On Thursday, 19th June, the Christians in Government Catholic Group hosted a pub gathering with Professor Philip Booth, Head of Policy for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. His talk explored the purpose of the Civil Service in light of Catholic Social Teaching.
Professor Booth reminded attendees that when faith and religion are confined solely to the private sphere, there is a risk that extreme ideologies may fill the resulting vacuum. At the same time, he acknowledged the delicate balance the Church must maintain when commenting on public policy—particularly where it intersects with faith and morality—to ensure it remains within its sphere of competence. You can read the full speech here: https://catholicsocialthought.org.uk/god-and-government/’
To mark the occasion, a message was received from Bishop Richard Moth:
“I am pleased to endorse this Catholic apostolate within the Christians in Government Network, which seeks to bring together, encourage, and support Catholic civil servants through the promotion of Catholic Social Teaching.
It is in all of our interests that Catholic civil servants are well-formed and well-connected. You, as civil servants today, are in the privileged position not only to develop but also to implement strategies for the promotion of the common good—and with this comes great responsibility.
It is my hope that the mutual encouragement this network provides will help your vocations to flourish.
Although the sub-group was founded in 2021, few know that it has a predecessor in the Civil Service Catholic Guild, which operated from 1933 until the early 2000s and fostered close cooperation between the Church and the Guild. That this legacy can be continued today is very welcome.
While you are not yet at the peak of the 2,500 members your predecessor enjoyed in the 1950s, we look ahead with hope to your future. Where the seeds of fellowship and the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ are sown anew, much fruit can be reaped.”
For more information about Catholic Civil Servants, please visit microsite: https://www.catholiccivilservant.com/ and you can read Prof Booth’s full speech here.
The Catholic Union was pleased to support the event.