CAFOD pays tribute to Paul Goggins: 'A commitment to justice which knew no bounds'

Paul with Ffion Roberts at a CAFOD event for young people in Parliament, February 2013.

Following the sad news of the death of Paul Goggins MP, CAFOD's Chair of the Board of Trustees, Bishop John Arnold, has today hailed the huge contribution Paul made to supporting and furthering CAFOD's work over the last two decades.

While serving as MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East from 1997 and as a minister in the Labour government from 2003 to 2010, Paul volunteered his own time to help the most disadvantaged in society, both in Britain and overseas. He volunteered as an unpaid Board Member at CAFOD from 1998 to 2003, and co-founded the All Party Parliamentary Group Friends of CAFOD to champion our work supporting the poorest people in the world. He also served as Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group on poverty.

Paul gave his time freely in support of CAFOD's work, travelling to the USA in 2002 to discuss development issues with members of Senate and Congress, and before that to Colombia in 1999 with our partner Caritas International, where he formed part of an international delegation that looked at the peace process, the impact of violence and human rights issues in the country.

Bishop John Arnold said: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Paul Goggins and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.

"His was a passionate commitment to justice which knew no bounds. His support for CAFOD's mission was exceptional and the energy, intelligence and sympathy he brought when he was working alongside the poorest communities was truly remarkable.

"Every day of his career, Paul was driven to help the most disadvantaged in society, and ensure that poverty was tackled wherever it existed. His commitment to helping others, anchored in his strong Catholic faith, served as an inspiration to us all during his lifetime, and that inspiration will live on in the years to come."