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Fresh push to include the poor in church

by Hannah Tooley

It highlights good work being done in many churches to respond to the growing problem of poverty but says much more needs to be done to put the poorest and most vulnerable people.

Liam Purcell, from Church Action on Poverty, told Premier's News Hour: "The church is often really good at responding to need and helping people.

"But we have a problem. Often there's a mind-set that people in poverty are passive recipients of our charity and our goodwill.

"There isn't always a recognition that people in poverty are in our churches and should be part of our churches and the Kingdom of Heaven working together.

"That's what we try and do in our work."

The call for churches to do more comes as prominent church leaders are calling all the UK's to be more inclusive of the poor.

Liam Purcell told Premier that the project echos Pope Francis' desire for Christians to do more to help those in poverty and stand in solidarity with those suffering.

A new report 'A Church of the Poor?' indicated that much more needs to be done for the church to genuinely to put the poorest and most vulnerable people first.

Liam Purcell said people often question the Vatican and the Church of England's wealth: "What right has the Church got to say anything when it's got these investments, it's got this wealth."

He went on: "There's a challenge there, but I think that's something Pope Francis is trying to respond to, in the way he's doing reforms in the Catholic Church."

Church Action on Poverty's Director Niall Cooper said: "Pope Francis has said that he wants 'a poor Church, for the poor' - but what does it actually mean to be a Church of and for the poor?

"Here in the UK, are our churches doing enough to stand in solidarity with people in poverty?

"This is a question which Church Action on Poverty has wrestled with for more than 30 years, but one which we will be pursuing with renewed vigour over the coming months.

"This call to action is only the start. Our 'Church of the Poor' programme will provide further materials and resources that enable churches to discover together what it means to truly be a church of the poor."

Listen to Premier's Antony Bushfield speak to Liam Purcell here:

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