OXFORD, England -- Europe's Catholic bishops urged their citizens to "wake up" and find new hope by rediscovering the continent's Christian roots.

To much of the world, Britain’s clumsy exit from the European Union, slated to begin March 29, is somewhat of a joke. But to the people of a divided Ireland, particularly Catholics and Protestants in the North, it’s a threat to peace.

MANCHESTER, England – The bishops of England and Wales have put the post-Brexit future of the United Kingdom at the top of a list of priority issues for Catholic voters to consider before the June 8 general election.

VATICAN CITY – Although new technologies can promote employment and new opportunities in an ailing economy, if used improperly, they can also lead to tragedy and affect the course of history, the Vatican official said.

MANCHESTER, England – The European Union must be more democratic and less centralist if it is to avoid other disgruntled member states following the U.K. out of the bloc, Catholic justice and peace groups said.

LONDON – An English cardinal said he was delighted by the appointment of Theresa May as Britain's new prime minister because of the commitment she has shown in the fight against human trafficking.

British bishops were quick to condemn a surge in racist and xenophobic incidents that followed the divisive vote that saw Great Britain bid adieu to the European Union. In the aftermath of the Brexit referendum, police reported a 57-per-cent spike in verbal and physical assaults on visible minorities, immigrants and even on some long-time residents born abroad.

MANCHESTER, England – Catholic bishops condemned a sharp rise in xenophobic and racist attacks following Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

OXFORD, England – European Catholic leaders are concerned that the decision by United Kingdom voters to leave the European Union will threaten unity across the continent, but also cautioned the EU bloc to rethink its values and priorities.

Britain’s vote to leave the European Union — sending economic shockwaves across the globe, driving out the prime minister and crashing the British pound — has faith leaders facing a new challenge: How to reconcile this act of national door-slamming on the EU with a religious message of welcoming the stranger and resolving conflicts through dialogue.

CAMBRIDGE, England – For the last month, fliers about the United Kingdom’s referendum on the European Union have come through my door with statements like: “The EU costs us at least £350 million a week. That’s enough to build a new NHS hospital every week.” Not one of them has mentioned religion.

MANCHESTER, England – European funding for Catholic aid agencies based in the U.K. could be withdrawn if the British people vote to leave the EU in late June, said an English bishop.