The impact that the global financial crisis of the past twelve months has had at a national and parish level, and in particular its impact on families and individuals, was the focus of the Fifth Annual Assembly of the Birmingham Justice and Peace Commission, held at St Peter’s Catholic Secondary School in Solihull in the West Midlands, on Saturday, 17 October.
The successful day-long conference on the theme “God or Mammon?” was attended by more than 150 delegates from parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Birmingham, other churches, organisations and justice and peace groups across the West Midlands.
The opening reflection was given by Bishop William Kenney, CP, at present Diocesan Administrator of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, and a member of the Justice and Peace Commission.
Delegates listed intently to two thought-provoking keynote addresses and took part in 14 discussion groups and workshops, where plans of action were formulated to help people at parish level to understand the key issues more deeply.
George Gelber, until recently Senior Policy Adviser to CAFOD, spoke vividly about the financial crisis and its impact on the poor. He described how the initial financial crisis had broadened out into a fully-fledged development crisis, affecting numerous areas where deprivation already existed, and highlighting the lack of balance in the world economy.
Mr Gelber gave specific examples of countries that depend on world market prices for minerals, agricultural products and commodities in general, which are at the mercy of price fluctuations beyond their control.
Clifford Longley, the distinguished Catholic journalist and broadcaster on religious affairs, spoke about the crisis in capitalism and the common good during which he emphasised that the recent Encyclical Letter, “Caritas in Veritate”, by Pope Benedict XVI, provided a coherent spirituality for Justice and Peace activity.
The two keynote speakers were joined by Helen Moseley who works in the CAFOD office in the West Midlands, in a lively question and answer session that brought home the enormity of the current global financial situation.
Afterwards, David Jenkins, Administrator of the Birmingham Justice and Peace Commission, said: “This was a most worthwhile Assembly. The enormity of the global financial crises is overwhelming. But, delegates left determined to take small initiatives and help raise awareness of the social teachings of the Catholic Church in parishes and among individuals.”
