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Christians mark Ash Wednesday with peace actions and vigils


Appeal to government

Appeal to government

The beginning of Lent was marked with a number of actions and prayer vigils in England and Scotland.

In London the Ministry of Defence building in London was marked with blessed ash during a liturgy of repentance for nuclear war preparations. For 32 years Christians have gathered at the MoD on Ash Wednesday to call on the government to repent and move away from nuclear war preparations. Members of Pax Christi the London Catholic Worker and Christian CND from around the country gathered to pray and take part in symbolic acts of repentance and peacemaking as they processed, with three prayer stops, around the MoD.

During the procession the MOD building was marked with crosses using charcoal and ash blessed at the beginning of the service. Those marking were Dr Ray Towey, Fr Martin Newell and Scott Albrecht.

A key part of the day's message called on the government to cancel Trident, the UK's independent nuclear programme. The government is committed to the replacement of Trident at a cost of £100 billion. The Catholic Church has always been clear in its teaching on nuclear issues. This year in his World Peace Day message, Pope Francis said: “I make my own the appeal of my predecessors for the non-proliferation of arms and for disarmament of all parties, beginning with nuclear and chemical weapons disarmament. “

Last year Archbishop Mamberti, speaking at the UN said: “We would like to use this opportunity to renew our call upon the leaders of nations to put an end to nuclear weapons production and to transfer nuclear materials from military purposes to peaceful activities.”

Actions also took place in Liverpool, organised by Pax Christi, who held a public at of repentance or the impact of the use of armed drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) around the globe. (Liverpool University is one of a number engaged in drone research and development funded by arms manufacturers including BAe Systems, a major player in the global arms trade.)

In Faslane, Scotland, the Glasgow Catholic Worker gathered at the Naval Base where Trdent submarines are based, for a liturgy of repentance.

A petition calling for the government to cancel the renewal of Trident, and use some of the £100 billion saved on building up the UK's flood defences, can be found here: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/UK_Government_Cancel_Trident_spending_help_flood_victims/

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