Tag: persecuted Christians

Bishop of Worcester urges Government to work closely with leaders of persecuted Christian communities in Middle East

On 14th June 2016 Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty’s Government “what assessment they have made of reports of the public burning to death, in Mosul, by ISIS, of 19 women from Iraqi religious minorities.” The Bishop of Worcester, Rt Revd John Inge, asked a follow up question:

worcesterThe Lord Bishop of Worcester: My Lords, at the wonderful parliamentary prayer breakfast in Westminster Hall that I attended this morning along with 750 others, including 150 parliamentarians, many of them from this House, we were addressed by Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK. He spoke movingly of the plight of Christians in the Middle East. While I acknowledge that the vast majority of those killed by ISIS are Muslims, will the Minister assure the House that the Government will work ever more closely with the leaders of the appallingly persecuted Christian community in the Middle East, such as Bishop Angaelos, and other religious leaders there in order to learn their perspective on what is happening? Continue reading “Bishop of Worcester urges Government to work closely with leaders of persecuted Christian communities in Middle East”

Church Commissioner questions: same sex marriage, Near Neighbours, Iraq, apprenticeships, ethical investment

On 5th May 2016 MPs asked questions in the House of Commons to Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, on behalf of the Church Commissioners. Questions were asked on same sex marriage, Near Neighbours, Iraq, apprenticeships and ethical investment:
Spelman CCQs June 2015 4 Continue reading “Church Commissioner questions: same sex marriage, Near Neighbours, Iraq, apprenticeships, ethical investment”

Bishop of Coventry asks Govt about religious freedom, reconciliation and reconstruction in Iraq

13.10 Bishop of CoventryOn 5th April 2016 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received written answers to three questions on religious freedom, and post-conflict reconciliation and reconstruction in Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the extent of freedom of religion or belief in Iraq and in Iraqi Kurdistan. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks Govt about religious freedom, reconciliation and reconstruction in Iraq”

Immigration Bill: Bishop of Chelmsford supports amendment on asylum for victims of genocide

On 21st March the House of Lords considered the Government’s Immigration Bill at Report Stage. Lord Alton tabled an amendment seeking to secure automatic asylum rights for members of groups subject to genocide and which gave power to the UK Supreme Court to determine whether a genocide had occured. The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, spoke in support of the amendment, and Lord Keen of Elie responded on behalf of the Government. In a subsequent vote the amendment was not passed, by 111 votes to 148. .

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Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Chelmsford supports amendment on asylum for victims of genocide”

Bishop of Durham highlights the peacemaking role of the Church in Sudan

14.06.10 Bishop of Durham 5On 29th February 2016, Baroness Cox asked the government “what assessment they have made of continuing military offensives against civilians in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan by the Government of Sudan.” The Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler, asked a supplementary question. Continue reading “Bishop of Durham highlights the peacemaking role of the Church in Sudan”

Archbishop of Canterbury on freedom of religion and belief

“Where a state claims the ultimate right to oppress religious freedom, it stops the last and the strongest barrier against tyranny.” – Archbishop of Canterbury, 16/7/15

On 16th July 2015 the House of Lords debated a motion by Lord Alton of Liverpool, “that this House takes note of worldwide violations of Article 18 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the case for greater priority to be given by the United Kingdom and the international community to upholding freedom of religion and belief.” The Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby, spoke in the debate. A video of his speech can also be viewed here.

ABC Lords 160715 bThe Archbishop of Canterbury: My Lords, I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak in the debate and I thank the noble Lord, Lord Alton, for securing it and for all the work he has undertaken in this area over many years. I associate myself very closely with what he said in his very eloquent opening speech and also with the speeches of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Mackay, and the noble Lord, Lord McFall. I also pay tribute to the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Leicester. He will be much missed by this House and I will miss him enormously for the wise advice he has given me on numerous occasions.

We have already heard many examples of the horrific situations around the world where people are persecuted for their religion or for their absence of religion. I witnessed such persecution in its rawest form many times during my visits in 2013 and 2014 to the 37 other provinces of the Anglican communion. Almost half of these provinces are living under persecution; they fear for their lives every day.

Continue reading “Archbishop of Canterbury on freedom of religion and belief”

Church Commissioners’ Questions: church buildings, Christians in Iran, clergy wellbeing, General Synod diversity

On 18th June 2015 the Rt. Hon Caroline Spelman MP answered questions from MPs as Second Church Estates Commissioner. Mrs Spelman, who was answering questions for the first time since taking on the role, was asked  about improving the sustainability of church buildings, Christians in Iran, the wellbeing of clergy and the diversity of the General Synod of the Church of England. Mrs Spelman also paid tribute to the former Second Church Estates Commissioner the Rt. Hon Sir Tony Baldry and expressed sympathy for the Methodist Church in South Carolina following the recent tragic shootings.

The full text is available below and a video link is also available, hereSpelman CCQs June 2015 4

Continue reading “Church Commissioners’ Questions: church buildings, Christians in Iran, clergy wellbeing, General Synod diversity”

Bishop of Coventry speaks on religious freedom and conflict resolution during Queen’s Speech debate

On Thursday 28th May during the debate on the Queen’s Speech, the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Rev Christopher Cocksworth, spoke about our moral debt to other nations, conflict resolution and freedom of religion and belief worldwide. The text of his speech is below and can also be watched online here.

Bp Coventry May 2015The Lord Bishop of Coventry: My Lords, indebtedness is debilitating, and living beyond our means is irresponsible. We know that our Government have committed themselves afresh to a long-term strategic economic plan to deal with that on a financial level, but another sort of indebtedness is liberating and is fundamental to our proceedings today. It is a recognition of our moral debt to others and the fulfilment of our responsibilities to serve the common good, not only of our one nation but of the one world. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry speaks on religious freedom and conflict resolution during Queen’s Speech debate”

Bishop of Winchester asks Government about support for religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria

On 19th March 2015  Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty’s Government “what is the strategy of the United States-led coalition for clearing the Daesh out of the territories which they currently occupy in Syria and Iraq.” The Bishop of Winchester, Rt Rev Tim Dakin, asked a supplementary quesion:

Bishop of WinchesterThe Lord Bishop of Winchester: My Lords, even if the current operations to clear Daesh prove successful, the ancient religious and ethnic minority communities in Iraq have an uncertain future. Does the Minister agree with the statement recently submitted by the Holy See to the United Nations Human Rights Council? It said that a future without these communities in Iraq and the Middle East risks,

“new forms of violence, exclusion, and the absence of peace and development”.

Therefore, what steps are being taken to secure the future of those communities, and in particular, their human right to religious freedom? Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester asks Government about support for religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria”

Questions to the Church Commissioners on the Archbishop of York’s Book ‘On Rock Or Sand’, Medical Ethics, the Anglican Communion, Financial Eduation, Women Bishops and Bats

Church Commissioners

In Church Commissioners Question TIme on Thursday 29th January 2015, the Rt Hon. Sir Tony Baldry MP answered questions on the Archbishop of York’s Book ‘On Rock Or Sand’, Medical Ethics of Mitochondrial Transfer, the Anglican Communion, Financial Education, Women Bishops and Bats in Churches

Continue reading “Questions to the Church Commissioners on the Archbishop of York’s Book ‘On Rock Or Sand’, Medical Ethics, the Anglican Communion, Financial Eduation, Women Bishops and Bats”