blake 3:17
30th December 2010, 19:35
Faith groups will not fill gaps left by spending cuts, warns Anglican bishop
Bishop of Leicester says it would be 'completely irresponsible' for government to roll back on its responsibilities to the needy
<LI class=byline sizset="58" sizcache="0">Riazat Butt (http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/riazatbutt), religious affairs correspondent <LI class=publication sizset="59" sizcache="0">guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/), Thursday 30 December 2010 19.03 GMT <LI class=history>Article history (http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/30/bishop-big-society-faith-groups#history-link-box)
A senior Church of England bishop has warned that faith groups will not step in to fill the gap left by state spending cuts, saying it would be "completely irresponsible" to leave the care of the vulnerable in the hands of "amateurs".
The bishop of Leicester, Tim Stevens, who has spoken forcefully about David Cameron (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/davidcameron)'s proposals for a "big society", said that although faith groups were ready and willing to play a greater part in community life, their enthusiasm and engagement should not mean the government rolled back on its responsibilities to the needy.
The warning follows fears expressed by a leading charity figure this week (http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/29/david-cameron-big-society-criticism?intcmp=239), David Robinson of Community Links, who said massive public spending cuts threatened to undermine the big society project.
Government ministers have stressed that faith groups are vital to the success of the big society, the flagship policy of the Conservative party's election manifesto, aiming to empower local people and communities to play a greater role in public life.
But Stevens said faith groups should not be a fig leaf for dismantling vital services. "We stand ready to co-operate and play our part but we will not collude in government neglect. We can't simply take the weight of all those areas of responsibility. If there is the assumption that the church will carry that load, we will have to speak out.
"This can't be the throwing of a switch and saying the state walks out and the church walks in. It is completely irresponsible to say these people will be cared for by amateurs."
Bishop of Leicester says it would be 'completely irresponsible' for government to roll back on its responsibilities to the needy
<LI class=byline sizset="58" sizcache="0">Riazat Butt (http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/riazatbutt), religious affairs correspondent <LI class=publication sizset="59" sizcache="0">guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/), Thursday 30 December 2010 19.03 GMT <LI class=history>Article history (http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/30/bishop-big-society-faith-groups#history-link-box)
A senior Church of England bishop has warned that faith groups will not step in to fill the gap left by state spending cuts, saying it would be "completely irresponsible" to leave the care of the vulnerable in the hands of "amateurs".
The bishop of Leicester, Tim Stevens, who has spoken forcefully about David Cameron (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/davidcameron)'s proposals for a "big society", said that although faith groups were ready and willing to play a greater part in community life, their enthusiasm and engagement should not mean the government rolled back on its responsibilities to the needy.
The warning follows fears expressed by a leading charity figure this week (http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/29/david-cameron-big-society-criticism?intcmp=239), David Robinson of Community Links, who said massive public spending cuts threatened to undermine the big society project.
Government ministers have stressed that faith groups are vital to the success of the big society, the flagship policy of the Conservative party's election manifesto, aiming to empower local people and communities to play a greater role in public life.
But Stevens said faith groups should not be a fig leaf for dismantling vital services. "We stand ready to co-operate and play our part but we will not collude in government neglect. We can't simply take the weight of all those areas of responsibility. If there is the assumption that the church will carry that load, we will have to speak out.
"This can't be the throwing of a switch and saying the state walks out and the church walks in. It is completely irresponsible to say these people will be cared for by amateurs."