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Catholics urge MPs to prioritise poor communities


Dozens of Catholics have met MPs in Parliament to call for the interests of the world's poorest people to be kept in mind during the general election.


Sixty CAFOD supporters spoke to MPs from different parties at Speaker's House in Parliament on Monday 24 April. The constituents pressed the politicians on maintaining commitments to supporting people living in poverty through UK aid and action to tackle climate change.

Jessica Slavery, 19, a student from Holy Family Catholic School & Sixth Form in Walthamstow, said: "I am fascinated with politics, and I love the idea that our society is centred around politics. The fact that we have a democracy in this country means we are blessed, and we have to make the most of it.

"I would encourage everybody, regardless of which political party they support, to go and register to vote so they can have their say."

Commons Speaker the Rt Hon John Bercow MP told the reception: "For my part, I always think the greatest moral challenge of our times is to try to do something about the gross crisis and disfiguring scar of global poverty. The fact that 1,000 million people around the world exist on less than a dollar a day and very, very large numbers of people besides exist on only moderately more than that is, frankly, a source not only of anxiety but of real shame to us all."

The campaigners at the Parliamentary reception are CAFOD 'MP Correspondents', supporters who write to MPs to ensure the voices of the most vulnerable people are heard in the corridors of power. CAFOD is encouraging Catholics to ask all election candidates to support UK commitments on tackling overseas poverty and climate change, as well as working to ensure that Britain remains an outward-looking and welcoming country.

Neil Thorns, CAFOD's Director of Advocacy, said: "With the news dominated by Brexit, there's a risk of other critical issues falling off the agenda. We'd like to thank CAFOD supporters who write and speak to MPs to ensure this doesn't happen.

"Pope Francis himself warns that people living in poverty can often be an 'afterthought' in political discussions and that's why it's so important that we remind candidates of the need to remain an outward-looking nation - one that cares for the interests of people in the world's poorest communities.

"This is also why the commitment to maintaining UK support for overseas aid is crucial for saving lives and pulling people out of poverty."

See Three top things to ask this General Election: http://cafod.org.uk/News/Campaigning-news/Ask-an-election-question

See more pictures from the meeting on ICN's Facebook page.

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