Cardinal Vincent Nichols said that some of the challenges society is facing can be better met if there is a broadening of a constructive dialogue between secular authorities and communities of faith.
He referred to Pope Benedict’s speech to political leaders at Westminster Hall in 2010, when he stated that “religion is not a problem for legislators to solve, but a vital contributor to national conversation”.
Nichols was speaking at a symposium marking the martyrdom of St Thomas Becket in 1170. “The example of St Thomas stands as a reminder that the point may come when there is no longer any space left for religious freedom, such a basic human right, which permits the holding and expressing of religious belief in word and action in the public forum,” the cardinal added.
Archbishop hopes for a united Ireland
In an interview with the Irish Independent, Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, the Primate of All Ireland, said: “I do believe that Ireland should be one” and that he “would like to continue to work for that by peaceful means and persuasion”.
Martin emphasised that he could never justify violence for the sake of Irish nationalism. Moreover, he acknowledged that there are still “people who want to drag us back, who feel you can still bomb people into a united Ireland”. He said he would always fight that tendency.
Plea for Kenya not to plunge into violence
In a joint statement, Catholic, Muslim, Protestant and Hindu leaders in Kenya said the extreme polarisation of national political life ahead of the 2017 general elections, requires “an urgent political solution to avert an imminent crisis that could complicate next year’s election and plunge the country into election violence”.
Political polarisation is “a threat to national peace, cohesion, and unity,” the nation’s religious leaders warned in the statement. They referred to heated disputes about an election commission, which have prompted demonstrations that have sometimes turned violent.
“Kenyans will hold them accountable should the country slide back to anarchy,” they said.
On being a servant
During a recent ordination of deacons, Pope Francis said: “If evangelising is the mission entrusted at baptism to each Christian, serving is the way that mission is carried out. It is the only way to be a disciple of Jesus.
“A servant daily learns detachment from doing everything his own way and living his life as he would. Each morning he trains himself to be generous with his life and to realise that the rest of the day will not be his own, but given over to others.
“One who serves cannot hoard his free time; he has to give up the idea of being the master of his day. He knows that his time is not his own, but a gift from God which is then offered back to him. Only in this way will it bear fruit.”
US President defends religious freedom
In a recent address in Hanoi, Vietnam, US President Barack Obama said: “The United States does not seek to impose our form of government on Vietnam. The rights I speak of I believe are not American values; I think they’re universal values written into the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“When there is freedom of religion, it not only allows people to fully express the love and compassion that are at the heart of all great religions, but it allows faith groups to serve their communities through schools and hospitals, and care for the poor and the vulnerable.”
Compiled by Fr Joe Borg