In a letter published in The Times on Wednesday, 11th January 2012, Archbishop Peter expressed his concerns over welfare reforms being debated in the House of Lords.
He said that the proposed cap on household benefits would 'especially hurt larger families because it takes no account of family size, potentially forcing them to cut back on essentials such as heating and food, and in many cases resulting in the loss of their home'.
He also expressed concern over the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, saying that restricting legal aid would 'affect thousands of children whose parents are involved in civil cases, as well as victims of domestic abuse'.
Full text of the Archbishop's Letter:
Sir,
In coming weeks Parliament will take crucial decisions on amendments to two Bills, which will have a profound impact upon thousands of families.
The proposed cap on household benefits in the Welfare Reform Bill will especially hurt larger families because it takes no account of family size, potentially forcing them to cut back on essentials such as heating and food, and in many cases resulting in the loss of their home. This impact will at least be mitigated if the Bill is amended so that child benefit is not counted towards the capped amount. There are other issues, too, not least claimants being liable for the cost of official errors, even if they are unaware of those errors.
At the same time, restrictions to the availability of legal aid outlined in the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill will affect thousands of children whose parents are involved in civil cases, as well as victims of domestic abuse, fewer of whom will be entitled to support. The result is likely to be increased long-term public costs as well as greater suffering.
The experience of the member charities of our Caritas Social Action Network has underscored the increased poverty facing our society as a result of these changes.
While we all recognise that difficult decisions have to be made, it is vitally important to meet the fundamental needs of the most vulnerable families to prevent them from being pushed into further hardship.
THE MOST REV PETER SMITH
Chairman, Department for Christian Responsibility and Citizenship
London SW1
Chairman, Department for Christian Responsibility and Citizenship
London SW1
I don't remember any letters from Bishops when anti-life legislation was going through parliament. Did they not write any or were their views suppressed by the editors? Sadly I suspect the former.
ReplyDeleteHoly Family Guild,
ReplyDeleteI find it strange that you block entrance to your "site", if indeed you have one.Why hide who you are?
I suspect your are a member of SPUC because your comment is typical of some of the snide and ignorant (by that I mean limited vision) remarks what emanate from some of its members, in my personal experience.
Archbishop Smith's letter is very much pro-life , or can you not recognise that? Do you also fail to recognise that poverty sometimes leads women to abort children?
Father - I have now become a member of SPUC because while I might have had the same perception as you in the past, I now realise that it's time we came off the fence and stood up for what we believe in. When we have so-called "Catholic Voices" dissing SPUC for making a stand against gay "marriage", and people like the Archbishop of Westminster running with the hare and hunting with the hounds then the writing is on the wall as far as I am concerned!
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ReplyDeleteThank you. Sadly it was not "a perception" but actual experiences when I was shocked to hear allegations that the bishops were pro-abortion! One of those occasions was when I had, on my own volition, arranged a talk and slide show by SPUC in former parish.
Up to then I had been an ardent supporter of SPUC since attending an open meeting in Wandsworth Town Hall in the very early days of SPUC.
I am not a supporter of "Catholic Voices".
I hope everything goes well with you and the family. Every good wish for New Year.
Many thanks Father for your good wishes. May I extend them to you and your readers also for 2012, may we all endeavour to be part of the new evangelisation in whatever small way we can!
ReplyDeleteWe do need our priests and bishops to speak out loud and clear against contraception, abortion, same sex "marriage", embryonic stem cell research and all the other things that have and continue to wreck the family and society.