Aid agencies comment on 2024 General Election

Image: M Mazur CBCEW

Following yesterday's announcement of the forthcoming General Election, the directors of CAFOD and Christian Aid have issued the following statements:

Christine Allen, director at the Catholic aid agency CAFOD, said: "We welcome the announcement of the forthcoming election and I would urge everybody to use their vote. As Catholics, our faith calls us to stand in solidarity with the poorest and against injustice and this election is an ideal moment to raise our voices.

"Pope Francis reminds us that people in marginalised communities, like so many of our brothers and sisters at home and around the world, are often the most impacted by political decisions, but they are often treated as an afterthought by decision makers. We know the Catholic community cares about a world where every member of our global family can live without the suffering caused by poverty and where everyone can flourish, and that's why I'm encouraging all Catholics to make their vote count towards creating a fairer, more equal society.

"The church tells us that all citizens ought to be aware of their right and duty to promote the common good by casting their votes, and Catholics across England and Wales have told us they plan to use CAFOD's election resources to push their political candidates on how, if elected, they will protect both the world's poorest people and our common home. We pray that all those who are elected will deliver on their commitments when they arrive in Westminster."

Christian Aid's CEO Patrick Watt said: "For millions of people around the globe today, their lives are marked by poverty. At Christian Aid, we are not party political, but we know that poverty and its causes reflect political choices.

"We believe the UK has a moral and historical responsibility to both raise the climate finance needed to tackle the climate crisis and end the debt crisis of low-income countries by cancelling debt.

"Our supporters will always stand by the world's most marginalised people and will continue to give voice to the issues that most matter."

LINKS

CAFOD: https://cafod.org.uk/
Christian Aid: www.christianaid.org.uk/