A Call to a Deeper Social Engagement
Statement from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales

The present economic situation creates immense challenges for everyone in our society. We are very conscious of the hardship and stress felt by many individuals and families at the present time, as well as the difficult task facing the government, the charitable sector and the country at large.

During his visit to the UK the Holy Father spoke of the ethical foundations of democracy: "The inadequacy of pragmatic, short-term solutions to complex social and ethical problems has been illustrated all too clearly by the recent global financial crisis.... Just as 'every economic decision has a moral consequence' (Caritas in Veritate, 37), so too in the political field, the ethical dimension of policy has far-reaching consequences that no government can afford to ignore."