British churches call on politicians to put poverty on public agenda

Published: 2005-03-01

LONDON (CNS) -- Churches in Britain have united to launch a document they hope will place poverty on the political agenda as national elections approach. Churches Together in Britain and Ireland published a 62-page book that calls for combating poverty by creating wealth. Titled "Prosperity With a Purpose: Churches' Vision of a Just Society," the document was released Feb. 28, about two months before Britain's general election, which is expected to be held in May. The group, made up of the Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Evangelical churches, said a principle of "nobody left behind" should be embraced by the mainstream political parties. "It is the responsibility of those engaged in politics to reconcile the outcomes of the market economy with the common good," the report said. The document criticizes the notion that wealth is created only by making poor people poorer, and it recognizes the contribution to the common good made by business and industry.

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