Tag: foreign affairs

Bishop of Salisbury welcomes Government backing for UN LGBT advocate

Bp Salisbury 2On 8th November 2016, Baroness Goldie repeated in the Lords a statement made in the Commons by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office supporting the role of the UN’s independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, welcomed the statement.

The Lord Bishop of Salisbury My Lords, I very much welcome the strength of the Statement. The rights of LGBTI people is often a very hot and contested matter, particularly on grounds of faith. It is significant therefore that the most reverend Primate the Archbishop of Canterbury and most other primates in the Anglican communion have committed to the decriminalisation of homosexuality and to the support of the rights of all God’s children. I wonder whether the Minister would see faith as a resource that might be useful in addressing some of the issues raised on this matter. Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury welcomes Government backing for UN LGBT advocate”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about case of Asia Bibi

St Albans 2On 20th October 2016 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question of Government about the case of Asia Bibi in Pakistan.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan about the imminent appeal hearing for Asia Bibi at the Pakistani Supreme Court on the charge of blasphemy. [HL2175] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about case of Asia Bibi”

Bishop of Leeds speaks about the importance of peace and stability after the EU Referendum

Leeds160620On 18th October 2016, Lord Collins of Highbury asked the government what assessment they have made of the potential effect on peace and stability in Europe and around the world of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. The Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, spoke in the debate about the importance of continued interdependence for peace and stability.

The Lord Bishop of Leeds My Lords, recognising that this debate and that to come on Thursday belong together, although I cannot be here on Thursday, I offer this statement by the German theologian Jürgen Moltmann in a book that I finished reading on the train today:

“A free society is not an accumulation of independent individuals; it is a community of persons in solidarity”.

I quote this because the same might equally be applied to nations. It bears repetition that the language and discourse of the referendum—shamelessly, in my view, fuelled by misrepresentations and misleading promises, now apparently acceptable in a so-called “post-factual” world—paid little or no attention to the needs or securities of our international neighbours. They focused purely on the national interests of Britain, as if we can live in isolation or that we can be secure without ensuring the security of our neighbours. I invoke the poet John Donne: in a globalised world, Britain cannot simply see itself as an island. Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds speaks about the importance of peace and stability after the EU Referendum”

Bishop of Norwich asks Government about Christian refugees from Syria

norwich121016bOn the 13th October 2016 Baroness Cox asked the Government “what is their assessment of recent developments in Syria”. The Bishop of Norwich asked a follow up question.

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, the Minister will be aware that just 1.5% of those admitted so far under the Government’s Syrian refugee resettlement scheme from refugee camps are Christians, despite Christians making up 10% of the Syrian population, largely because Christians find the refugee camps themselves far from safe for them. What will the Government do to prevent their own scheme unfairly discriminating against one of Syria’s most persecuted and desperate and fastest-disappearing minorities? Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks Government about Christian refugees from Syria”

Caroline Spelman raises plight of Christian refugees and religious minorities in Syrian

Caroline SpelmanOn 11th October MPs debated a motion from Andrew Mitchell MP (Sutton Coldfield, Con), “That this House has considered the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Aleppo and more widely across Syria.” The Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, made a short intervention in the debate during the speech of Patrick Grady MP, to draw attention to the plight of Christians and religious minorities.

Dame Caroline Spelman (Meriden, Con): While the UK Government are right to focus their efforts on providing aid in the region, the refugees we have agreed to take, particularly under the community sponsorship scheme, include only 2% of Christian refugees from Syria, despite the fact that religious minorities constitute up to 12% of the Syrian population. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that we need to make more effort to reach out to frightened religious minorities in Syria? Continue reading “Caroline Spelman raises plight of Christian refugees and religious minorities in Syrian”

Bishop of Durham asks Government about aid to Burundi and Rwanda

Bp Durham June 2015 bOn 10th October 2016 the Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, received written answers to four questions on aid to Rwanda and Burundi:

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contingency plans are in place to provide humanitarian aid in the event of a poor harvest in Burundi. [HL1693] Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks Government about aid to Burundi and Rwanda”

Bishop of Durham asks about inequality in Rwanda

Bp Durham June 2015 bOn 16th September 2016 the Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, received a written answer to a question on aid to tackle inequality in Rwanda:
The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they are providing to the government of Rwanda to tackle levels of inequality there.

Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks about inequality in Rwanda”

Bishop of Durham asks about humanitarian aid to Burundi

Bp Durham June 2015 bOn 16th September 2016 the Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, received a written answer to a question on aid to Burundi:
 The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contingency plans are in place to provide humanitarian aid in the event of a poor harvest in Burundi. Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks about humanitarian aid to Burundi”

Bishop of Coventry asks Government about death penalty and religious freedom in Saudi Arabia

Bp Coventry May 2015On 29th July and 2nd August 2016 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received written answers to questions of Government on capital punishment and religious freedom in Saudi Arabia:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Saudi Arabia about the use of the death penalty against
minors. [HL1354]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made this year to the government of Saudi Arabia regarding the use of beheading and crucifixion as criminal punishments. [HL1355]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the decision by the Specialised Criminal Court in Saudi Arabia to sentence Ali Mohammed Baqir Al-Nimr, Abdullah Al-Zaher and Dawood Al-Marhoon to death by crucifixion for seeking democratic reforms in that country. [HL1357] Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks Government about death penalty and religious freedom in Saudi Arabia”

Bishop of Coventry asks Government about violence against Hindus in Pakistan

Bp Coventry May 2015On 29th July 2016 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received a written answer to a questions on violence against Hindus in Pakistan:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the current level of violence against Hindus in Pakistan.

Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks Government about violence against Hindus in Pakistan”