Popular speaker Father Rob Esdaile will speak about “The courage of the white flag?” at this year’s Anthony Storey Memorial Peace and Justice Lecture.

For the past 20 years, Father Rob has written reflections used by Pax Christi in Peace Sunday celebrations and he is priest adviser on social action in Arundel and Brighton Diocese.

As an introduction to the lecture Father Rob writes: “Many people were shocked when, in the course of a television interview in early March, Pope Francis spoke of ‘The courage of the white flag’ in relation to the war in Ukraine.

“Was this childish naivete or profound realism? Was it supine appeasement or a creative attempt to prevent a relentless cycle of violence?

“How should we balance principle and pragmatism? Christ’s radical command not to kill and to love our enemies with the sordid realities of realpolitik? What price peace – and what is the cost of the alternative?”

The lecture, which is hosted by the Dioce of Middlesbrough Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission, takes place on Tuesday June 4th at 6pm, via Zoom.
To register, email Barbara Hungin at bhungin@yahoo.co.uk

Canon Rob Esdaile: Born in Epsom in 1961, Fr. Rob Esdaile was ordained in 1991 and has been parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, Thames Ditton, since 2006. Involved in work for justice and peace for many years, he has written materials for Peace Sunday each year since the early noughties and occasional articles and talks on a variety of themes. He is also Priest Adviser on Spirituality and Formation in A&B diocese and a (self-) published poet.