Archbishop hails 'caring' country

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The Archbishop of Wales has used his Christmas message to pay tribute to the support coming from within communities, despite hardships in the recession.

The Most Rev Dr Barry Morgan, in his Christmas message, said there was "something in our make-up" which "somehow impels us towards compassion".

The country was full of people "who do actually care about the plight of others less fortunate than themselves".

He said this could be forgotten in a world which seemed "brutal and bloody".

Dr Morgan, who will deliver his Christmas Day sermon in a service at Llandaff Cathedral, said: "Now, in the depths of this economic recession, we see communities throughout Wales coming together to help each other and support those who have lost their jobs or who have fallen into poverty."

Dr Morgan said this was also reflected in that people were willing to dig deeper into their pockets to help charities during the Christmas season.

The Archbishop of Wales said there were examples of both emotional and financial support in the recession.

"Odd that people find it perfectly natural for humans to be caring and compassionate, but that they cannot quite grasp that the same might be true of God," he added.

"Yet Christians believe that we are capable of showing love precisely because we are made in God's image."

Dr Morgan said that people too "at our best moments realise that to love and to care is to go with the grain of the way the universe is made".