Cathedral Dean Supports CAFOD Debt Campaign

Fr Martin Hardy, Dean of St John the Baptist Cathedral in Norwich, has added his support to CAFOD’s campaign for global debt cancellation, joining Bishop Peter Collins in calling for greater solidarity with countries facing economic hardship.

Fr Martin was pleased to sign the petition in support of CAFOD’s ongoing campaign to cancel global debt. In the Diocese of East Anglia, both Bishop Peter Collins and Fr Martin have now signed the petition, and thanks are extended to them for their support.

The aim of this short article is to encourage readers to do the same. In the time it has taken you to read these few lines, you could have visited CAFOD’s website and signed the petition. Better still, you might be willing to organise the signing of the petition in your own parish, school or local community.

Every name and every supporter makes a difference, and your help, action and support will enable CAFOD to continue highlighting the injustice of global debt. Please do what you can to support this worthwhile campaign. It is not too late to organise an event in your parish. Some petition supporters have collected signatures at parish barbecues, quiz nights, coffee mornings, meetings and other events that have brought parish communities together. One parish even collected signatures during a parish day trip.

This petition can also be supported ecumenically, with Churches Together groups backing the campaign to cancel debt. All Christians are called to action by reading and reflecting on Cardinal Stephen’s letter, in which he asks us all to sign the petition as a sign of solidarity with the 54 countries in economic distress:

“I therefore invite you to continue standing with us through prayer, advocacy and support the efforts that promote debt justice.” (Cardinal Stephen Brislin)

To conclude, here are five reasons why signing the petition will benefit others:

1. The debt crisis is increasing poverty.
2. The UK Government can make a difference.
3. You have the potential to change people’s lives.
4. Senior Church leaders say it is the right thing to do.
5. We have to build on the momentum of last year.

If you are willing to follow the example of Bishop Peter and Fr Martin, please do sign the CAFOD petition online. Better still, would you be willing to collect names in your local church and organise a petition-signing event after Mass one weekend?

Anyone interested in doing so can contact Chris Gallagher, CAFOD’s Community Participation Coordinator for the Diocese of East Anglia at cgallagher@cafod.org.uk for further information.

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