Politicians must focus on helping families this year – church leaders

Christian church leaders have called on politicians to focus this year on helping restore hope to families who are experiencing hardship, especially those who are homeless.

The New Year message was sent by several Church leaders including the Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin. They said they were shocked at the rising levels of homelessness in Ireland, and that too many people being left without adequate support is a symptom of a “broken system”.

The need to protect children, who make up a third of the demographic who are homeless in the Republic of Ireland, was particularly stressed. In Northern Ireland it was highlighted that families with more than two children are most at risk from the combination of welfare changes, cuts to services and cuts to charities providing support to children.

“In our churches at Christmas time there is a particular emphasis on family as we come together to celebrate our appreciation for God’s gift of hope to a suffering world in the birth of Christ,” the message read.

“We are reminded that God did not choose the wealthy and the powerful to be the protectors of his Son, but a family that was vulnerable, without a home and forced to rely on the kindness of strangers.”

They said it is deeply unfair that so many parents feel they are failing because they cannot provide security for their children, and that “many are reluctant to ask for help because of stigma and shame”.

The other leaders are from the Church of Ireland, the Methodist Church, the Irish Council of Churches and the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church.