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Ireland's Church leaders New Years Message calls for an end to hardship for families

Left to right, Bishop John McDowell, President of the Irish Council of Churches, Archbishop Richard Clarke, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, Rev Dr Noble McNeely, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and Rev Dr Laurence Graham, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland. Church leaders who delivered a new year message urging hope and stability for the new year
Left to right, Bishop John McDowell, President of the Irish Council of Churches, Archbishop Richard Clarke, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, Rev Dr Noble McNeely, Moderator of the Presbyterian Left to right, Bishop John McDowell, President of the Irish Council of Churches, Archbishop Richard Clarke, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, Rev Dr Noble McNeely, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and Rev Dr Laurence Graham, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland. Church leaders who delivered a new year message urging hope and stability for the new year

CATHOLIC and Protestant church leaders have appealed for politicians to focus their efforts on restoring hope and stability across Ireland in 2018 amid economic and political uncertainty.

The joint message is penned by the leaders of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Richard Clarke, Methodist Church President, the Rev Dr Laurence Graham, Presbyterian Church Moderator Rt Rev Noble McNeely and Bishop John McDowell, President of the Irish Council of Churches.

The issue of homelessness across Ireland, which has garnered significant media coverage throughout the year, was given particular focus.

"In Ireland, we have been particularly shocked at the rising levels of homelessness, one of the most tragic and glaring symptoms of a broken system that is leaving too many people without adequate support," the message read.

"The protection of children, our future parents and future leaders, is one of the primary reasons for the existence of social welfare systems, yet in the Republic of Ireland one in three of those living in emergency accommodation is a child."

In the south, a spate of deaths among the homeless in Dublin in November sparked a public outcry. The festive season brought with it a tide of demonstrations and fundraisers on both sides of the border to highlight the issue.

"In Northern Ireland, families with more than two children are among those most at risk from the combination of welfare changes, cuts to services, and cuts to charities providing vital support to children and young people," the church leaders added.

"Across the world, over the past year, the number of families displaced by conflict, persecution and destitution has continued to rise, placing the lives and futures of more children at risk."

The message also addressed political leaders across Ireland, who were called upon to introduce measures to relieve families of hardship in the year to come.

"We do not underestimate the challenges faced by our political leaders in these uncertain times, but we have a vocation to witness to the fact that the essential purpose of political leadership is to protect the common good," the message read.

"We appeal to them to focus their efforts in this coming year on measures that will alleviate the hardship experienced by families near and far, restoring hope and preventing people being pushed to the margins of society."