Bishops call on authorities to ensure no more homeless people die on streets

The Catholic bishops have called on all relevant authorities to ensure no more homeless people die on our streets and described the current housing crisis as a profound and far-reaching issue of social justice. They will issue a special document on assisting asylum seekers and migrants on Thursday.

Concluding their autumn meeting in Maynooth on Wednesday, they said “Catholic social teaching recognises that housing is a universal human right, with corresponding responsibilities on societies to honour that right. Homelessness, inadequate and unaffordable housing, and living with the threat of losing one’s home, are all experiences that impose enormous hardship and stress on affected individuals and families.”

The experience of housing insecurity and homelessness also “inflicts great damage to the emotional well-being of children, and can adversely affect their participation in education”, they said.

They also called for “a redoubling of efforts by all relevant statutory and voluntary authorities in order to pool resources to prevent the death of homeless people on our streets”.

They also prayed for homeless people who have died on the streets and noted how Pope Francis has spoken of housing as a "sacred" right.

They thanked all who work in Act to Prevent Trafficking Network (APT) and noted last week's publication of the Criminal Law Sexual Offences Bill 2015. APT representatives advised the bishops that decriminalising the selling of sex would help combat prostitution and human trafficking.

Where Northern Ireland was concerned they appealed to participants in the current all-party talks process to keep their shared responsibility for the common good at the heart of discussions.

They welcomed the UN’s formal adoption of a new global framework for Sustainable Development and acknowledged acknowledged the important work of the Government of Ireland in supporting it.

The announcement last Sunday by Pope Francis that the 10th World Meeting of Families will take place in Dublin in 2018 was warmly welcomed by them.

The Catholic primate Archbishop Eamon Martin and the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin will represent the Irish Church at the Synod of Bishops in Rome which begins next weekend. Preparations for it included feedback from parishes on family life in Ireland.