REVIEWIssue 46 October 2011

What Price the MCW?

In our world leadership is needed more thanever. Not just in Parliament or on the TV but ineveryday circumstances, in our homes, at workand in the community.

The lack of leadership in everyday situations isquite marked. Often people’s opinions areswayed by the media or by those with the loudestvoices. And when leadership is evident, it oftencomes from those who have had opportunities byvirtue or their background, schooling and wealth.Those with more ordinary backgrounds who oftenlack confidence need to be encouraged,assisted, trained and sustained in being leadersin their lives. This is exactly what the MCW doesbest.

As someone once said “leaders don’t grow ontrees”, they have to be called and formed. Thistakes resources which means money,equipment, people, experience, skill andexpertise.

This issue of our newsletter illustrates the fruits ofthe work of the Movement in the form of two

articles about women activists trained by theMovement and active members of it.

Mary is the current Chair of the Movement and isa Cabinet Member of Gateshead Council. Sabahis a member of the Movement in Egypt and hastaken an active part in the momentous eventswhich are changing the course of history in hercountry. Their actions speak volumes and justifythe MCW both as a Movement of the Church andin the World.

Without leaders and in particular Christian WorkerLeaders who understand the apostolic nature oftheir role in society, not only is society the poorerbut also the Church is deprived of a profound partof its mission to the world.

We have received some interesting comments inresponse to a recent newsletter about the uniquespirituality of our Movement. A number of readerssaid that the edition reinforced their belief in theon-going value of the Movement whilst anotherthanked us for reminding him about the value ofthe Movement’s Review of Life method. We hopeto have a similar response to this newsletter.

Enclosed with this edition you will find an appealletter asking you to support the development ofour Movement in different ways, not least to makea further financial commitment. Times are hardand money is tight but it is hoped that thisnewsletter will inspire you to dig deep to supportthe work of the Movement.

Movement of Christian Workers

Mary Foy is the Chair of the Movement ofChristian Workers’ (MCW) National ExecutiveCommittee. She is also an elected Councilloron Gateshead Council.

Mary was interviewed by our editor whilstattending this year’s Labour Party Conferencein Liverpool.

Q. What is your current responsibility as amember of Gateshead Council?I was elected on to the Council’s cabinet in May2009 and I am the lead member for Health and thesupport member for Adult Social Care.

Q. How long have you been a Local Councillor?I was first elected to Gateshead MetropolitanBorough Council in 2006, having previously servedon Birtley Town Council.

Q. What was it that got you interested inpolitics?I suppose I becameinterested in politicswith a `small p` when Ijoined the YoungChristian Workers(YCW) at the age of19. I then progressedinto the MCW andwith the support of mylocal MCW group Ibecame more andmore active in mylocal community and increasingly aware of theissues affecting local people and our community.This led me to become a founding member of ourlocal credit union and then to stand for the towncouncil.I had also gained experience of developing theMCW regionally and nationally and took part inWorld Movement of Christian Workers’ GeneralAssembly, as well as various European Meetingsof the Movement.

Listening to the experiences of working menand women from across the globe clearlystrengthened my commitment to social justiceand made me more political.Putting it simply, I think my involvement inpolitics developed incrementally over manyyears with lots of contributory factors butwithout doubt the most significant has beenthrough my involvement in the CardijnMovements.

Q. What is it that supports and sustainsyou in your commitment?My faith is central to this but in particularconnecting the values of the Gospel to theworld in which we live through the Review ofLife method. This is how the MCW supportsme and is probably the greatest factor inkeeping my awareness fresh and challenging.Because of the method and constant reflectionthere is the awareness and heightened senseof injustice that I see around me. The supportthat I get from my family, parish, widercommunity and people in my political partywith whom I share common values andaspirations is also crucial.

Q. How easy is it to keep your ideals andideas fresh?I am naturally an idealist and some might say adreamer. To quote Jon Sobrino “My God stillbelieves in Utopia”. Having said that, it can bea constant battle not to compromise yourprinciples. Bureaucracy can be stifling andeven oppressive and that is even before youcome up against those who are diametricallyopposed to you and what you believe.

