Interfaith Dialogue Debate

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Lord Bishop of Newcastle

Main Page: Lord Bishop of Newcastle (Bishops - Bishops)

Interfaith Dialogue

Lord Bishop of Newcastle Excerpts
Wednesday 17th July 2019

(4 years, 9 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Bishop of Newcastle Portrait The Lord Bishop of Newcastle
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My Lords, in April my colleague the most reverend Primate the Archbishop of Canterbury and His Holiness Pope Francis together hosted a spiritual retreat at the Vatican for civil and religious leaders of war-torn South Sudan. This was a clear demonstration of the kind of ecumenical joint initiative between religious leaders that can promote reflection and reconciliation in troubled parts of the world. Does the Minister agree that such initiatives benefit all communities, not only those of faith, and that the global Anglican Communion would be a valuable partner in any scheme such as that proposed by the noble Lord, Lord Lea?

Baroness Goldie Portrait Baroness Goldie
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I thank the right reverend Prelate and pay tribute to the work to which she referred. It is to be commended and is an interesting example of what can be done with both determination and imagination. She is correct that such initiatives can produce broader benefits beyond the immediate arenas of the parties involved.