Society must not neglect poor during downturn, warn bishops

SOCIETY must not neglect its poor and weaker members just because there is a recession, the Irish Catholic Bishops said.

In a statement after their annual winter general meeting in Maynooth, they acknowledged the impact of the global financial crisis was being strongly felt in Ireland but said: “Finding hope and light in this time of fear and insecurity is possible.”

“The current crisis presents an opportunity to reassess our values and priorities focusing, in particular, on our responsibilities to our fellow human beings and to God’s creation,” they said.