Retired Priest who bolstered for “Just Stop Oil” climate protest loses her rights to conduct religious ceremonies
Just Stop Oil
‘Just Stop Oil’, a climate activist group which was founded in 2022 situated in the UK with a primary goal to stop the extraction, production, and utilization of fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal. They argue against the use of these natural resources because it emits carbon. Carbon emission is the biggest climate crisis encountered by the people of all nations. According to the report of the International Energy Agency (IEA) , the Carbon emissions in 2023 recorded 37.4 billion tonnes which is a new record ever.
- Coal – 65%
- Hydropower Generation – 170 Mt
Climate Protest
Around the world numerous campaigns, conferences, activities, protests have been taking place against climate change, global warming, and carbon emissions. The recent news about the retired priest who fought against the climate crisis has been facing a disciplinary action from the church of England. Rev. Sue Parfitt, an 82 year old retired priest was arrested on May 10, 2024, by the British police for her involvement in the climate protest and was charged with criminal damage for breaking the glass around the Magna Carta at the British Library. This protest took place to seek the heed of the UK government who have failed to implement effective measures to climate change. It is reported that she is still waiting for her trial.
It is not her first protest to participate, she has taken part in the other climate protests for the past few years, which includes “Insulate Britain”. Insulate Britain is also a UK-based protest group which was initiated in 2021. She was convicted five times for taking part in various other climate protests during previous years. The diocese of Bristol and Vivienne Faull, the Bishop of that city, announced after her arrest that she would be denied permission to officiate (PTO). They took this decision because of the charges that she has been facing after participating in several climate protests. This made an impair to Rev Sue Parfitt and she was emotionally put down for concerns about the future of the younger generation.
To conduct religious ceremonies, both retired priests and deacons need a PTO license which will be granted by the Church of England. The license must be renewed every three years and it will get canceled for any wrongdoing or misconduct. Rev. Sue Parfitt lives in Bristol and she has been persistently discussing with the authority of the Church for her license renewal since the commencement of the year 2023.
“I am very shocked, surprised, and disappointed in (Faull’s) attitude. I and everybody else find it inexplicable considering her strong lead on the climate change. This is god’s creation, and we need to be doing all we can to save it. I don’t want to sound too pious, but it’s part of the sacrifice I’ve been called to make” she said.
“I’m the first priest this has happened to, even as some other clergy have been in prison (for similar protests). And ofcourse it stands as a threat to everyone else. It is a double punishment. But if it came to the point where (Faull) said to me: ‘You can have your license back if you commit to never take any illegal action again’, I wouldn’t agree to that” she added.
The inhuman act of the Church’s authority has been questioned by many supporters of the “Just Stop Oil” and “Insulate Britain”.
