LONDON (OSV News): Prominent Catholics joined Church leaders in condemning a wave of riots across the United Kingdom, while also urging greater understanding of current social grievances.
Six-year-old Bebe King, 7-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga event on July 29. Fake social media reports circulated that the perpetrator had been a recent asylum-seeker. However, the 17-year-old charged with the killings was born in Wales to Rwandan parents.
Fake news about the killings triggered unrest with protesters vandalizing asylum hostels, mosques and businesses, while clashing with police and counter-demonstrators. Media reports said the riots had spread rapidly from Southport to Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and other cities, including Plymouth, where the Catholic diocese circulated a prayer for peace on August 6.
“The orchestrated violence seen on British and Northern Irish streets is an expression of social rage and hatred—those involved claim to be protecting communities and cultures, but their actions have divided and ruptured already fragile bonds of trust,” said Anna Rowlands, a professor who chairs the Centre for Catholic Social Thought and Practice at Durham University.
“This isn’t standard summer riot behaviour, but a new and worrying pattern of racial and religious intimidation, an attempt at vigilante border control within neighbourhoods. Jewish, Asian, Black and Muslim communities are having to keep their children indoors in what should be a time of summer freedom. The routines of life have been altered, and in that lies an ugly power,” she said.
The orchestrated violence seen on British and Northern Irish streets is an expression of social rage and hatred—those involved claim to be protecting communities and cultures, but their actions have divided and ruptured already fragile bonds of trust
Anna Rowlands
Rowlands said “false narratives” about the stabbings had proved “gruesomely compelling” for “those hungry to feed the social media machine” and legitimise “looting and destruction of property.”
Dominican Father Timothy Radcliffe, a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and former master of the Order of Preachers, said “The government has reacted strongly and immediately, determined to show it won’t tolerate disorder — this is surely right.”
However, Father Radcliffe stressed, “We need to understand why so many young white men have lost hope and feel they’re not respected or valued, in the wake of profound inequalities and the shallow cult of celebrity. Violence will continue unless they find recognition for what they have to give. Each is made in God’s image and likeness and has infinite value.”
Rowlands added that she had witnessed Filipino nurses “intimidated on their way to work,” and an Anglican priest attempting to protect cemetery gravestones from being smashed by masked protesters to have pieces to hurl at police.
In a joint August 6 statement with Anglican, Lutheran, Orthodox, Pentecostal and Free Church leaders, Vincent Cardinal Nichols of Westminster, said, “We acknowledge the anger felt by many at these senseless killings. We also acknowledge deep and troubling anxiety about immigration.”
They said, “Mosques have been attacked, hotels housing people seeking asylum set on fire and individuals set upon simply because of the color of their skin. Racism has no place on our streets … and should not be stirred up in communities or online.”
Mosques have been attacked, hotels housing people seeking asylum set on fire and individuals set upon simply because of the color of their skin. Racism has no place on our streets … and should not be stirred up in communities or online
A joint August 6 statement with Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Orthodox, Pentecostal and Free Church leaders
Although sporadic disorder continued on August 8, further mass violence was held in check by rival rallies in support of refugees and minorities.
British prime minister, Keir Starmer, whose Labour Party won the July 4 elections, dismissed the rioters as “not protesters” but “far-right thugs,” and said on August 8 that the heavy jail sentences given to rioters at publicised emergency trials were sending “a very powerful message.”
Rowlands, who works with Britain’s Catholic Fund for Overseas Development, Christians in Parliament and other groups said, “The notion that the riots were about supporting bereaved families or protecting British culture is a mask for mere hatred and violence.”
In an August 6 BBC Radio interview, Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, said rioters had claimed to be defending the country’s Christian values, but had defiled “the flag that they wrap themselves in,” adding that the UK needed a “moral vision” to prevent a “breakdown of unity.”
