'October 7': an exercise in investigative journalism

Two years ago today the Hamas attack on Israel took place. Richard Sanders is an English television producer, journalist and author who, in early 2024, finished four months of work with the Investigation Unit of the Qatari media network Al Jazeera, seeking to uncover the truth about what actually happened.

Readers may be interested in his report which is available on YouTube (click on the picture):

God and War. Some thoughts about how we interpret the Old Testament

by Father Ian Dalgleish

Photograph: ‘Damage in the Gaza Strip during October 2023’ by Al Araby 

Earlier in September, in connection with an appeal from the World Council of Churches for a Day of Prayer for Peace, members of the Catholic churches in Bala, Harlech and Gellilydan prayed at Sunday Mass for an end to the violent conflicts that are taking place in different parts of the world today. I offered the following reflection on the subject.

The Universal Soldier: lamenting the passing of protest songs

Mary Howell, from St David in Seion Catholic church in Harlech, reflects on the strength of the anti-war movement in the 1960s and its apparent weakness today.

Anti-Vietnam War protestors in Washington, D.C., November 27, 1965

In the 1960s when I was a teenager protest songs were common. Nuclear disarmament and anti-war sentiment gained momentum to guard against bile from dictators and their followers’ mouths. World War 2, the Holocaust and the awfulness of the testimonies were a living memory.

A New Year Service of Prayer for Peace in 2025

Before the start of the service

On Monday 6th January, at 2.00pm, members of St David's C-in-W church and St Mary Magdalene Catholic parish came together to pray for an end to war and violence in 2025. 

Rev. Roland presided and Fr Ian offered a reflection taking this passage from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount as his starting-point: