Bishops look at pastoral response to floods in England and Wales

Derwent River 2009

After a decade which has seen a dramatic increase in floods across the country from Boscastle in Devon, to Tewkesbury Abbey and the Lake District, destroying or badly damaging homes, businesses, churches, community centres, farmland and roads, the Bishops Conference is planning to look at a pastoral response to the issue.

The Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, Bishop Seamus Cunningham, who speaks on Rural Issues, said: "Over the last ten years flooding has been a problem in many parishes. I am glad that the 2014 conference for rural Catholics is grasping the issue and looking at a pastoral response. I encourage Catholics from parishes across the country to attend the conference."

The Bishop of East Anglia, together with clergy and laity from parishes in several dioceses, have already booked to hear the current picture when Phil Rothwell, Head of Flood and Coastal Risk at the Department of the Environment, speaks about the situation nationally. A further session will look at 'Responding Pastorally to Flooding'.

Other issues on the conference programme include a Church presence at the local Show, and the increasing number of village pub closures. There will also be a visit to the company which handles most of East Anglia's grain.

The 2014 national conference for rural Catholics takes place at Whittlesfordbridge near Cambridge over February 10-12., 2014.

Further details can be obtained from Fr Robert Miller (01747 870 228) or by visiting
www.catholicandrural.org.uk/index.html