The Faith in Politics internship scheme and the Faith in Politics Network sit within the Department of Social Justice of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. The Chair of the Department is Bishop Richard Moth, with whom interns have contact during the year. The lead bishop for the Faith in Politics internship scheme is Bishop John Arnold. Molly and Marie are the co-ordinators for the scheme, and work closely with Greg, the Executive Director of the Bishops’ Conference.

Bishop John Arnold

Bishop John Arnold is the Bishop of Salford Diocese and the lead bishop for the Faith in Politics internship scheme. Bishop John is also a member of the Bishops’ Conference Department for International Affairs; Chair of CAFOD’s Board of Trustees and a Trustee of Caritas Social Action Network.

Greg Pope

Greg has worked for the Church in several roles since stepping down as an MP in 2010. He is currently Executive Director of the Bishops’ Conference and Secretary of the Department for Social Justice. He is a politics graduate who once walked from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea in Central America (the narrow bit). Occasionally mentions that he is from Lancashire.

Molly Conrad

After taking part in the ‘Faith in Politics’ scheme as an intern herself, Molly began working as a Public Affairs Officer for the Catholic Education Service, an agency for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. In January 2021 she became the Partnerships & Public Affairs Officer for the Bishops’ Conference which includes co-ordinating the Faith in Politics internship scheme. Molly holds an undergraduate degree in Theology from the University of Exeter and is particularly interested in areas such as gender, disability and spirituality. Outside of work you will find her cooking and baking, walking in the countryside, and enjoying the musicals and plays that London has to offer.

Marie Southall

Marie has been the Director of Partnerships & Public Affairs for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales since January 2021. Before that, she managed the Catholic Education Service public affairs team. After completing her Masters degree in Geography, Marie became a Faith in Politics intern herself in the scheme’s seventh year. She was the first ever CAFOD intern. Hiking up mountains, travelling the world with family and keeping busy with house renovations are just some of the things she enjoys outside of work.

I am grateful to everyone who makes this year possible:
the Members of Parliament and organisations with whom
our interns are placed, the team of Jesuit spiritual directors,
the donors who so generously support our young people,
and the interns and alumni who show such deep commitment
to the scheme and to living out their faith in a committed way.

Bishop John Arnold
Bishop of Salford Diocese