
3 Do you agree that the next UK government
needs to support work towards a
fair and legally binding global climate
deal as a top priority If so, what action
would you take to press for this if elected
4 How would you and your party support
the target of the rich countries achieving
carbon emissions cuts of more than 40
per cent on 1990 levels, by the year
2020 Would you support a strengthening
of the UK Climate Change Act
What influence would you and your
party use in the EU to ensure other rich
countries in Europe commit to these
cuts too
5 How would you and your party
ensure that the UK and other rich countries
help poor countries to adapt to and
cope with climate change
6 Would you agree to a level of $195 billion
per year by 2020 which is additional
to existing overseas aid budgets
Health & Bioethics
1 Faith communities have strong views on
the sanctity of life. What are you views
on assisted suicide
2 Do you support free health care for all
at the point of need
3 How would your party promote and
fund social care for the elderly
4 How would your party support the
growing number of family carers who
save the govt £87 billion a year yet
earn £1.52 per hour
Overseas Aid
1 All the UK’s main political parties agree
that the UK should honour its commitment
to spend 0.7% of GDP (national
income) on aid. How would you & your
party honour this commitment & ensure
that women & children, who bear the
brunt of poverty, are the beneficiaries
2 It seems that, in the light of the current
international financial crisis, the
Millennium Development Goals set for
2015 are unlikely to be achieved. If the
UK’s pledge to the poor of the developing
world are to be honoured, how can
your party justify spending billions of
pounds to replace Trident, a weapon
system suited to the Cold War era and
which we cannot even operate independently
Financial transaction Tax
3 The Prime Minister has recently stated
that he supports a financial transaction
tax (long known as the Tobin tax &
recently referred to as the Robin Hood
tax) as a fair way of recouping some of
the money lost to UK taxpayers by the
irresponsible conduct of international
finance and banking. Does your party
support this proposed tax
Europe
4 Given that the European Convention on
Human Rights is embedded in our
country’s legal framework and given
that many political decisions are made
in Europe to which this country makes
major contributions, what is your attitude
towards closer co-operation with
other nation states in the European
Union
Marriage & Family Life
1 How would you promote marriage as
the best way to raise children in a stable
environment
2 Advertising to children is grooming for
consumerism. Where would you stand
on banning advertising to children
2. Smacking of children is regarded by
some as a form of DA/DV. How would
you vote on smacking in a free vote
3. The age of criminal responsibility in the
UK is the lowest in Europe at 10 years.
Do you think it should be altered
5 There is a lot of pressure on mothers to
leave their children in child-care and go
out to work. Do you agree it would be
equally important to give mothers the
option to stay at home to care for their
children for the first 5 years of life
6 Grandparents are increasingly used for
child care. What ideas does your party
have for supporting this role
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omnibus 27
nbcw - social responsibility
Public Affairs
1. How do you propose to engage with
bodies that represent women of faith,
such as the National Board of Catholic
Women which represents around 1
million women in England & Wales
2 How will you encourage more women
to be active in the political process
3 How do you think the voting system
could be improved to make it more representative
Poverty and Debt
1 People on low incomes, particularly
women, are driven to borrow from
doorstep lenders. There is no legal limit
on interest rates and some people pay
up to 1000%. Would you call for a
legal limit on interest rates charged by
money lenders
2 Would you support a government
scheme for micro-credit unions Do you
think this could be rolled out through
the Post Office
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
1. Do you support the ending of detention
of mothers and children who have
come to this country for sanctuary
2. Refused asylum seekers are frequently
completely destitute – they have no
means of support and are not allowed
to work. Do you agree that they and
other asylum seekers should at least be
allowed to work and support themselves
Domestic Abuse
1. Given that around 72 women per year
are killed by partners or former partners,
how will you and your party ensure that
the provision for dealing with domestic
abuse is of the same quality throughout
the country
Trafficking
1. Does your party have any plans to tackle
the probability of increased trafficking
of women and children for sexual purposes
during the 2012 Olympics
Page 27 April 2010