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NOT BACK TO ‘NORMAL’
This month, if all goes to the diverse interests around the common
government’s plan, we shall be liberated good: collaboration rather than
from most of the restrictions of the last competition. Competition always means
15 months of Covid-19, possibly even losers. The past year has seen rising
again allowed to sing in churches! But inequality; the poorest and most
how ‘normal’ will our lives be? marginalised most affected. We know
To set out post-pandemic priorities at we need integrated social, medical and
its first anniversary our government mental health care; good, truly affordable
adopted Joe Biden’s presidential housing; education for the future; and of
campaign slogan ‘Build back better’. course genuine employment.
‘Better’ implies a ‘good’ to aim for, offers South Shropshire, Ludlow, has its own
a tinge of hope for a new world, implies opportunity to imagine and create a
a moral improvement - and a new world – for ourselves, our town,
transcendent goal. What went wrong? our country, our planet – to ‘love our
And what should those priorities be? neighbour as ourself’ – to bring out our
That we live in isolation and only care best to serve that common good; that
about our own welfare is an illusion. everyone may flourish, especially the
From a global perspective the horrifying poor, as God intends - as Hands
infection and mortality rates in India, and Together Ludlow realises; to re-discover
their lack especially of supplies of how interdependent – on family and
oxygen and ventilators, to alleviate them, friends, colleagues and neighbours, public
confront us. The lack of vaccines at services - our lives really are.
rates affordable to the poor world, while Easter is now behind us, and
Britain after disastrous mortality rates in resurrection is about transformation:
the pandemic’s first year now basks in demanding a revaluing of personal and
its vaccination programme’s outstanding political priorities. God is inaugurating a
success, challenge us to love our new stage in creation; and the Church
neighbour. Every human life is of infinite should set out its priorities, exercising
worth, made in the image of God, all of its ‘bias to the poor’. How can we all
exactly equal value; yet our aid budget help to make a happier, more just world,
for the world’s poorest has been cut by more caring communities, a more
one third, disastrously affecting, for compassionate nation post-pandemic?
example, public health and water supply Climate change becomes a lovingly
projects in rural areas in Africa. tended environment; inequality - justice;
Nationally the United Kingdom, after the conflict - peace. To quote Pope Francis
human and economic catastrophe of the in Fratelli Tutti: ‘We need to think of
pandemic, and seeking to define its place ourselves more and more as a single
in its post-Brexit world, faces demanding family dwelling in a common home.’
choices. What is lacking is a sense of a
universal community to reconcile Revd John Perry
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