Depending on the swiftness of delivery of the Catholic Voice to your parish (and assuming you are not reading this article on-line), you may be reading this article either just before, or immediately after, the General Election. Whatever way you have voted or will vote, I wonder to what degree your choice has been informed by insights from Catholic Social Teaching.

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The teaching of the Church on social issues – peace, justice, the integrity of the family, the right to life, the environment, human development, the economy and so on – has frequently been described as the Church’s ‘best-kept secret-. Yet after Lent 2010 surely no-one in our Diocese could claim they haven’t had an opportunity to immerse themselves in Catholic Social Teaching – for all of us it should be a secret no longer!

Bishop Terry, aided by an enthusiastic working party of Priests and Laity, has brought such teaching amongst us in a highly accessible and informative way. His Lenten project, entitled ‘Love in Truth’, sought to break open the recent Papal Encyclical ‘Caritas in Veritate’, place it in the context of previous teaching, and apply it to the contemporary issues and choices which affect us all.

Evening sessions at Hull, York and Middlesbrough were packed to capacity – in one instance, Bishop Terry and the Adult Formation Team were delighted to perch on a table due to tightness of space! There were parishioners of all ages from right across the Diocese, including some university students and parish youth groups.

In the first week, our exploration included both the Scriptures and recent Church documents. Our priests, Frs Peter Keeling, John O’Gara and William Massie, fed us richly with their insight and interpretation; whilst David Cross, Patrick Doyle and Nan Saeki spoke from widespread practical experience and engagement with issues of peace and justice.

The following week saw the team joined by Prior Colin Battell from Ampleforth and Paul Moore ‘the HBOS Whistleblower- who lives in our Diocese in the village of Wass. Their input too was utterly fascinating: Prior Colin exploring ‘Caritas in Veritate’ in remarkable depth yet simplicity; Paul Moore stirring us with his passion for integrity and morality in banking, business and everyday life.

Yet further riches were still in store. Over a hundred participants came together for a final plenary session in York, led by Bishop Terry and addressed by John Battle, MP for Leeds West, committed Catholic and seasoned campaigner for social justice.

John Battle skilfully applied the social teaching of the Church, including the most recent encyclical, to matters ranging from everyday life in the communities of Leeds to those on a huge global scale. He touched on unemployment and hopelessness, family life breakdown, loan sharks and poverty, credit unions and banking, international aid and development, Fair Trade, political prisoners, inter-racial relations, and much, much more – all illustrated with insight, passion and a great deal of warmth, all underpinned by Christian faith and conviction.

After the participants had reflected and discussed in groups, they too shared their thoughts and most pertinent questions, to which John Battle gave practical and thought-provoking response. Bishop Terry, by whose guidance and wisdom the Lenten Project had come to fruition, concluded by bringing everything together – stressing the riches of Catholic Social Teaching and the need for us to live it out together in practical initiatives and in everyday life.

One immediate response has been the production by Fr John Lumley of ‘Catholics and the General Election- – a resource which has been distributed to all our parishes. We hope you’ve used this three-session course, based upon recent teaching from the Bishops of England and Wales, to provoke discussion, widen vision, and inform choices.

Many thanks to all who contributed to ‘Love in Truth’ – every one of the participants who were so attentive and engaged, the excellent speakers, the Pastoral Centres and parishes who provided hospitality, those who brought book or information stalls to the plenary session, and to Bishop Terry for giving this wonderful opportunity to our Diocese this Lent.

Thanks must also go to the Church itself for giving us the treasure which is Catholic Social Teaching – a treasure which we’ve attempted to uncover this Lent, but surely demands even greater attention and application.

Jane Cook, Adult Formation Adviser