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Archbishop calls for ‘people and justice’ to steer UK decisions
Tthe Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu.
THE Archbishop of York has called for “people and justice” to be placed at the heart of the way Britain is run, criticising the payment of massive bank bonuses whilst public sector workers face losing their jobs.
Writing in today’s Yorkshire Post, John Sentamu warns that Britain risks becoming a society that “knows the price of everything and the value of nothing”.
Dr Sentamu also highlights the issue of a lack of affordable housing, stopping the young and poorly-paid having their own home.
He writes: “Can it be right that public sector workers, and those who work in British industry, face losing their jobs when those high earners in the banking sector who helped cause the economic crisis not only keep their jobs but rake in massive bonuses?
“Also, how can we have a situation where someone will suffer the devastation of unemployment while others in our society remain so overworked?”
He adds: “We have created a situation where many people live in relative poverty, while others have far more than they can ever hope to spend. In fact, the divide between the wages of the rich and the poor is growing in nearly all of the world’s leading economies.
“It doesn’t have to be this way. Surveys show that people do not feel that consumerism is necessarily a good thing, but they do it, knowing that reduces time for more valuable things like time for friends, family and community.
“Let us not be a society that knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
“Let us value the contribution that every individual can make, not only in the workplace, but also at home and in the public square.”
The archbishop calls for a change in attitudes in the way the country is run: “Difficult choices have to be made, but people and justice must be at the centre of all decision-making in our country.
When we forget the importance and worth of every single member of society, we have forgotten what it means to be human.”
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There are 3 comments to this article
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wisden
Sunday, December 25, 2011 at 04:57 PMNice that the Church and Bank of England agree on this. Mervyn King 'told the Treasury select committee that the billions spent bailing out the banks and the need for public spending cuts were the fault of the financial services sector. "The price of this financial crisis is being borne by people who absolutely did not cause it," he said. "Now is the period when the cost is being paid, I'm surprised that the degree of public anger has not been greater than it has." '
housemartin2
Sunday, December 25, 2011 at 12:08 PMIn regard to the comments of the Archbishop, it is not true that the supposed gap between the rich and the poor is growing, both at home and abroad. As regards this country, he fails to igrnore over a long period of time, looking back to the real poverty ot the 30's and also say, as long ago as the 50's, there has been a vast expansion of the Welfare State, compared to then, and because of this State Safetey Net, those on low incomes are undoubtedly better off, compared to those years. Also undoubtedly living standards for those on low incomes have risen since those years. as Indeed living standards have risen for the vast majority of the people, at all income levels. What does make those on low inocme poorer,and thus need state help from the State, is the widespread breakdown of the tradtionial married family and a large increase of cohabitation, about which the Archbishop doesn't really seem concerned, which as a Christian leader seems inconsistent. As regards the the the rest of the world, he clearly doesn't know that globalisation has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty in India and China. The real answer to world poverty is globalisation and we can do that by tearing down trade barriers to facilitate free trade, which is the real answer to such poverty. And so it is not true that the supposed gap between the rich and poor has grown worldwide. Some make rapid advances such as India and China because of globalisation. and others havn't done nearly as well, because of disasterous government policies of these corrupt tyrannies, which have harmed their economies,. In China's capital Beijing, years ago, before globalisation, everyone rode round on bikes and now everyone owns a car. Also just this week we read of wealthy Chinese investors who want to invest in the electrification of the rail line between Leeds and Manchester. Things have changed in China from years ago, when it really was poor, but the Archbishop clearly isn't aware of these developments.
Visionary
Saturday, December 24, 2011 at 02:32 PMArchbishop Sentamu is a fine person and his love of equality and justice are a moral and ethical lighthouse to us all. Sadly those who can bring about the changes needed to address his frustrations, the Government and Banks, are the beneficiaries of our unequal, selfish and materialistic society, their is no way the "haves" are going to get off the gravy train for the benefit of the "have nots". However alien it may be to the British maxim of things "sorting themselves out", I fear the abyss between rich and poor will continue to widen making the bridges of reconciliation and solution increasingly difficult to bridge. To avoid public unrest in the near future those who want a future need to stand up and be counted along with the Archbishop as warriors,to his cause.
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