Q. How do you continue to develop acritique on how society is at the moment?By reflecting on our experiences and that ofthose around us and by posing the difficultquestions. The questions that people don’twant you to ask. I also try to think radically andbe challenging.2

For instance, the government’s “Big Society”seems to me to more about the survival of thefittest, those who can shout loudest and affordto be pillars of their society, taking responsibilityfor their own life choices and not relying on thestate. It is not a template for a `good society’where we look after anyone who is vulnerable. Itfails to mention words such as equality, socialjustice, collective aspiration and solidarity –words which are at the heart of our MCWmovement and the labour movement.

Q. What do you think are the mainchallenges facing ordinary people today?Obviously unemployment is rising and ourpublic services are being dismantled. The ideathat government is there to serve all membersof society by providing quality services andensuring communities flourish, are safe, haveequality of opportunity and provide a safety netfor those who need an extra support is beingturned on its head.

Q. What challenges are facing you in yourrole on Gateshead Council?Running a Labour Council under a Torygovernment is incredibly challenging. The latestround of financial settlements for localauthorities hit all North East Councils very hardand was massively unfair. We are increasinglyrestricted in our ability to protect even the mostvulnerable people and tackle the grossinequalities that exist in our society. In myparticular field we are doing what we can tocontinue our work of building strong and healthycommunities but it is very difficult. There is norecognition that if you live in parts of my wardyou are likely to die 10 years younger than ifyou live a couple of miles down the road andthat cutting services from deprived communitiesis not only an injustice but often a falseeconomy.

Q. What ambitions do you have in terms ofyour future political commitment?At the moment, it’s about working alongside myfellow councillors, trade unionists and officersof the council to ensure we come through thisdifficult period as intact as possible.We must act responsibly as a local authorityand keep local people on board, alwayscommunicating what changes we are makingand why. We have to be focused on protectingessential core services as far as possible giventhe current budgetary constraints.We also need to be as innovative as possible indelivering services. My main ambition is to seea change in national policy that properlyrespects local government and the vitalservices we provide.

Q. If someone was interested in gettinginvolved as you are, what would youradvice be to them?Politicians generally get a bad press and thework can be very demanding but if you aremotivated by wanting the best for yourcommunity and people generally then it can bevery worthwhile and rewarding. I would neverhave thought I would be doing what I am nowand you won’t know if it’s for you unless yougive it a go.

Q. Why does the MCW remain relevant?While there is injustice in the world the MCWwill always be relevant. And for the manyexamples I have said before it is vital that itflourishes. The social apostolate depends on it.

continued>>>>>>>>>>

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Q. What ambitions do you have for themovement?The ambition of the movement is always to buildthe Kingdom of God.Social problems such as poverty andunemployment are injustices which spring fromthe flaws of capitalism. The persistence ofindividualism has falsely made them look like theconsequences of personal behaviour or evenchoice. The movement has a responsibility tohighlight and challenge all that is contradictory tothe values and truth of our faith.

Q. What support does the MCW need?Financial support is the obvious answer to thisquestion, particularly since we no longer receiveany funding from the Church, but probably moreimportant than this is the commitment ofmembership either as an individual or bybecoming part of a group. We also need thesupport and solidarity of the wider workermovement and otherswho support ourvalues.

Q. If people want tohelp the MCW todevelop its crucialapostolic role, howdo you think theycould best do it?Firstly, by registeringas a supporter andjoining our mailing listbut also by engagingin dialogue with usabout what they maybe able to offer and what the MCW may be ableto offer them.

Sabah is a member of the Movement ofChristian Workers of Egypt. She waselected as one of the African members tothe International Council of the WMCWduring the General Assembly held inNantes in October 2009.

Initially the Belgium consulate refused to giveSabah a visa for her to attend the meeting ofthe International Council that took place inBelgium from the 20th to the 27th February2011. Despite the presentation by theWMCW of numerous documents to theBelgium authorities and guarantees made bythe WMCW, the Belgium authoritiessuspected that she really wanted toemigrate. It was only at the last minute andafter several attempts and interventions didshe actually obtain the right to exercise hermandate for which she had been elected.

During the course of the council meeting shewas given the opportunity to share herexperiences of participating in the unfoldingevents during the previous weeks in Egypt.

