Archbishop of Southwark tells conference 'I don't think there is an awareness of the positive social engagement'

One of the most senior Roman Catholics in England and Wales has said the sexual abuse crisis is overshadowing the positive social contribution of the church's charities. At a conference in central London, the archbishop of Southwark said the paedophile priest scandal of recent years, coupled with church teaching on issues such as abortion and homosexuality, had not fostered good impressions.

The Most Rev Peter Smith said: "Some people's perception of the church is very negative, [that] it's just there to say no.

"I don't think there is an awareness of the positive social engagement. We don't go around blowing our trumpet. We've been modest and humble."

The conference, at the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, drew together a mainly Catholic audience of politicians, peers, clerics and charity workers to explore the idea of building a culture of social responsibility.

One of the issues was also to look at ways of raising the profile of Catholic social action. Smith, who made the comments later to the press, was explaining the impact of the abuse scandal on this mission.

He told journalists: "We need to make people aware of what we're doing, not to put ourselves on a pedestal, but to say the church is not all bad.

"Of course the child abuse crisis has not helped with that. Again it has been taken by some completely out of proportion. When you see press reports every day of child abuse, it is something which is unfortunately and tragically endemic in society.

"It's a misperception of the church. People think because we're the church and Christians, we're somehow above all that and perfect.

"We're the same as the rest of humanity. But at least through our faith and our sacraments and the grace of God we have the opportunity to do a bit better."

The child abuse scandal did not figure in the presentation from the main speaker, Baroness Warsi – the first Muslim woman to serve in the cabinet.

Warsi, fresh from her 48-hour visit to Pakistan, praised the "huge contribution" of Catholic individuals and organisations to society and described her meeting with the pope as "one of the highlights of my time in government".

Quoting from the Bible – James 2:26 – she credited the Catholic church for shaping 'big society' principles.

"Faith is not just a belief, it's not just a theory. It's about how we live, how we shape our lives and how we work together to serve those in need. And particularly in your case this has meant building social institutions to put principles into practice.

"Right throughout the world, the Catholic community's commitment to service and solidarity, to deepening social engagement is expressed most concretely through religious orders, charities, chaplaincies, parishes and schools."