Budget creating 'huge hardship'
Church Action on Poverty has voiced concern over the impact of George Osborne’s Budget one day after a respected think tank warned that financial cutbacks were hitting the poor hardest. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the Budget had been ‘clearly regressive’ and was hitting low earners more than those in the upper income brackets. Niall Cooper, CAP’s Coordinator, said ‘the IFS’s report had confirmed the group’s worst fears that the Budget was hitting those already struggling to get by and least in the position to cope with cuts to income, welfare and services. They are people who are already just keeping their heads above water and struggling to keep up with their debt repayments and living costs. Even a five per cent loss of income may not sound like very much but it is enough to tip some people over the edge. The cuts are creating huge hardship.’ he said. Pray: that the government will seriously consider the needs of the most vulnerable in our society. More:http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/budget.creating.huge.hardship.church.group.warns/26584.htm
France: Church anger over Roma policy
French government policy towards the Roma community has provoked the anger of the Catholic Church – from the Vatican itself to individual priests like Father Arthur Hervet. A renowned defender of Roma rights, Father Arthur is returning the Order of Merit he was awarded by way of protest. Describing current policy he said: ‘For the last three months this minority has had a real war being waged against it.’ Pope Benedict XVI has also spoken out. Although he did not actually name France, he chose to make the following address in French: ‘Scripture tells us again and again that all men are called to salvation, and the Scriptures are also an invitation to receive amongst us all legitimate human differences, as did Jesus who gathered together people of all nations and all languages.’ The French government has intensified its deportation of illegal Roma people since a violent incident involving the Roma community last month. Pray: that this policy will not be forced upon them but the authorities would show compassion. (Eph.4:32) More: http://www.euronews.net/2010/08/23/church-anger-over-french-roma-policy/
France: Church anger over Roma policy
French government policy towards the Roma community has provoked the anger of the Catholic Church – from the Vatican itself to individual priests like Father Arthur Hervet. A renowned defender of Roma rights, Father Arthur is returning the Order of Merit he was awarded by way of protest. Describing current policy he said: ‘For the last three months this minority has had a real war being waged against it.’ Pope Benedict XVI has also spoken out. Although he did not actually name France, he chose to make the following address in French: ‘Scripture tells us again and again that all men are called to salvation, and the Scriptures are also an invitation to receive amongst us all legitimate human differences, as did Jesus who gathered together people of all nations and all languages.’ The French government has intensified its deportation of illegal Roma people since a violent incident involving the Roma community last month. Pray: that this policy will not be forced upon them but the authorities would show compassion. (Eph.4:32) More: http://www.euronews.net/2010/08/23/church-anger-over-french-roma-policy/
Czech Republic: Controversial homeless plan
Organizations working with the homeless, the country's largest opposition party, the political party likely to lead Prague after autumn elections and homeless people themselves are all speaking out against the plans by City Hall to build an ‘integrated assistance centre’ for the homeless on the outskirts of the city. Plans approved by the City Council last week will see a new centre being built within six months in Malešice, an industrial area on the eastern edge of the capital. Facilities planned for the centre are described as ‘an oasis’ for the homeless. Homeless people would be registered but would not be required to live in the new space but would be encouraged to go there. Ilja Hradecký, chairman of a Christian charity that works with the homeless, described the idea as ‘absolutely misconceived’ and would either see people leaving the camp each day after being taken there against their will or being ‘interned’, something that he termed a violation of human rights. Pray: for wisdom to result from the debate over Prague’s homeless. (2Cor.8:9) More: http://www.praguepost.com/news/5501-outcry-as-city-approves-controversial-homeless-plan.html
