...and why such evil exists in the world.
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...church-service
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...church-service
But when Father Robert Thompson, the curate of St Clements and a local Labour councillor, stood to deliver the sermon, the anger, this time crystallised and controlled, was there once more.
Quoting Thomas Cranmer’s words that “in the midst of life we are in death”, Thompson said of his church: “This place speaks so rawly and clearly of the proximity of life and death. As we sit at the foot of Grenfell Tower, which has been described by some as a gigantic tomb, we reflect on the many who have lost their lives, who have had them taken away so quickly, so horrendously and, as we now know, so needlessly”.
The last week had shown the connectedness of human society, in the “most extraordinary outpouring of human solidarity in the face of catastrophe,” he said. But it had also shown what was missing from culture and society.
“The poorest people of this area don’t feel listened to this week or in previous years,” said Thompson. “Some people it seems are just excess debris for our neoliberal, unequal, individualistic, capitalist and consumerist culture.”
In the church which had born witness to the visit of prime minister Theresa May – 24 hours after she had been criticised for not talking to residents when she first visited the scene – Thompson said the last six days had shown the importance of face to face communication and connectedness.
It was that face to face communication, he said, which had been “sadly lacking by those in power this week.”
Addressing what he said was the violence which had been exhibited in some areas on the streets of the community in the past few days, Thompson said it was the product of much anger – an anger he felt.
“But the violence of the political and economic system is one that is just as prevalent. Violence that is perpetrated by the ruling class on our community is just as, if not more, problematic than the anger that has found physical manifestation on the streets of our community.”
Quoting Thomas Cranmer’s words that “in the midst of life we are in death”, Thompson said of his church: “This place speaks so rawly and clearly of the proximity of life and death. As we sit at the foot of Grenfell Tower, which has been described by some as a gigantic tomb, we reflect on the many who have lost their lives, who have had them taken away so quickly, so horrendously and, as we now know, so needlessly”.
The last week had shown the connectedness of human society, in the “most extraordinary outpouring of human solidarity in the face of catastrophe,” he said. But it had also shown what was missing from culture and society.
“The poorest people of this area don’t feel listened to this week or in previous years,” said Thompson. “Some people it seems are just excess debris for our neoliberal, unequal, individualistic, capitalist and consumerist culture.”
In the church which had born witness to the visit of prime minister Theresa May – 24 hours after she had been criticised for not talking to residents when she first visited the scene – Thompson said the last six days had shown the importance of face to face communication and connectedness.
It was that face to face communication, he said, which had been “sadly lacking by those in power this week.”
Addressing what he said was the violence which had been exhibited in some areas on the streets of the community in the past few days, Thompson said it was the product of much anger – an anger he felt.
“But the violence of the political and economic system is one that is just as prevalent. Violence that is perpetrated by the ruling class on our community is just as, if not more, problematic than the anger that has found physical manifestation on the streets of our community.”
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