Southport Fr Patrick writes…
On Monday 29th July, three children were murdered in Southport. It was a most terrible crime, and the motive for it remains unclear. But my horror was further increased when, the next evening, a vigil for the children who died was overtaken by rioting and violence directed against immigrants and Muslims in particular. The UK suffered more than a week of rioting affecting several cities and towns. I am appalled by such violence, which fails to respect even the most basic human rights and which is so destabilising for our society and for democracy.
Immigration has become a huge political issue, around which there are legitimate concerns, but lurking in the background are at least three evils. Firstly, there is racism, whereby the natural difficulty we have in dealing with people who are different from ourselves becomes perverted into hatred. Secondly there is the tendency for social media platforms to promote emotionally impactful messages with no regard to their truth, accuracy, balance or morality. Some platforms have improved in recent years, but Elon Musk’s X appears to have had a particular role in the recent riots. Thirdly, as the Prime Minister has suggested, it seems that Russia and other foreign powers are deliberately exploiting the problems with social media to destabilise western democracies.
Whatever measures are taken on immigration, like most western countries, we already live in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious society. That presents challenges, but it is essential that we work hard on living together in peace and with mutual respect. Otherwise we face
disaster.
In the church, and in many other religions, we recognise that all people are “children of God” (c.f. Acts 17.26) and all created in the image and likeness of God (c.f. Genesis 1.26). This makes us all brothers and sisters, owing a certain debt of love to each other. Let’s acknowledge that debt and work for a society that is peaceful, just and based on truth.
With prayers and best wishes
– Fr Patrick
| Prayer edited from Angela Ashwin
God of peace, touch and heal the wounds that racism has inflicted. Set right those who have suffered abuse and make whole the people who have inflicted those hurts. Teach us to enjoy our diversity and help us to move always in hope towards a truly peaceful community of peoples. Amen
|