Archbishop Peter Smith joins Archbishop Justin Welby to condemn welfare changes

Archbishop Smith

Archbishop Peter Smith, Vice President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference has joined with the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in condemning government proposals that will make a significant real-term cut to the value of child-related benefits.

Archbishop Smith stated: “Protecting vulnerable members of our society is a key precept of Catholic Social Teaching and our witness to the human dignity of each and every individual. It is unjustifiable that the poorest children, who often have no other safety net, will be left bearing the brunt of economic difficulties as a result of significant real-term cuts to social security.

Like many other charities throughout the country, Catholic agencies are already tackling a pronounced increase in child poverty and supporting growing number of parents unable to afford even basic essentials such as healthy meals or warm clothes for their sons and daughters.

Such critical hardship risks permanently damaging children's life chances. It must not be exacerbated by capping increases in child-related benefits to 1%, at a time when the price of necessities such as food and heating are rising considerably faster. The poorest families should not be forced to carry the risk of inflation rises.”

CSAN (Caritas Social Action Network) has called for Peers to remove Child Benefit, Child Tax Credits and child elements of the new Universal Credit from the scope of the proposed 1% up-rating cap when the Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill returns to the House of Lords next week.

Liam Allmark, CSAN’s Public Affairs Officer said: "Families are already coming under an unprecedented financial squeeze due to significant benefit cuts. Slashing the value of child-related benefits at this time will push hundreds of thousands more children into poverty and seriously jeopardise their long-term life chances."

The National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN) has welcomed and endorsed Archbishop Smith's statement. A spokesperson said: "Archbishop Peter's words reflect NJPN's longstanding prophetic mission as a grassroots body rooted in Gospel values, working with groups and individuals of all faiths and none to bring about justice for the poor, the oppressed and those marginalised from society. Our vision is of a world where there is respect for the integrity of the whole of creation, where the development and use of natural resources is sustainable and where people are free to live in dignity and peace.

CSAN (Caritas Social Action Network) is the social action arm of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. CSAN’s most recent briefing on amendments to remove child-related benefits from the scope of the Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill is available at www.csan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/CSAN-Briefing-removing-child-related-benefits-from-the-scope-of-the-Welfare-Benefits-Uprating-Bill.pdf

See also today's report: ICN Future Archbishop of Canterbury joins bishops to protest at welfare cuts www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=22112