Category: Nuclear

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Disarmament and Security at the United Nations

Approaching the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the United Nations, we hosted an online discussion and prayer time. More information is in our member news report. Aaron Humphriss spoke about his recent placement with the Holy See Mission to the UN in New York, on a disarmament and security brief. Mary Yelenick spoke to us from New York where she is a member of the Pax Christi International UN-NGO team. We were inspired by Aaron’s own journey to thinking about peace, having come from a very different starting point. We spent time in prayer following a liturgy incorporating some of the preamble to the United Nations Charter. Aaron provided links to more information as well as a copy of his presentation.

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Ash Wednesday

Pax Christi members marked Ash Wednesday with acts of penitence and witness around the country as we have done for over 30 years. 

In London, there was a vigil of resistance and repentance at the Ministry of Defence. The liturgy and witness is undertaken in respectful opposition to the MoD’s preparations for the deployment of nuclear weapons. See HERE for more details

In Liverpool at noon, Pax Christi members and friends led a public act of repentance for our possession and intended use of the nuclear weapons.
In Coventry there was an Ash Wednesday Action beginning at the foot of the Old Cathedral steps, organised by Pax Christi members and friends.

Pax Christi members around the country  joined us in prayerful solidarity.

Independent Catholic News covered the London and Coventry events. More information is on the Pax Christi News page

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PRESS: Catholic peace group calls for nuclear arms service to be scrapped

From The Catholic Universe | Sunday, 14th April 2019 | Picture: 2015 archive photo of HMS Vanguard, one of the UK’s nuclear deterrent V-Class submarines, sitting docked at Devonport, Plymouth. (Ben Birchall/PA)

We echo the words of Pope Francis regarding nuclear weapons: ‘The threat of their use as well as their very possession is to be firmly condemned’. Rather than the tired narrative that nuclear weapons are a necessary deterrent, we agree with Pope Francis that they ‘exist in the service of a mentality of fear that affects not only the parties in conflict but the entire human race’. The tense, fragile relationships between nuclear-weapons possessing nations and their unbalanced relationships with others must not be described as peace.” The full article from The Universe can be found here.

Pax Christi is now calling for the Service of Thanksgiving to either be cancelled or changed to a Service of Repentance. Join us on May 3rd

 

 

 

 

 

 

The full article can be found here

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31 organisations write to Boris Johnson urging full participation in Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Committee

Ban BannerjpgLetter to Secretary of State, Boris Johnson on Nuclear Proliferation Treaty.  17 April 2018

31 organistions, including Pax Christi, have written to Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to urge  the UK Government  to use the imminent Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Preparatory Committee meeting to recognise and act upon the UK’s international obligation to work for a world free of nuclear weapons.

In addition the letter encourages the UK Government to participate in the up-coming UN High Level International Conference on Nuclear Disarmament and to use the opportunity to develop relations with NNWS and make progress on the UK’s disarmament obligations. Full text of letter

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Hiroshima and Nagasaki Resources

Small August_London peace eventsThe anniversaries of Hiroshima (6 August) and Nagasaki (9 August) are approaching.  This is an ideal opportunity to ensure prayers for peace and an abolition of nuclear weapons – 72 years after their first use.  Hiroshima Day falls on a Sunday so it should be possible to include bidding prayers, prayers of intercession, stories in your parish/community liturgy.  A range of resources to help you can be found here