Jun 4
Churches want to give away your money…
Re: Poverty is our problem
Date: 4 June 2004
Sir – We are writing to urge the British Government to increase development aid substantially as part of the United Kingdom spending review this year.
In an unprecedented move, 290 charities representing many different communities and faiths have come together this year in a joint campaign to call for more aid. They want the Government to agree a timetable to increase aid so that the United Kingdom reaches the United Nations aid-spending target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income (GNI) by 2008.
We recognise that this Government has already substantially increased aid. However, across the world more than 100 million children still do not go to school and in Africa 6,400 people are dying each day of HIV/Aids.
It cannot be right for us to stand by and let this happen. It is our duty as members of a global community to increase our assistance to these people and to work towards a more stable, peaceful world.
At a time when MPs of every party, charities and even rock stars are all calling on the Government to increase aid for development, we believe it is important to lend our voice to this cause. We urge the Government to increase aid substantially and commit to a timetable to this target.
From:
Rabbi Tony Bayfield, Chief Executive, Reform Synagogues of Great Britain; Iqbal Sacranie, Secretary-General, Muslim Council of Britain; Rt Rev John Mone, Bishop of Paisley (Roman Catholic), President of SCIAF; Dr Alison Elliot, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland; Rev David Coffey, Free Churches Moderator, Most Rev Dr Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales; Rt Rev Tom Wright, Lord Bishop of Durham;Rt Rev Michael Hill, Lord Bishop of Bristol; Rt Rev Michael Langrish, Lord Bishop of Exeter; Rt Rev David Stancliffe, Lord Bishop of Salisbury; Rt Rev Anthony Priddis, Lord Bishop of Hereford; Rt Rev Peter Price, Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells; Rt Rev Michael Perham, Lord Bishop of Gloucester; Rt Rev Kenneth Stevenson, Lord Bishop of Portsmouth; Rt Rev Thomas Butler, Lord Bishop of Southwark; Rt Rev Michael Scott-Joynt, Lord Bishop of Winchester; Rt Rev Peter Selby, Lord Bishop of Worcerster; Rt Rev Michael Hooper, Bishop of Ludlow; Rt Rev Christopher H. Morgan, Bishop of Colchester; Rt Rev Alan Smith, Bishop of Shrewsbury; Rt Rev John Parker, Bishop of Ripon and Leeds; Rt Revd Ian Brackley, Bishop of Dorking; Rt Rev Richard Lewis, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich; Rt Rev Tony Robinson, Bishop of Pontefract; Rt Rev John Pritchard, Bishop of Jarrow; Rt Rev Robert Ladds, Bishop of Whitby; Rt Rev Alan Smith, Bishop of Shrewsbury; Rt Rev Christopher Hill,Bishop of Stafford; Rt Rev David Walker, Bishop of Dudley; Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, Bishop Of Blackburn.
How dare this lot of churchmen petition the government to spend more taxpayers money on poor people who aren’t even in the UK? If people want to give to these charities they can do so as individuals. There is no need for government to get involved. I wonder if any of the nitwits realise that charitable giving was at its highest back in the 80s when taxes were rather less than they are now. If they want people to give money to these charities they should be calling for taxes to be lowered.
It is our duty as members of a global community to increase our assistance to these people and to work towards a more stable, peaceful world.
Notice the letter does not explain how, exactly, giving more hard-earned taxpayers money to other countries’ poor actually helps towards a stable, peaceful world. It is not our duty to do any such thing. It would be nice if people were to give more money to charities, but there is no duty for them to do so. Neither is there a duty for any elected goverment to give any money to any other country if its populace does not want it done.
More Christian socialist rubbish from religious leaders. Instead of prattling on about how taxpayers’ money be spent… how about they try to stem the tide of those leaving their churches, or, in Islam’s case, making sure their flock doesn’t try to kill non-Muslims. The Catholic Church is loaded; if they are so concerned why don’t they send some more money to Africa.
Never mind the fact that any document that is signed by the terrorist-loving MCB has no credibility whatsoever.
This is the typical type of tripe that turns many people off religion. Its a case of butt out and keep your grubby hands away from the public purse.
5 Comments so far
Now if only someone would bother to explain that to the Canadian Government…
Bloody good post, by the way.
Wouldn’t it be more efficient just to buy more athletic shoes made in all those poor countries?
Thanks for the kind comment Paul. Efficiency isn’t what this lot is going for…its guilt.
It’s no business of the government to waste our money sending soldiers to foreign countries either.
i am going to loss my house gods always been thare befor i prayed and now im getting despert i dont like to worry but i have 2 boys and forcloser letters can someone help