Caritas to hold conference on Catholic response to UK poverty

Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN), the social action arm of the Catholic Church has announced that it will be hosting a seminal event to discuss the role of the Church in addressing the poverty crisis.

CSAN comprises 41 Catholic charities and organisations, who work with children living in poverty, refugees, homeless people, the elderly, prisoners and people with disabilities.

CSAN will be holding its conference, ‘The Catholic Response to the Poverty Crisis’ on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 June 2013 at St Mary’s University College in Twickenham. The conference aims to bring together charities, senior MPs, Peers, theologians, academics, clergy and lay people to focus on the vital debate about how the Catholic Church should seek to address domestic poverty in the UK.

Reflecting on the importance of instigating this conversation within the Church and the need to build upon the excellent work that CSAN’s member charities already do in this field, CSAN’s Chief Executive, Helen O’Brien said: “The figures on poverty in the UK are stark and shocking. With nearly 5 million people earn below the living wage; 3.6 million children living in poverty in the UK and 4.7 million people classified as being in food poverty; this issue must be a priority for us as a Church.”

“Just last year alone 28,000 people in the UK were forced to use foodbanks and were completely reliant on the support of charities.”

“Christian charities and communities already play a vital role helping to alleviate poverty and working with some of the most vulnerable and marginalised members of our society. Yet our member charities are already voicing concerns that they are now struggling to meet demand for their services.”

“We need to raise greater awareness of the ‘hidden’ poverty that exists at our doorstep. It is vital that we start this conversation and bring together the collective expertise of politicians, theologians, priests, academics, charities and the laity if, as a Church, we are to form an effective response to this crisis”

For more details see: www.csan.org.uk/events/csan-network-conference/