Welfare reform will leave hundreds of thousands more children in poverty. And yet it has been described in the language of morality, as being about fairness and making work pay. For this reason it has proved very popular. But is it moral or is it underpinned by some very bad theology? Nigel Varndell is the director of Church and Community Partnerships at the Children’s Society. He previously worked in international development with an interest in the Middle East and has been involved in interfaith work for many years.
A theology of poverty or just a poverty of theology?
