The popular National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN) zoom conference by zoom on 18 July, looked at social issues during the pandemic and the imperatives of Catholic Social Teaching. Around 300 people booked in from around the UK, attracted by its title, ‘Post-pandemic Church: Paralysed or Energised? Recovered or Re-imagined?’. Two sessions were chaired by Anne Peacey, NJPN chair, and Paul Bodenham of J&P Nottingham
Fr Joseph O' Hanlon, a priest of Nottingham diocese and a biblical scholar, suggested in his talk that, “we will be different when we emerge from this pandemic, but, though we are in a new place and a new time, the Church we have is probably the Church that will emerge from it.” He lamented that the focus is on returning to church buildings when virtual group prayers and discussions on the internet during lockdown have been so creative and fruitful and should be encouraged. He applauded those who have tackled structural sin and injustice and hoped the structure of Church will support laity building the Kingdom of God here on Earth through initiatives on Justice, Peace and Ecology.
Unemployment was highlighted by Kevin Flanagan of St Antony's Centre for Church and Industry in Trafford who said, “we chose not to close during lockdown”. The centre has supported people facing huge redundancies and unemployment in the future. He called for the bishops of England and Wales to revive its World of Work Committee. “Employers are cutting pay and then cutting jobs” he said, and training has been scaled back, including apprenticeships. He urged participants to support the right of workers to join trade unions and support more formation and awareness raising about Catholic Social Teaching.
Colette Joyce of Westminster J&P spoke on 'Homelessness’. When the nation was asked to stay at home on 23 March, “some people could not stay at home because they didn't have one”. Westminster Catholic groups and churches initiated a huge social project to feed those in Central London who had no recourse to public funds. “Something has gone wrong in our economic system if we cannot support everyone in our community,” reflected Colette. Nick Hanrahan of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) reported that during lockdown, JRS in London took its day centre onto the road, distributing food and toiletries and offering a prepaid master card with money so that refugees had emergency money.
Clare Dixon, CAFOD’s Head of Latin America, gave an international overview, saying that, “everything experienced in Britain is seen in the global south”. However, the Church here too has been providing a “moral voice” and providing humanitarian assistance, using funds donated to CAFOD in England and Wales through its Coronavirus Appeal.
Marty Haugen, a liturgical composer and pastoral musician based in the United States, composed a special chant for the occasion, dedicated to NJPN and inspired by Laudato Si'. It was called, 'For Our Common Home'.
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