Writing in the Times newspaper June 21, Hague called for a “more generous acknowledgement” of the work of faith communities.

“In some of Britain’s poorest areas churches and other faith communities are pioneering innovative projects to help people to overcome multiple disadvantages,” Hague said. “These projects appreciate the economic challenges facing individuals and their communities, but balance this with consistent relational support and a spiritual message of hope.”

Hague’s remarks come after the disclosure that he is to be advised by the Christian advisor who has shaped US presidential candidate George W. Bush’s “compassionate conservatism” message in the latest move in a campaign to target British voters from religious groups who have never been seen as being allied to any political party, as the parties prepare for elections in the next 24 months.

Less than 24 hours later, the Labour government vowed to fund social work programs run by church groups.

Announcing the program, Stephen Timms, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said there is a new “faith-based social activism” at work which is often providing the best vehicle for helping the poor, the homeless, and drug addicts.

“This is one of the most hopeful developments of our times,” he said. “What we are finding is that among the best partners are organizations of people of faith. There are clear links between faith-based social activism and the policies which this Government has put in place.”

Prime Minister Tony Blair made reference to the new scheme in a recent speech to the Women’s Institute. He said: “The forces that used to hold communities together—the family, the Church, respect for elders—have been slowly weakening and we need to revive them.”

The Government is also setting up religious committees in the poorest areas to draw on their expertise in practical ways to tackle deprivation.

Later, on July 9, the two leaders again appealed to Christian voters, this time at a conference of black Evangelicals. Blair told an audience of black evangelical Christians at their “Faith in the Future” conference in Brighton that faith was what gave people strength in difficulty. “It gives us strength,” he said. “Faith is not an old-fashioned virtue whose time has gone. Faith is the answer.”

Blair, although not a Catholic, is a believing Christian who regularly attends Mass with his Catholic wife and children. Hague said he wanted to appeal to the millions of Britons who “still aspire to marriage, who still revere honesty, faithfulness, and charity.”

“These values are Christian values,” he said. Hague’s promises to change “anti-marriage” tax laws and to fight repeal of Section 28—the law which bans promotion of homosexuality in schools—were warmly welcomed.

The Pink Paper said the late cardinal was in favor of homosexual discrimination and that his views had a negative effect on the charity Shelter of which he was president.

“Apart from missing out on donations from rich [homosexuals], the charity faced calls even from straight staff to sack Hume,” claims the paper. “They campaigned against discrimination in housing while their boss campaigned for discrimination in law.”

The paper further claimed that Cardinal Hume’s successor, Archbishop Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, has been overlooked as a possible new president for Shelter in favor of someone who is “not homophobic at all.”

Shelter said it was not appropriate to comment on Cardinal Hume after his death, but a spokesman for Archbishop’s House, Westminster, told the Catholic Herald: “Cardinal Hume’s devotion to the problems of homeless people was well recognized and widely acknowledged.”

Far from being “homophobic” Cardinal Hume often spoke out against laws against homosexuality. During the 1994 Age of Consent debate he said: “The Church has a serious responsibility to work for the elimination of any injustices perpetrated on homosexuals by society. The Church does not expect that acts which are morally wrong should, by that fact alone, be made criminal offenses.”

CARJ director Stephen Corriette told the Catholic Times that many black and Asian Catholics “sense a lack of belonging” with the Catholic Church due to its “tradition and structure.”

“There are very few black or Asian people in decision-making positions within the Catholic Church, whether clergy or laity,” he said. “We are not saying that organizations are racist, but we need to take stock of how they are structured in an increasingly multi-ethnic society.”

Corriette said the Church was not attracting black people because it does not reflect their heritage or culture. He added: “For the Church to be truly universal there needs to be recognition that institutional racism does exist.”

In an earlier statement, Archbishop Cormac Murphy-O’Connor of Westminster had vowed to “resolve” the “under-representation” of black and Asian people within the Church. “This is a matter that I take seriously,” he said. “The Catholic bishops of England and Wales are resolved to address this situation.”