Pax Christi at Lakenheath Faith Day

Pax Christi England and Wales joined groups from different faiths on Wednesday this week for a peace vigil at the gates of Lakenheath airbase in Suffolk. The vigil was one of the events in a fortnight of protest running alongside a peace camp organised by the Lakenheath Alliance for Peace.

Though officially an RAF base, Lakenheath is operated by the US Air Force and is home to their 'Liberty Wing' squadron. From 1954, the base hosted US nuclear weapons before they were eventually removed in 2008 after years of protests. There is strong evidence from developments at the base and NATO documents that US nuclear weapons are either already back on the base or are on their way.

The vigil began with liturgy led by the Iona community and included readings from the Qu'ran from local actor/poet Junayd Ul Islam, a special statement of support from Anglican Bishop David Walker brought by the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship, a Hindu prayer for peace, the Christian CND hymn and a Litany of Resistance led by London Catholic Worker. Quaker Recording Clerk, Paul Parker spoke on how our different faiths inspire protest and action against nuclear weapons before closing the vigil with a Quaker Act of Worship and the breaking of bread together.

Andrew Jackson from Pax Christi, who had helped co-ordinate the vigil, read extracts from Pope Francis' many statements on nuclear weapons and disarmament:

"I had always planned to read some of what Pope Francis had said and written on nuclear weapons because he had been so consistent in his and Catholic teaching's opposition to them. With his death on Monday morning, his words and exhortations seemed still more relevant and it felt powerful to be standing yards from where nuclear weapons might actually be stored and to speak out his declaration that it is not just the use of nuclear weapons that is immoral but their very possession."

The peace camp at Lakenheath continues until Saturday 26th April when there will be a blockade at the main gate of the base from 12 noon.

You can read more about the camp, the planned blockade and Lakenheath on the Alliance website here:

www.lakenheathallianceforpeace.org.uk/