We’re richer but more miserable: Archbishop

Dr John Sentamu made the remarks as he addressed the Church Urban Fund’s 2012 Conference in Leeds.

Dr Sentamu said: “We are far richer today yet misery is growing.

“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.”

He 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,” Dr Sentamu 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.”

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