This is really excellent news! All possible support should be given to Occupy London. The present system of financial regulation and political governance, underpinned by the opiate of the people that is the monarchy and its legitimization of militarism and war, never served the Common Good. All the Occupy London objectives are consistent with Catholic Social Teaching. I was at the St Paul's camp a few weeks ago and was struck by the way they have organised themselves into a genuine community with a common life. Don't believe the media lies. Go see for yourself. Perhaps you have an 'Occupy' camp near you? Go visit. Go see the Holy Spirit at work! It's messy...but perhaps as Catholics we've become a bit to tidy, tamed and part of the system? Remember! John's letters to the seven churches in Revelation were as much about them ensuring that they did not become enslaved by Roman Imperialism and its softening impact on the Christian life as anything else. We must also be on our watch that we have not become soft and part of 'the world.'
Church body has given its formal backing to the Occupy London Stock Exchange protest.
The executive committee of the National Justice and Peace Network - based at Eccleston Square, the offices of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales - made the announcement this week.
The Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols earlier said the St Paul's protests had given a voice to concerns that the financial burden of attempts to tackle the deficit was being "very unfairly felt and distributed".
He said he had met with the chairmen of banks and leading figures in the City over the past 18 months to try to find solutions to the current problems.
The NJPN statement said the body supported Occupy London in its "resistance to economic injustice by active non-violence".
"We share their call for structural change towards an authentic global equality and likewise believe, with them, that the world's resources 'must go towards caring for people and the planet, not the military, corporate profits or the rich'," it added
Church body has given its formal backing to the Occupy London Stock Exchange protest.
The executive committee of the National Justice and Peace Network - based at Eccleston Square, the offices of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales - made the announcement this week.
The Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols earlier said the St Paul's protests had given a voice to concerns that the financial burden of attempts to tackle the deficit was being "very unfairly felt and distributed".
He said he had met with the chairmen of banks and leading figures in the City over the past 18 months to try to find solutions to the current problems.
The NJPN statement said the body supported Occupy London in its "resistance to economic injustice by active non-violence".
"We share their call for structural change towards an authentic global equality and likewise believe, with them, that the world's resources 'must go towards caring for people and the planet, not the military, corporate profits or the rich'," it added
7 comments:
Hi Brian,
Media wise things had certainly gone very quiet on the "Occupy London" front. Great to hear from someone who has been down to St Paul's to see for himself.
Great post. Hope you are keeping well.
Blessings and prayers,
Ann
Hello Ann
Thanks for your comment. I think the media have moved to Jeremy Clarkson and Chinese panda bears as providing fresh meat for their feeding frenzy...;-)
Blessings to you!
Brian
Brian
My one concern with the movement is that they are strong on what they are against but unclear, at least to me, as to what is the solution. With the protest movements in the sixties there were generally clear objectives. This movement is against the status quo, yes the current situation is unfair but I am not clear as to what system would work and be fairer.
Barry
Thanks Barry. That's the beauty of it. There is no preconceived agenda or top down imposition. It is about asking the questions regarding what an alternative future looks like because the present model of political and economic governance is broken, corrupt and rotten. The poor got poorer and will continue to do so as a consequence of greed at the top.
Brian
Brian
Hi Brian,
Blessings for a peace filled Christmas, enjoy the celebrations of the Great Feast.
Blessings and Prayers,
Ann:)
Hi Brian,
Wishing you a very Happy and Joyful New Year.
Keep well and safe.
Blessings and prayers.
Ann
I am broadly supportive, but there are undoubtedly anarchist, Communist and similar anti-Church elements.
Any change, if it is to convey justice and peace, must be concordant with Catholicism and the social teaching of the Popes.
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