24th May 2021
The Bishop of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the statement by Patriarch Abuna Mathias in April (1) that the government of Ethiopia and its allies are committing genocide in Tigray, and (2) that rape is being used as a weapon of war in that region.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks Government about reports of genocide and war crimes in Tigray”On 20th May 2021 the Bishop of Southwark asked a question in the Lords about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: Some of your Lordships may be aware that I returned from Jerusalem yesterday evening, where I attended the very joyful installation of the new Anglican archbishop there. From an earlier answer given by the Minister, I take it he agrees that, until the underlying causes that gave rise to the clashes on Temple Mount, in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood where I was staying, and the conflict between Hamas and Israel, are addressed, Israelis and Palestinians will not enjoy security, experience justice or build a relationship of mutual respect and regard? Does the Minister agree that, for violence to permanently end, Israel’s occupation must also end?
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark says underlying causes of Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be addressed”On 19th May 2021 the Bishop of Leeds spoke in the House of Lords in the fifth and final day of debate on the Queen’s Speech. He focused on ethics, the EU and Russia.
My Lords, I am grateful to follow the Noble Lord Campbell and for the Noble Lady the Minister’s comprehensive and ambitious speech introducing this debate. I welcomed the Government’s Integrated Review as a necessary attempt to hold together the diverse interests, challenges and opportunities facing the UK in the future.
One of the things I learned in my early career as a linguist at GCHQ was that words and assumptions need to be interrogated as they can be used to obscure reality. For example, in our context, an increased “cap” on nuclear weapons tells us nothing about numbers that might actually be intended or the rationale for them.
So, I think it was remarkable that reference in the Review to the European Union was almost completely missing. Now, this had been widely predicted as it seems that, for the Government, any such reference might be heard as an ideological Remainer capitulation. Yet, the rationale for a tilt towards the Indo-Pacific only makes sense to a point: it is not just what we are “tilting towards” that matters, but also what we are “tilting away from” that has to be considered.
Continue reading “Queen’s Speech – Bishop of Leeds on foreign policy ethics, EU and Russia”On 19th May 2021 the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke in the House of Lords on the fifth and final day of the debate on the Queen’s Speech.
My Lords, it is a privilege to speak in this debate on the Gracious Speech after the Noble Lord, Lord Hannay with his vast experience and knowledge, and I have learned much from his speech and agree with what he’s said.
The Integrated Review of Global Britain in a Competitive Age has much to be welcomed, including especially the thoughtfulness about the security implications of climate change, the strong commitment to Freedom of Religion and Belief and the commitment to restore the 0.7%. However, to speak of security, defence, development and foreign policy without a developed section on peacebuilding and peace-making, especially with competitors, is like speaking of the pandemic without mentioning vaccination.
Continue reading “Queen’s Speech – Archbishop of Canterbury on need for reconciliation as priority in foreign policy”On 14th April 2021, the Bishop of St Albans asked a question concerning the recent eruption of a volcano on the island of St Vincent:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans [V]: My Lords, the diocese of the Windward Islands is linked with my diocese here in St Albans and I have been in touch with the bishop, Bishop Leopold Friday, overnight. The churches are already doing a huge amount of work and stand ready to help in any way they can, not least because here in my diocese, in Luton, we also have a large Vincentian population and this matter is affecting people’s families. If there are people who are forced to evacuate from the country, will the Government consider a temporary resettlement scheme for those with family links here in the UK?
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about resettlement of evacuees following volcanic eruption on St Vincent”
The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 12th April 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government:
The Bishop of London received the following written answer on 12th April 2021:
The Lord Bishop of London asked Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to facilitate a coordinated response from UK political, economic and faith leaders to the situation in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique; and, in coordinating any such response, how they will take account of the influence of (1) natural disasters, (2) insurgents aligned with Islamic State, and (3) the recruitment of poor and disaffected young people to armed groups in the region.
Continue reading “Bishop of London asks about political situation in Mozambique”
The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answers on 22nd March 2021:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the human rights situation in the Philippines, and (2) the impact of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (Republic Act No. 11479) on human rights in the Philippines.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about human rights in the Philippines”
The Bishop of Salisbury received the following written answer on 17th March 2021:
The Lord Bishop of Salisbury asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the reduction in overseas aid, in particular the funding provided through the Conflict Security and Stability Fund, on (1) the peace process in South Sudan, and (2) the contribution made by the South Sudan Council of Churches’ Action Plan for Peace to that process.
Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury asks about impact of reduction in overseas aid on peace negotiations in South Sudan”
The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on displacement of civilians following unrest in Myanmar on 10th March 2021:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans [V]: Is the Minister aware that in addition to the military’s crackdown on protesters, military offensives are taking place in northern Shan, Kachin and Karen states, causing the mass displacement of civilians? What are Her Majesty’s Government doing to ensure the protection of these civilians and to allow for urgent humanitarian assistance to reach them?
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about displacement of civilians in Myanmar”
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