I read your Editorial entitled "Power in People's Pockets" (The Tablet, 9 July) with increasing dismay and disbelief! You rightly express a view that the Greek people's problems may require a compassionate response on the part of Greece's debtors but then go on to appear to swallow the tale of a compassionate or constructive Budget proposed by our own Chancellor, George Osborne, hook, line and sinker!
I would like to draw your attention to statements issued this week by a number of organisations working with the poorer members of our own society in response to this Budget. Church Action on Poverty, Oxfam, The Living Wage Foundation, Citizens UK, the New Statesman, the Child Poverty Action Group and the Resolution Foundation and, since you edit a Catholic Weekly Journal, perhaps the most telling of all, Helen O'Brian, the Chief Executive of Caritas social Action Network (CSAN), have all responded to the Budget explaining how it will further disadvantage the Poor, the Sick, the Unemployed, the Young and even those third or subsequent children, as yet not conceived!
The Weekly Bulletin of Ekklesia to which I am sure you have access, contains in their Budget Response Special all the statements issued by the organisations I have listed. I hope you will consult them and perhaps feel able to change your interpretation of our new Government's approach to the poor and needy members of British Society.
Ann J Taylor, Cheadle Cheshire
Assuming that because Iain Duncan Smith is a Catholic he accepts and supports the content of the open letter on welfare reform (The Tablet, News, 4 July). After over 40 years of working with people with disabilities, writing, and researching in that arena, I wrote offering my services, pro bono, when his consultative process was initiated. I am still awaiting a reply. We must not assume that because our Pope Francis speaks clearly on social justice that he is necessarily supported by everyone in the Vatican, or among politicians.
Dr Mic Carolan, Wigan
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