On 2 June Archbishop John Dew was one of the Church Leaders invited to speak at the launch of the Closer Together: Whakatata Mai information programme. This is a project of the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services of which the Catholic Church is one of the six member churches.
The project is targeted specifically at reducing poverty by addressing income inequality in Aotearoa New Zealand. The aim is to keep working for a just and compassionate society in New Zealand, giving priority to the poor and vulnerable members of our society.
If we were able to reduce inequality in New Zealand we could see the following changes:
- 40,000 fewer people with obesity (which causes diabetes and heart disease); half the amount of depression and mental illness;
- 2,000 fewer pregnancies meaning fewer abortions, and fewer young children and young mothers struggling with social problems;
- 4,000 fewer people in prison (half the current rate of 8,000); double the rate at which we recycle waste.
Archbishop John said “I encourage you to look at the website www.closertogether.org.nz There is plenty of good information and also suggestions as to what we can do to reduce inequality and build a better society.
Remember Pope Benedict’s words in Deus Caritas Est, 14: Unless this Eucharist passes over into concrete acts of love it is intrinsically fragmented”
Archbishop John dew is the Catholic Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Wellington New Zealand
Source
- Archbishop Dew’s Newsletter
- Image: theworldmarch.org