MPs praise the work of Christian groups in benefiting society

Nov 17, 2016 by

from Christian Concern:

A debate was held today in the House of Commons to discuss the “contribution of faith organisations to the voluntary sector in local communities”.

The debate was an opportunity to raise awareness of the many ways in which Christian and other faith groups positively benefit society across a wide range of social initiatives.

During the debate, Conservative MP Fiona Bruce highlighted the huge involvement of Christian organisations in all aspects of society, which have been measured through various audits.

She mentioned a range of activities that took place within her own constituency of Congleton and beyond, including street pastors who care for those out at night, help for those struggling with addiction, support for trafficking victims, and setting up job clubs to help the unemployed get a job.

Fiona exemplified how Christian groups provide valuable and significant support, often without any public funding, such as marriage counselling for couples, care for the elderly easing the burden on social services, and debt counselling to families.

She particularly praised the work of Christians Against Poverty (CAP), which has helped hundreds of thousands of people a year to escape debt.

“Political parties will come and go in terms of their authority in our communities, but the churches will be there, enduring this century as they did last century and centuries before that, and that is why it is so important that we support them in the way that we do,” she said.

Religious liberty and accommodation

Fiona also said that there needs to be a greater understanding of the role of faith groups in society, and of religious literacy and accommodation.

Rather than the effective privatisation of the Christian faith, she said, Christians who work for faith-based groups need to be allowed the freedom to express their beliefs within that context: “It is, after all, their faith that motivates religious people to work in the first place.”

Fiona then highlighted the importance of religious liberty for all Christians and the concerns that this is being increasingly threatened.

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