The General Election in May offers us, as Catholics, the opportunity to question those who seek our vote to judge how they will act for those most in need, and how they will act to support and strengthen families and individuals in their human dignity with the opportunity to reach their full potential.
The various problems faced in our communities are felt most keenly by those who are most vulnerable; those suffering poverty in some form – financial, social isolation or rejection. Two examples show how the very basics of security, a job and a home, can turn from a solution to a problem.
Families used to be able to rely on work to provide enough money to get by. Having a job used to mean that families would be clothed and fed. Unfortunately the case now is that many families in work have to turn to food banks and support from parishes and charities in order to get by. Half of all people in poverty live in a family where at least one member of the household is in work. (1) This is a comment on the precarious workplace as experienced by some, dogged by low wages, inadequate hours, or exploitative zero-hour contracts which afford no security or predictability of income.
There are also deep-rooted problems with the housing market, which sees many young families struggle to buy a home or even to find a genuinely affordable home to rent. This situation is leaving families in difficult and often desperate circumstances; the fact that one in three working parents say they have had to cut back on food in order to afford to pay for their home (2) shows an injustice in the environment which should be challenged.
One of my roles as a Bishop is to be the Chair of CSAN, the network of Catholic charities and dioceses which join together in mission, working with many people, children, those with disabilities, the old, refugees, those affected by prison and those who are homeless. This network, and the many other groups and individuals in our parishes, share an ethos of “caritas” – charity, love and justice. Underpinning this is the richness of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching; human dignity, the common good and solidarity with people in poverty: all defining qualities for our work in social action and justice.
Working in the spirit of love and justice every day can make a difference to so many people’s lives. That is why at the time of this General Election I invite you to draw upon this rich heritage of Catholic social teaching and action and use it to inform yourself about the way you want to live and the way you think our society should be going. At this election, we are called to transform our faith into action for positive change. Now is our opportunity to challenge the candidates for election to answer our questions on how they intend to respond to the pressing social issues affecting our families and our most vulnerable brothers and sisters.
+Terry
 

(1) JRF, Monitoring poverty and social exclusion 2014, (Dec 2014)
(2) Shelter, Housing costs forcing working parents to cut back on food, (Aug 2014)