Press Releases27 May 14

Response from Archbishop Jackson, Convenor of Inter–Faith Working Group, on recent comments in NI media on Islam

The following comment from Archbishop Michael Jackson, Convenor of the Church of Ireland’s Inter–Faith Working Group, was made last week (Belfast Newsletter, 23 May) in response to the recent focus on Islam reported in the Northern Irish media:

‘The Church of Ireland as a synodical Church seeks to ensure understanding and respect through dialogue and engagement with those of other Christian traditions and other world faiths. At the heart of this is a concern that individuals and communities should flourish. We reject wholeheartedly exploitation and intimidation of people of faith across the world.

‘At the same time we respect the intention of people of faith to contribute to the good of society as a general principle. We also realise that attentive listening to the faith and culture of people who are different from ourselves as Christians is essential for mature citizenship in the world in which we live.’