George Carey has entered the fray on the Welfare Reform Bill and has had a go at his fellow bishops in the Daily Mail. The poor bishops who have worked hard to dent what some see as a wholesale withdrawal of benefits to the poorest - who could be against helping poor children? - are accused of acting immorally. The former archbishop seeks to shift the moral debate from one about welfare and benefits to one about the state of the national debt. Now, all of us want to see a benefits system that rewards hard work and at the same time provides a safety net for those who have struck upon hard times. But what is a bishop for if not to stick up for those who have no voice? How can young children in poor families realistically speak up? At Church Urban Fund, we are in favour of reform but we also recognise from our relationships in local communities that there are real people, in this case children, who will suffer. Read more »