The revolution did not have a spontaneousbirth. For many years the people saw clearlythat the country was not going in a gooddirection. Corruption was everywhere; thegap between the rich and the poor grewlarger. A sentiment of despair gripped a largepart of the population. However, for the lastfive or six years we have seen the start of theuprising amongst workers above all in thetextile industry. Certain movements wereborn “That’s Enough” or the “Movement ofthe 6th April” of which I am a member and ismade up of many young people who wantdemocracy.

On the 6th April 2008 there was the firstgeneral strike in Egypt against the rising costof living. Bread had become very rare to findand was of poor quality.

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Mary on the TUC march forjobs,growth and justice in London26 March 2011

The strike was a great success in spite of thearrests.

The Government was frightened and introducedsome social measures. These issues have beenboiling up over five years resulting in the birth ofthe revolution of the 25th January 2011 that sprungfrom three major elements:-­‐ The elections to the People’s Chamber

where fraud took place on an even larger scalethan in the previous elections when thePresident’s party obtained 95% of the vote. Allthis was calculated to give the President a sixthterm in office or pass the power to his son. Infact a Presidential candidate has to obtain theagreement of 2/3 of the chamber.

-­‐ The explosion on the 1st January 2011 inthe church killing 25 people with more than 100injured. We learned afterwards that it was theMinister of the Interior (currently in prison) whoorganised this bomb attack in order to dividethe community. The Government despite itsflowery declarations favoured the Muslim/Christian conflict in order to detract attentionaway from the social problems.-­‐ The revolution in Tunisia encouraged

us

All of this started on the 25th January, the feast dayof the Police! Thanks to Face Book the youthcalled one another to assemble in small groups intheir neighbourhoods and then to converge on theTahir Square, Liberation Square. We were a lot ofpeople. In the evening the Police intervened withteargas (made in America!) So, we started toorganise ourselves.

It was decided to meet the following Fridayafter Muslim prayers and then every Friday.The first Friday has been called angry Friday.The second, that of the depart (of thePresident). The third the perseverance “We willremain until the end”On the 28th January there was a largedemonstration and surprise, all the Police haddisappeared. In fact they released some nonpolitical prisoners and demanded that theyattack the demonstrators. Also money wasdistributed to mercenaries. There were attacksand plundering in all neighbourhoods and inTahir Square the demonstrators were attackedby men on horseback and camels. Somepeople were killed.The Internet and mobile phones were blocked.The government set up a curfew. In a radio andtelevision broadcast the President attempted torally the people in announcing that he wouldnot be a candidate for the Presidency at thenext elections. But he said nothing about hisson. He nominated a Vice President, whichhad not been done for ten years. Thegovernment had changed and those who werethe most corrupt had been arrested.Many people had been impressed by hisspeech. One felt at this moment a division inthe country even though many people wantedto see the back of the President. I felt that thepropaganda from the television was verypowerful. The journalists or commentatorswere against us. They said that our movementwas being organised by foreigners and that wewere being paid £50 Egyptian (€6) a day. Allthis was done to dirty our reputation.

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Foreign journalists would often ask us: Who isyour leader? Who is behind this revolution?They did not understand that the revolutionwas born from the accumulation of a series ofevents, the thirst for freedom and no to aprovidential man.In the face of provocation, the populationorganised itself. Neighbourhood committeeswere spontaneously born to protect theirinhabitants.Everyone participated, Muslims, Christiansmixing together. A Christian was saying: It’sthe first time that I have spoken in such aprofound way with my Muslim neighbour and Ihave discovered that we had many points incommon”.The members’ of the MTC of Egypt, which issmall movement, have also participated inthese events. Two priests who came with usgave us a lot of support. Everyday there weremembers of the movement present in thesquare, they brought food and medicine. Iwas there throughout the 16 days. And whenwe returned home, we did so full of what wehad lived and shared.

In the square there were young people and notso young and people from all spheres of life:Muslims, Christians, people from the right andthe left, poor people, business people, theunemployed, students etc.

A whole people united together. Before this itwas only football that could unite the people.At the end of the occupation, the youthcleaned up the square and left in good order.We now only occupy it on Fridays.We had only one aim: free our country and putin place a new democratic regime. We haveproduced four demands:

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-­‐The departure of the President andcorrupt clique.

-­‐The dissolution of the People’s House andthe organisation of new non-fakedelections.

-­‐A change of Government that was put inplace by the President and in which arefound corrupt former ministers.

