Bishop of Dudley claims mothers are undermined
The Bishop of Dudley today spoke of his anger at Government steps he alleged were "undermining" mums as Mothering Sunday approaches.
The Rt Rev David Walker said more and more mothers were having to turn to church-run food banks to feed their children, while also facing losing their homes because of the "bedroom tax", a welfare reform that will cut people's housing benefit if they are considered to have a spare bedroom in their home.
The Rt Rev Walker said he was "angry" at the ways society was undermining motherhood during the centenary year of the launch of the campaign that led to the reintroduction of Mothering Sunday.
"I'm not feeling very sentimental about motherhood this year, at a time when more and more mothers are needing to turn to church-run food banks to see their children are adequately fed," said the 55-year-old father-of-two, who lives with his wife, Sue, in Old Hill.
"And I'm not very sentimental when I think about the mothers who are going to lose their homes this year because they fall victim to the bedroom tax, or the cap on benefits. This year I want to have in my thoughts and prayers all those mothers who are struggling against poverty to give their children a start in life."
