The Interfaith Alliance UK is a family of people united in friendship, from diverse progressive and liberal faith communities, working together to promote the love of the One Same God, witnessed in social justice and parity of esteem for all God's children, regardless of race, or gender, or creed, or disability, or orientation, or social or economic status.

THE INTERFAITH ALLIANCE UK SPEAKS OUT ON RECENT VATICAN EVENTS (London, 3 February 2009)

The principles and practise of interfaith and ecumenical dialogue are rooted in the theological, spiritual, and structural renewal called for at the Catholic Church’s 2nd Vatican Council, first announced by Blessed Pope John XXIII, fifty years ago on 25 January 1959. In particular, the documents Unitatis Redintegratio on the restoration of unity amongst Christians, Nostra Aetate on the relation of the Church to non-Christian faiths, promulgated by the Council, and Dignitatis Humanae on religious freedom, were signs of hope and clear evidence of the ongoing development of doctrine within the Catholic Church.

The Trustees of the Interfaith Alliance UK deeply regret any attempts by some members of the Catholic hierarchy to turn back the clock on such inspired theological reform and renewal as an abuse of ecclesial authority. We rejoice that the vast majority of grassroots Catholics, laity, clergy, and theologians, have accepted the comprehensive teachings of the 2nd Vatican Council, not as novelties of a frivolous age, but as entirely consistent with, and rooted in the deepest traditions of that Church.

The authentic reception of such teachings by the body of the Church, the ‘ sensus fidelium ‘, contrasts sharply with the stances seemingly being promoted by certain sections of the Hierarchy, even at the highest levels.

Those fundamentalist groups and individuals, who have placed themselves beyond the structure of the Roman Catholic Church in their rejection of the Council’s insights, must be seen for what they are. They are not simply nostalgic people seeking a return to cherished rituals, but rather they use such forms of worship to undermine any concept of dynamic, doctrinal development within the Church or its Councils, in their own narrow interpretation of ‘ lex orandi, lex credendi ’. This is nowhere more apparent than in the views of the holocaust-denying Bishop Richard Williamson of The Society of St. Pius X. We utterly condemn his remarks and reject others’ prevarications concerning them, whether they belong to the same organisation, or are associated with so-called traditionalist Catholic groups holding strong links with Levebvre-ite movements.

We further deplore the appointment of Gerhard Maria Wagner as Auxiliary Bishop of Linz, Austria, a place referred to by Hitler as his ‘hometown’. Bishop-elect Wagner’s views serve only to promote homophobia and other forms of irrational prejudice. The inability of the Vatican to understand the broader implications of some recent actions and statements cannot be air-brushed away by subsequent, non-specific papal statements purporting to offer criticism of such opinions. We hold in prayer our Catholic sisters and brothers as they attempt in spite of, rather than because of some in their Church’s leadership, to be authentic witnesses of their faith and justice-seeking disciples of the all- merciful, all-compassionate Creator of all humanity.


NOTE: The Interfaith Alliance UK aims to express a progressive voice from people of faith in response to the issues of our time, based upon its Covenant Statement. This may be found on the IAUK website, along with other documents. Its Co-Chairs reflect, Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions.

Further information: Martin Pendergast, Co-Chair - 020 8986 0807

THE INTERFAITH ALLIANCE WELCOMES DR AMINA WADUD (London, 17 October 2008)

SHALOM  -  SALAM  -  NAMASTE  -  PEACE BE WITH YOU

The Interfaith Alliance UK offers its prayerful good wishes and support to The Muslim Education Centre, Oxford, and particularly to Professor Amina Wadud, leading Jummah prayers and conducting the Khutbah on Friday 17 October 2008, in Oxford.

The event empowers UK Muslim women to celebrate gender justice as they reclaim their right to be spiritual equals and leaders. Women will move from the space to which tradition has relegated them, at the back of the mosque and now pray in the front rows.

The courage of Amina Wadud,Visiting Scholar at Starr King School of the Ministry, Berkeley, California is impossible to describe. To stand before God as the spiritual equal to male congregants - praying together, not behind men and not in another room – shows the capacity of women’s leadership. The event will clear the deck of distractions and acknowledge the egalitarianism that permeates Islam.

Every human being, man and woman, Muslim and non-Muslim, has the right to interpret God’s message, because the message is addressed to all of humanity. They must interpret and act accordingly; that is the essence of our humanity.

           
For further information: Tamsila Tauqir  –  07941  659320 - Download the statement here

A STATEMENT BY THE TRUSTEES OF THE INTERFAITH ALLIANCE UK IN RESPONSE TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY'S LECTURE ON CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LAW (London, 13 February 2008)

The Archbishop of Canterbury’s recent lecture, Civil & Religious Law in England: A Religious Perspective, was a legitimate attempt to consider how the legal codes governing the internal structures of various faith communities might engage with civil law and vice versa. As Trustees of the Interfaith Alliance UK, we reject the unfounded interpretations placed upon the Archbishop’s lecture but welcome the ensuing debate, including his further clarifications.

The Interfaith Alliance UK is committed to expressing liberal and progressive views, rooted in the diversity of Abrahamic faith traditions, on a range of contemporary social justice and ethical issues. We regret that the questions raised by Dr. Williams’ Lecture might suggest that those seeking exemptions for faith groups from equality legislation and other Government guidelines have a legitimate basis for their woeful strategies. A false opposition has been stated between the rights of faith communities to order their internal policies and procedures and the promotion of ‘the common good’. The Archbishop’s reflections should not be used to advance a reactionary agenda, seeking ‘opt-outs’ on matters which do not relate to central tenets of Abrahamic faith.