-­‐ Lifting of the state of emergencythat has been in place for the last 30years.

To date only the state of emergency hasnot been lifted. All the other points havebeen obtained. With the setting up of anew regime we are demanding thereinforcement of the trade unions that arecurrently very weak, the freedom ofassociation, of trades unions, expressionand of the press. We are very aware todaythat we are only at the beginning of therevolution and that there remain manyobstacles to overcome.There are some priorities. Currently thecountry is subjected to heavy financiallosses due to the cessation of tourism. Itis necessary to do everything to bring backtourism. Concerning those newly electedto the House, they have to give informationabout their financial circumstances beforethe election in order to prevent personalenrichment. We are also demanding thatthere will be more young people amongthose who are elected. One of theessential demands is that we become a laysociety. It is going to be necessary tochange the constitution for this, which isgoing to be very hard.The role of young people in this revolutionhas been a very strong. They were largein number and very motivated. All unitedbeyond religious conviction.

We must be present in the trade unionspolitical parties, and everywhere in whichthe future is being constructed. For us,members of the MTC Egypt, this is a verystrong calling.I am very happy and proud to haveparticipated in this revolution. As aChristian movement, we are small innumber but very present as actors in thisstruggle. As a Jesuit priest said to us, “Inthis Square, among this large crowd, youare the leaven in the dough.”

In Memory of Seàn

Seàn and Jackie members of an MCWgroup in London were enjoying a trip withfriends in the Welsh country side on theFriday afternoon 30 September 2011 whenthey were involved in a tragic car accident.Jackie was seriously injured, and Seàntragically lost his life at the young age of 41.Seàn got to know the movment through hispartner Jackie and was always able tomake clear, sensible and informedcontributions to the discussions in ourmeetings.

His global knowledge of beers was ofMastermind proportions he shall be sadlymissed.

Perhaps the words of Michel Quoist maybring some comfort.

"Death, grotesque character, bogey-man oflittle children non-existent phantom, I don'ttake you seriously, but I am disgusted withyou. You terrify the world, You frighten anddecieve men, And yet your only reason forexisting is life, and you are not able to takefrom us those that we love." Prayers of Life.

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All religious leaders, be they Muslim, Orthodoxor Catholic had said to the youth not to go toTahir square. But the youth did not obey.They went doubtless in the knowledge that itwould cause a rupture between them and thereligious authorities.

It was extraordinary what happened in TahirSquare that has never been seen before inEgypt.We were linked together by a great sense offraternity. We shall walk together towards acommon aim. One day the Police wanted tochase some Muslims who were praying in thesquare. Some Christians formed a humanchain around the Muslims to protect them. Weare often asked about the MuslimBrotherhood. But I am not worried.

The Muslim Brotherhood is about one million.The Christians are about 8 million in apopulation of 80 millions. In a democracy allforces must be proportionally represented. Toensure there is not a return to fundamentalism,we must fight together so that the people canbe lifted out of their misery.The Christians of Egypt must play a big role inthe affairs of the country.

Sabah, second from left with Egyptian delegatesWMCW Nantes October 2009

As you will have read in the last newsletter the MCW has the privilege of hosting the annualseminar of the European Christian Worker Movement (ECWM) at All Saints Pastoral Centre,

London Colney.

To date we are expecting 60 participants from at least twelve countries throughout Europe.

The focus of the conference is our lifelong security in terms of health, education and welfareparticularly in the light of the hard economic times which Europe is currently experiencing.

We look forward to giving you a full report in the next newsletter.

The views expressed by contributors to MCW Review do not necessarily represent the views of the MCW.

Publisher: National Executive Committee Editor: Paul Edwards

Movement of Christian Workers, St Josephʼs Grove, London, NW4 4TY Tel: 020 8203 6290Email: mcworkers@aol.com. Website www.mcworkers.org

8 MCW Review October 2011

You are all invited to the

MCW National Day Conference

incorporating the AGM

onSaturday 19th November 2011

from

10.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.

A light lunch will be provided

atMCW Headquarters,

St Joseph’soff St Joseph’s Grove, Hendon, London NW4 4TY

The theme of the National Day Conference, beginning at 1.00 p.m. is

The Welfare StatePast, Present & Future

To book a place and lunch please phone MCW HQ on 020 8203 6290 or emailmcworkers@aol.com