Sentamu points to ‘poverty of vision’ as key services cut

Dr John Sentamu made the remarks as he addressed the Church Urban Fund’s 2012 Conference in Leeds, yesterday, talking of a current “poverty of vision” and the need to address “the reality of poverty and growing inequality in our country”.

“We are far richer today yet misery is growing,” the archbishop told yesterday’s conference.

“The current recession has led to significant cuts in public spending and services with more likely in the immediate years ahead.

“As well as the reality of poverty and growing inequality in our country today, we also face the problem of poverty of vision.

“Put simply, we have lost a vision of how we might transform our society to bring about changes that we wish to see.”

The archbishop added: “We are seeing cuts to valuable public services where investment is needed.”

Dr Sentamu said he had noticed the impact of cuts on recent visits to dioceses across the north of England. These included impacts on the Sure Start Programme as well as initiatives for older people and the unemployed.

“At a national level, we need to witness clearly that our Government must promote social justice,” he said. “For when the Government puts the promotion of social justice at its heart, we can stand together as one nation, recognising the dignity of all and affording fair and equal opportunities for access and services.

“Despite its vision of the Big Society, our coalition Government is under enormous pressures today in the spending decisions it must make. These are likely to intensify in the future and will affect whichever government is in power”.

During his speech, the archbishop hailed the work of the Romero Project, in Athersley, near Barnsley, one of the most deprived areas of the Diocese of York which he visited last year.

Dr Sentamu said the centre – providing debt counselling, training and apprenticeship schemes, mentoring support and employment opportunities – was an example of the local work that can be done to help tackle inequality.

He also told the conference that churches of all denominations can be a “voice for the powerless, the weak and the dispossessed”.

“It is at the local level that churches can have the best and the most long-term effect on tackling poverty,” the archbishop said.

“It is because we have a wealth of experience and skill in serving local communities. This has often been built up over decades of Christian witness and active support to people in the local community, particularly the lonely and the vulnerable.”