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Archbishop bemoans tough decade
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The last decade was a "terrible and gruelling" one in which suffering and risk spread across all boundaries, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.
Dr Rowan Williams said terrorism, war, natural disaster and the financial collapse showed crises do not stop at national frontiers.
But he said people could make a difference.
In his pre-recorded New Year message, he said: "In a world where risk and suffering are everybody's problem, the needs of our neighbours are the needs of the whole human family.
"Let's respond just as we do when our immediate family is in need or trouble. We may be amazed by the difference we can make."
Dr Williams said it had been a "terrible and gruelling 10 years in all kinds of ways", but added: "Before we shrug our shoulders and lower our expectations, let's not lose sight of one enormous lesson we can learn from the last decade.
"The truth is that there are fewer and fewer problems in our world that are just local.
"Suffering and risk spread across boundaries, even that biggest of all boundaries between the rich and the poor. Crises don't stop at national frontiers. It's one thing that terrorism and environmental challenge and epidemic disease have taught us.
"Above all, it's about not losing our hope for change and our love and respect for the dignity of everyone."
He said the Millennium Development Goals, eight key objectives about tackling poverty and disease, "summed up for a lot of us the hopes we had for a new look at our world".
Reader views (1)
Seems to be missing the point that Britain is no longer a Christian nation, but is part of the Marxist led EU Superstate that does not recognise Christianity as a force of any merit.
- Bill, Hay~Heath UK, 01/01/2010 01:43
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