Catholics in the Conservative Party


Catholics in the Conservative Party
PresidentSir Julian Brazier
ChairpersonAlberto Garzoni
FounderSir Julian Brazier
Founded2019
Ideology
Website
https://catholicconservatives.uk/

Catholics in the Conservative Party (CITCP) is an organisation within the British Conservative Party which promotes the interests of Catholics in the United Kingdom and their participation in public life..[1]

Established in 2019, and originally chaired by Andrew Cusack and Frances Lasok,[2] CITCP has carried out its activities to promote the participation of Catholics within the Conservative Party by organising talks on Catholic social doctrine, canvassing for Catholic candidates during local and national elections, and promoting causes which directly affect the United Kingdom's Catholic population[3]. Like many organisations in the Conservative party, the group also has adopted a number of parliamentary patrons, both in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Since its official launch in January 2023, with an event attended by Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Damian Hinds and featuring Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg as a speaker,[4][5] CITCP organises events for Catholic members, supporters, and voters of the Conservative Party within the United Kingdom,[6] including events within Parliament, alongside groups such as Catholics for Labour and the Catholic Union of Great Britain, prayer breakfasts, and pub talks with politicians such as Lord Greenhalgh, Danny Kruger and Iain Duncan Smith[7][8][9].

Moreover, the group is involved as a stakeholder in discussions over the engagement of Catholic faithful in politics in the UK,[10] in accordance with the multiple exhortations of the Catholic Church in this sense.[11][12]

The group has been featured regularly with events at the Conservative Party Conference since its foundation, involving Catholic voices prominent in the public scene and members of the clergy[13]

Organisation

The current (2024) President of Catholics in the Conservative Party is Sir Julian Brazier, former Conservative Member of Parliament for Canterbury.[14]

In 2024, Alberto Garzoni was elected Chair of Catholics in the Conservative Party for one year.[15]

Patrons

See also

References

  1. ^ Somerville-Meikle, James (January 22, 2021). "James Somerville-Meikle: The Conservative Party and the Catholic community can find much common ground". Conservative Home.
  2. ^ "News Briefing: Britain and Ireland". The Tablet.
  3. ^ Lasok, Frances (July 2, 2024). "Catholicism has a much-needed place in Public Office – but we need to articulate it better". Catholic Herald.
  4. ^ "Rees Mogg rallies the Catholic Tories". The Spectator. January 30, 2023.
  5. ^ "Faith in the party" (PDF). The Tablet. February 4, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "Today's Conservative Party is no place for Catholics". Catholic Herald. 2 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Virtual Prayer Breakfast". catholictori.es.
  8. ^ "The Duty of Catholics to Engage in Public Life". Catholic Voices. November 18, 2020.
  9. ^ "First speaker for 2024 "Pub Talks" announced". Catholic Union website. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  10. ^ "The duty of Catholics to engage in public life". Whitehouse Communications. November 23, 2020.
  11. ^ "Vatican Note on the participation of Catholics in political life". Independent Catholic News. 13 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Everyone must take part in politics for the common good, pope says". Catholic Review. February 27, 2023.
  13. ^ Gledhill, Ruth (October 12, 2021). "Bishop Arnold challenges COP26 on climate change". The Tablet.
  14. ^ "Where Are They Now? Sir Julian Brazier". Politics Home. 14 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Chi siamo". Associazione Vincenzo Gioberti.