CARJ Panel: Towards a New Politics
'Towards a New Politics' was the theme of the latest Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ) Urban Network & Round Table, held at Newman House in Central London on 9 September.
The Panel (John Battle, Ellen Teague, Cate Tuitt and Richard Solly, with Theresa Byrne in the Chair) were given a lengthy session to discuss with the larger group the theme 'towards a new politics'. There was considerable agreement that Pope Francis's approach and his Encyclical Laudato Si were a good starting point.
It was felt that British society is currently characterised by inequality, part-time work, new types of jobs replacing old types of jobs, relationship breakdown, communication technology, atomisation of people and transactional relationships. There is a need for a broader interpretation of the concept of 'the common good' to be more inclusive of the poorest and of the planet and to include a long-term perspective. There is a loss of faith in traditional politics and a need for signs of hope. Politics "as if people and the planet mattered" were called for.
An alternative view may come from anywhere in society, but the Church is well placed to be one of these voices. There is a need to work upwards from the grassroots, and importance was attached to supporting cooperatives, credit unions, mutuals and an ethical approach. At the same time a need was felt to regulate international finance and transnational companies, minimising corporate tax evasion and destructive development. Bold new leadership is needed for moving towards a low-carbon economy, and the example was given of France where rooftops in new buildings must be covered either with plants or with solar panels.
In the business part of the meeting, two new publications of the National Board for Catholic Women were promoted: Women in Poverty and Domestic Abuse. And there was a warning that the refugee crisis is likely to exponentially increase the demands on projects such as the London Churches Refugee Hardship Fund. Leeds Citizens - with a strong input from churches - is addressing issues of: loan sharks, mental health, credit unions, and transport.
For the past few years, CARJ has been organising an annual residential training programme on 'Leadership for Social Change'. The next four-day workshop will take place 22-25 October 2015 at Maryvale Institute in Birmingham.