London: Ash Wednesday prayers for peace outside the MoD

Around 150 people marked the beginning of Lent with a procession and vigil outside the Ministry of Defence in London to challenge the UK Government nuclear weapons policy. The event was organised by Pax Christi, Christian CND, London Catholic Worker and Westminster Justice & Peace. A Buddhist monk and nun also participated.

Opening the time of prayer, Pat Gaffney, General Secretary of Pax Christi, said that Christian witness of this kind has taken place for the past 33 years on Ash Wednesday at the Ministry of Defence, bringing prayer and the symbols of the day - charcoal and ash - to the streets and to this government ministry. Such public witness, she said, unmasks the horrific reality of nuclear weapons, one that the government would prefer to keep hidden. Today, she said, we would call on the government to 'turn away' from nuclear war preparations.

Placards bearing the words of Pope Francis were carried in procession around the building. One message read: 'Spending on nuclear weapons squanders the wealth of nations...when these resources are squandered, the poor and the weak pay the price.'

Tying black and purple ribbons to a white cross, those taking part offered prayers for all those who are victims of the violence of war. Outside the main Ministry of Defence building the word REPENT was marked out in charcoal and ash on a large sheet of sackcloth while placards and banners saying No Trident and Scrap Trident were held up towards the building while listening to a reflection from Gerry Hughes sj : The call of repentance is a call to the nation to change political, social and economic structures which oppress and exploit the weak.

Earlier in the day the building had been marked with blessed charcoal by Dr Ray Towey. He wrote the words: 'Trident = Genocide, Choose Life.'

In Liverpool, Pax Christi members processed to the City centre to witness against the replacement of Trident and at the Faslane Naval Base in Scotland members of the Glasgow Catholic Worker gathered for prayer.

More actions are planned in the weeks ahead. On 2 March Pax Christi will support a blockade at AWE Burghfield, Berkshire and on 13 April a Global Day of Action on Military Spending.

For more information see: http://paxchristi.org.uk/event/burghfield-lockdown/?instance_id=364