The bishop of Arundel and Brighton, Richard Moth, commended a new resource aimed at inspiring effective Catholic social justice action as a “means to explore the riches of Social Teaching, grounded in the Scriptures”.
Bishop Moth said in the foreword of the new resource “Turning Tables”: “While it has often been said that Catholic Social Teaching is a ‘well-kept secret’, this is perhaps no longer the case as increasing numbers of people across society are finding in the Church’s social teaching a response to the challenges of the age.”
Turning Tables, released by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, in partnership with the God Who Speaks – a sister project which promotes the importance of Scripture – is a toolkit “designed to help adult Catholics across England and Wales to understand and engage with their faith, Scripture and social justice in practical ways [and is] rich with advice on how to improve the lives of those around us, and to ensure that we have a demonstrable, positive impact on society”.
The 52 page document covers core themes such as understanding the Bible and social action – from care of God’s creation to the divide between wealth and poverty – deepening faith, knowing who to contact and creating momentum and support to share ideas, lobby and volunteer.
According to the resource, “the 4.5 million Catholics in England and Wales have plenty of reasons and opportunities to respond to local, national and worldwide issues.
“We try to look at the world through the eyes of Jesus, to draw on our Catholic Tradition, to challenge injustices wherever we can, and to support others in their pursuit of the common good.”
The bishop of Wrexham, Peter Brignall, said: “Taking action at local or national levels is an important gospel imperative when those around us suffer in silence or without hope of real change.
“This practical guide shows how you can help to transform society starting from the Bible and the teachings of Jesus, through to how to contact your Member of Parliament or campaign on an issue, to have a ‘way of life marked by the flavour of the Gospel.’”
Bishop Brignall added: “Scripture encourages us to speak out for those who cannot speak, defend the rights of those who suffer and are vulnerable, and to challenge the status quo. This can feel like a huge challenge and not easy to achieve, so this resource helps you to put your faith into action.
“With a biblical foundation and plenty of practical examples ‘Turning Tables’ is the ideal resource for Catholics who want to transform society with faith and integrity – to make the Word of God ‘the beating heart of every ecclesial activity.’”