A fairer distribution of wealth is at the centre of a call to voters issued by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York this week.

Writing in the Church Times, Dr Williams and Dr Sentamu say that the “deepest challenge” to the UK is “how the wealth we possess collectively is to become a real ‘common wealth’, wealth that serves a whole population not just the powerful and privileged”.

Despite the recession, they write that “many in the United Kingdom are still better off financially than they have ever been.” The concept of “com­mon wealth” is central to the Chris­tian understanding of “what a just and sustainable society looks like”.

The Archbishops list six areas where voters need to examine the values promoted by the different parties: equality, stability, global re-sponsibility, law and justice, and the needs of older people. Unless people vote according to their values, they say, the General Election will be little more than a “celebrity contest”.

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Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Archbishop of Canterbury • Anglican Provinces • Church of England (CoE) • Archbishop of York John Sentamu • * Culture-Watch • Religion & Culture • * International News & Commentary • England / UK

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