The Catholics in the Conservative Party group hosted a formal launch event in the Houses of Parliament last week. The group says it aims to support, recruit and mentor Catholics in the Conservative party and public life to ensure that the Catholic voice is always heard in government.
The event's guest speaker was Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg. In his speech, <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/tory-party-is-natural-home-of-catholics-says-rees-mogg-2/"><strong>he stressed the necessity for conservative Catholics to flourish in government.</strong></a> “Do not allow people to think that the Labour Party is the natural home of Catholics because it isn’t any more,” he said.
It is clearly a good thing to promote Catholics and Catholic values in public life, and Jacob Rees-Mogg MP himself should be applauded for this. However, I do not think it is right to say that Catholics naturally belong in the Conservative party, any more than they do in the Labour party.
The Conservative party was the party which introduced gay "marriage", it supports a liberal abortion regime, just like the Labour party, and it has done very little to keep anti-human gender ideology out of schools. Most recently, a majority of Conservative MPs and Lords <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/lords-back-abortion-buffer-zone-amendment-to-turn-prayer-into-thought-crime/"><strong>voted for a national roll-out of "buffer zones"</strong></a> which will prevent people praying or silently protesting outside abortion clinics.
Although one might want to believe that the Conservative party is more socially conservative than the Labour party, the evidence shows that on any real issue this is simply not true. And I say this as someone who would naturally lean to the Conservative party but has been disappointed. As disappointed as an England football supporter after a penalty shoot-out.
Yes, it is true Labour is no better on these fundamental issues. However, the Conservative party, when in power, has been uniquely dangerous to families, in a way I do not believe Labour would have been.
Tory policies closed "Sure Start" centres, which can be a lifeline for new mums and their babies. According to estimates, the demise of most "Sure Start" children’s centres will have resulted in an 18 per cent rise in young children’s A&E visits.
It was the Tories who cut universal child benefit, and benefits to families who had the temerity to have a third child. All this is done while protecting wealthy older voters, those most likely to vote Tory.
Indeed, by 2019, health visitors had been cut by a third under the Tory government. Further, we, as Catholic voters, must ask why almost 50 per cent of families with three or more children are below the poverty line? Yes, personal responsibility is critical. Also extended family, church and community groups should support the poorest, but it is also true that government policy has a huge impact on families and their children.
Catholic teaching is clear, feeding the poor is one of the seven corporal works of mercy. Jesus said, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, when I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me."
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, "'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'"
Catholic teaching on how we behave to the poor is just as important as how we treat the unborn. We respect their humanity and dignity.
I am certainly not advising anyone to vote one way or the other – that is entirely a matter for each individual. As Catholics we should promote Catholic values in public life, whether that is in politics, political parties or elsewhere. Catholics do not belong “naturally” in any party, but they do belong naturally in public life.
