pope’s plea

THE Pope has urged the British government to focus on “policies of value” in the wake of last month’s riots.

As he welcomed Britain’s new ambassador to the Vatican, Nigel Baker, Pope Benedict said the rioting and looting had been caused by a lack of values, and he hinted that further disturbances could be expected unless policies on education, young people and employment were reviewed.

“Your government wishes to employ policies that are based on enduring values that cannot be simply expressed in legal terms. This is especially important in the light of events in England this summer,” he said. “When policies do not presume or promote objective values, the resulting moral relativism, instead of leading to a society that is free, fair, just and compassionate, tends instead to produce frustration, despair, selfishness and a disregard for the life and liberty of others.”