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for older people and their life of faith and hope.

 

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Truthfulness in word and deed

13th July 2020 By

What the papers said in the week ending July 10th

Care Homes and Care services

Boris Johnson guaranteed Care Homes and Care workers front page attention because of his bumbled address in Goole this week. It looks as though he set out to say that we must improve care services, which is true, and it is good to know the Prime Minister is at one with us in this. In the process he appeared to blame Care Homes and their staff for causing unnecessary deaths amongst residents. That is a cruel and unjustified suggestion. There will be a national and international inquiry into the deaths arising from the coronavirus. We will see that many errors have been made in this country and some others. Care Homes and care home staff are innocent victims. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jul/06/anger-after-johnson-appears-to-blame-care-homes-for-their-high-death-toll

The conditions under which care staff work are exposed in a powerful and upsetting review by Aditya Chakrabortthy. This is a situation which should not have been created in a civilised country. It should not have been tolerated in silence – and we surely must campaign now for a transformation back toward systems and standards which were taken as normal not so many years ago. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jul/09/care-workers-coronavirus-poverty-sickness-statutory-sick-pay

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jul/06/covid-19-care-homes-tragedy-renationalise-crisis

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jul/07/why-britain-needs-a-national-care-service

 

International considerations of Covid-19

  • Although there is evidence that the rates of new infections and deaths are falling in this country, and constraints are being relaxed, the world picture is very alarming. With a return to freer travel, risks seem likely to rise for everyone https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/09/covid-19-pandemic-accelerating-says-who-as-review-panel-namedery
  • Clinicians continue to draw attention to relatively rare, but very serious brain disorder as a consequence of Covid infections. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/08/warning-of-serious-brain-disorders-in-people-with-mild-covid-symptoms
  • Epidemiologists will follow such patients and other Covid victims in longitudinal studies https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/10/participants-uk-coronavirus-study-could-be-monitored-25-years

 

Consequences

There have been so many extra deaths. The need for counselling and spiritual support is great, compounded by the restrictions which have disallowed normal routines associated with dying. These will be long-term legacies of these dreadful times. Will they ever heal? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/06/uk-charities-face-soaring-demand-for-grief-counselling-due-to-covid-19

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/07/the-muslim-bereaved-cruelly-deprived-of-closure-by-coronavirus

 

Places of worship

It is now possible for churches and other places of worship to open. Business cannot yet be conducted as usual, but there is movement and there is a return to hope https://www.gov.uk/government/news/places-of-worship-to-re-open-for-individual-prayer

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/jul/08/salisbury-cathedral-reopen-tourists-art-grayson-perry-anniversary

 

Other points of interest

Freedom of speech: The Guardian has been moved to offer multiple comments on an article published by Harper’s magazine and signed by 160 intellectuals. The article suggests that people who express views at odds with the mainstream, or government, or management culture are at risk of being silenced, abused, sacked or otherwise punished. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jul/08/is-free-speech-under-threat-cancel-culture-writers-respond

https://harpers.org/a-letter-on-justice-and-open-debate/

Scots Gaelic: politicians have taken up the challenge to reverse the decline of the language – reported on last week from a study by the University of the Highlands and Islands https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/05/scottish-politicians-call-for-urgent-action-to-stop-gaelic-dying-out

Prisoners: Many prisoners have no home to go to when they are released. The situation is made worse by Covid-19 and the restrictions. Prisoners aged over 45 are at the greatest risk of being without a home to go to. Lack of a home predicts re-offending, ill health and death https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/08/thousands-of-high-risk-offenders-in-uk-freed-into-homelessness

https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/housing.html

Windrush: ‘Becalmed’ might be felt to be the wrong word – but how else to describe the phenomenon whereby awareness of the wrongs which need to be made right, and availability of money to do what is right, continues to find no action. This week’s update counts the deaths of people waiting for their rightful recompense. Windrush: at least five who applied for compensation die before receiving it

 

David Jolley 

 

Filed Under: NEWS, Speaking Out

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Speaking Out

There are some things which just have to be said.  We have to speak out because at the heart of the Christian message is our belief that God is not silent.  God has spoken through creation itself and the evolving universe; through the human story; through the dwelling of Jesus Christ in time; through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in each believer; through the inspiration of the scriptures; and through the wisdom and the teaching of the Church through the ages.

We use words all the time.  Words of welcome.  Words of wisdom.  Words of warmth.  Words of warning.  Words of wistfulness.  Our words are wasted if words are just words.   In the beginning was the Word.  And the Word was with God.  And the Word was God.  Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him.   The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word made things happen.

As Christians, as followers of the Word, we do something about what we have heard.  Our own best words are our actions.

Please tell us what you would like us to Speak Out about by contacting:  info@ccoa.org.uk

 

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Comment & Opinion

Christians on Ageing cannot deal with every issue affecting the lives of older people but it can highlight those which are causing public debate or concern.  The charity’s first task is to identify these for its members and to provide information about the nature of the debate and the variety of views and opinions being proposed.  Unless members of Christians on Ageing have been canvassed for their views or the Executive Committee has taken a policy decision, the articles here are to be considered an exploration of the issues rather than a formal comment.  The nature of the contribution to the debate will always be made clear.

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  • Memories and Hopes
  • ALL LIVES MATTER
  • ‘From slippered pantaloon to zimmered malcontent’
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Reflect and Pray

Help me to journey beyond the familiar and into the unknown. Give me the faith to leave old ways and break fresh ground with you. Christ of the mysteries, I trust You to be stronger than each storm within me. I will trust in the darkness and know that my times, even now, are in your hand. Tune my spirit to the music of heaven, and somehow, make my obedience count for You.”

St Brendan the Navigator   484-577

Prayers and Reflections

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Honorary Secretary
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Ryde PO33 2FQ

 

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