Legislation and Public Policy

The Common Good and the Catholic Church's Social Teaching

The Common Good, published in 1996, explains the Church's social teaching in general, and then goes on to apply it to present-day British society. Anyone who studies the document will quickly see that these ideas are not solely Catholic property. Their aim is to bring about a good and fair society, for the benefit of everyone. Most people feel that society ought to be organised in such a way as to improve the lot of all its members.

The engagement of the Catholic Church in public policy and public life is first and foremost the task of the lay members of the Church, active and engaged as citizens in all walks of life.

The role of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales is to support and encourage that witness and service, and at the same time to provide a clear vision on issues of the day when fundamental moral questions are at stake.

The Church's approach to public policy is formed by Catholic social teaching.

At any one time, work is being undertaken on many fronts. The Church cannot comment on everything but is vocal on moral and social matters such as issues surrounding healthcare ethics, education, migrancy and matters of justice and the common good.

Current topics:

The Human Fertilization and Embryology Bill

Catholic Adoption Agencies and the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007

Education

The Mental Capacity Act and 'Living Wills' - A Practical Guide for Catholics

Faith in the Future

Why is there a high level of discontent in prosperous, modern day Britain?

Faith in the Future is a new report by a group of cross-party MPs, in close consultation with UK church leaders, that seeks to understand why a sense of human well-being is not more widespread.

It concludes that the absence of certain key values, rather than material things, is the primary cause of so much discontent.

A review of the work of the Bishops' Conference on Equality, Religious Freedom and Social Cohesion (2002 – 2007)

Work Review: Equality, Religious Freedom, Social Cohesion (2002-7)

Discrimination Law Review: A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain

Click to read the Communities and Local Government consultation paper

What's the Church's Response?

Discrimination Law Review (Single Equality Bill proposal): consultation response

Useful documents/publications:

The Dispossessed: A Brief Guide to the Catholic Church's Concern for Refugees and Migrants (Migrancy)
A Place of Redemption (Penal Policy)
Catechism (the Catholic Church's teaching document)

Catholic Public Policy Digest:

The Catholic Public Policy Digest was formerly a print publication sent out to those involved in public life. Editions from 2005-2007 can be found here.