Northern Ireland

Border poll and protocol issues not the priority for MLAs, Catholic bishops warn as cost of living crisis deepens

Archbishop Eamon Martin has joined with the north's senior Catholic clergy to warn of their "urgent" concern for families facing the cost-of-living crisis.
Archbishop Eamon Martin has joined with the north's senior Catholic clergy to warn of their "urgent" concern for families facing the cost-of-living crisis. Archbishop Eamon Martin has joined with the north's senior Catholic clergy to warn of their "urgent" concern for families facing the cost-of-living crisis.

A FUTURE border poll must take a back seat to the cost of living crisis that has become a "life or death situation" for families and businesses in the north, Catholic bishops have warned.

Senior clergy have called for MLAs to set aside political aspirations as winter looms and bills rise for many who are on "the brink of collapse".

In a joint statement, bishops led by All-Ireland primate Archbishop Eamon Martin have also called for differences over the Northern Ireland Protocol to be placed on hold in favour of finding solutions for those struggling as the cost of living deepens.

The clergymen spoke of their "urgent concern about the challenges facing the most vulnerable in our society", and said the recent mini-budget from UK Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng "has done little to lift this fear".

Ian Knox cartoon 27/9/22
Ian Knox cartoon 27/9/22 Ian Knox cartoon 27/9/22

They also warned the absence of a Stormont executive is "unquestionably impeding the effort to respond to the depth and urgency of the situation".

"For the poorest in our society, this is an emergency, not a crisis. We call on everyone, from public representatives to parishioners in our parishes, to come together in a spirit of solidarity and active concern for those who are in need among us at this time," the bishops, including Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown, said.

"Every day seems to bring news of dramatic and unplanned increases in the cost of basic essentials such as food, fuel and heating. More and more low and middle income families, older people and vital businesses in our economy, are gripped with fear as they think about what lies ahead this autumn and winter."

The statement calls for "a combined effort from all those in church, politics and society to help address this crisis now", and said politicians have a "particular duty to ensure the basic needs of citizens are being met".

The DUP has said it will not nominate ministers to a new executive without changes to the protocol, but the bishops said: "Despite political differences about the protocol and a future border poll, the most urgent duty on our local MLAs, of all parties, is to prioritise concrete actions that will address the life or death situation many people and businesses face now, and in the months ahead."

They called for parishioners to "be alert" to those struggling in their communities.

"We invite our congregations, like St Vincent de Paul and after the example of Jesus himself, to put the poorest and most vulnerable among us first, and to reflect in prayer on what more they can do to help ordinary families and those in need over coming weeks and months," they added.

"Food banks, St Vincent de Paul conferences, and other charitable outreaches urgently need new volunteers and more resources due to the unprecedented demand which is likely to get worse as winter approaches. Parish Pastoral Councils might consider extending their existing parish hall activities or providing warm spaces, hot meals, fuel vouchers or other helpful initiatives in response to this urgent situation."