Vital to the well-being of human society is that it should hear and give voice to those who are frequently marginalised in the corridors of both religious and political power, including vulnerable children, oppressed women, and those subject to prejudice on grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity or race. Misogyny and homophobia should no more be institutionalised than should racism. The principles of mercy, compassion and justice are as paramount to secular law as they are to the internal ordering of faith communities, and are not the sole preserve of the religious. Many people of faith see hopeful and joyful signs of the times in political commitment to civil rights which are entirely consistent with the values of our faith traditions, and are often more obvious in secular realities than within faith groups.   

Let the leadership of our faith communities listen first to the voice of the voiceless, both in their midst as well as in wider society, seeking any structural integration of their juridical principles and codes in secular frameworks only where secular law fails in its commitment to the dispossessed.

Rabbi Rebecca Qassim Birk, Revd Richard Kirker, Martin Pendergast, Rabbi Mark Solomon, Tamsila Tauqir (further information: Martin Pendergast - 020 8986 0807 martinjpnternet.com)

INTERFAITH ALLIANCE LAUNCHES THE SCRIPTURAL REASONING SOCIETY (London, 26 March 2007)

The Interfaith Alliance UK is proud to announce the launch today of its flagship project "The Scriptural Reasoning Society" at the British Library.

Scriptural Reasoning is the shared reading by Jews, Christians, Muslims and others of their sacred texts in order to promote understanding and respect for each other's important differences, and to build understanding and civic justice in our shared communal life.

As lead organisation in this project, the Interfaith Alliance is honoured to work in conjunction with Camden Faith Communities Partnership, the British Library, Westminster Abbey, Liberal Judaism, the Liberal Jewish Synagogue and Leo Baeck College, the Ecumenical Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, the Islamic Cultural Centre and London Central Mosque, and individual clergy and academics from the University of Cambridge, London Metropolitan University, Heythrop College, King's College London and elsewhere, in developing this important practice.

Information on the work of the Scriptural Reasoning Society and details of its meetings may be viewed at its website.

http://www.scripturalreasoning.org.uk/

INTERFAITH ALLIANCE CO-CHAIRS PAY TRIBUTE TO SHEIKH DR ZAKI BADAWI (London, 25 January 2006)

The Interfaith Alliance UK offers sincere condolences to the family of Sheikh Zaki Badawi.

Sheikh Zaki Badawi was deeply respected from a broad spectrum of faith communities as a religious leader of wisdom, and for speaking out on controversial issues. He will be fondly remembered for many things, both as a pious person and committed professional with an unusual capacity to hear
the other side. In Britain his great contribution to genuine dialogue with other faiths, striving for structured training for men and women in Islamic sciences at the Muslim College in London, and his willingness to deal with difficult topics within Muslim communities will be an everlasting legacy.

Sheikh Zaki Badawi can be described as someone who listened carefully and acted with cautious quietness, sometimes in a quite subversive way, both within and beyond  Muslim communities. He will be greatly missed not only by family and friends but by his students, both present and past, the wider
Muslim communities and in the ongoing necessary bridge-building of Britain's faith communities.

INTERFAITH ALLIANCE STATEMENT ON THE CHRISTIAN MUSLIM FORUM FOR ENGLAND (London, 22 November 2005)

The Interfaith Alliance has issued its report 'Safeguarding Trust, Building Friendship: A Statement by the Interfaith Alliance UK in Relation to the Christian Muslim Forum for England'...

download here >

INTERFAITH ALLIANCE STATEMENT ON THE RIOTS IN FRANCE (11 November 2005)

The Interfaith Alliance in the United Kingdom is an organisation of diverse faith communities, working together to promote our shared vision of civil society across the European Union, based upon principles of liberty, equality and fraternity between people of different races, faiths, cultures, genders, sexual orientations and social backgrounds.

We stand firmly committed to the principles enshrined in European Union initiatives to eradicate racism and xenophobia within member states, to counter all forms of discrimination, and uphold human rights for all citizens, resident foreign nationals and asylum seekers within the EU.  These initiatives have been ratified by all member states of the European Union, including the United Kingdom and the French Republic.

We therefore express grave concern at the recent civil disturbances in France, and profoundly regret the loss of life and injury caused as a result of these tragic events.  We call upon all the involved communities to put an end to the violence and uphold public order, and at the same time we strongly urge the government and police of the French Republic to exercise the utmost restraint in their actions at this most sensitive time.

As progressive people of faith who look with esteem upon humanist values of democracy, equality and reason which France has given the world, we urge most strongly that the French government addresses with urgency the failings of the state's response over recent years to increasing cultural, racial and religious diversity in French society.  In this respect, we draw particular attention to the imperative to respect and provide space for the religious identity of all the people of France, while at the same time challenging extremism both of religion, and against religion.

We offer our prayers for the people of France in their rich cultural and religious diversity, and aspire to our working together to build a Europe of many colours

INTERFAITH ALLIANCE STATEMENT ON THE LONDON BOMBINGS (London, 7 July 2005)

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

As Muslims, Jews and Christians together in the Interfaith Alliance UK, we wish to express our profound shock and sadness at the tragic events in London today.

United in prayer together, our hearts and minds are with those killed and injured, their families and their friends. We stand in solidarity and applaud the efforts of all those in the emergency services currently working among the victims of these terrorist outrages.

As Muslims and other believers of the Abrahamic family speaking with one voice, we wish to affirm with utmost clarity that such an act of murder targeting the innocent civilian population of London is a work of blasphemy against the One Same God of Muslims, of Christians and Jews.  Those who have wrought this action of absolute evil bring upon themselves the Judgement and the Condemnation of the Almighty, in whom Alone resides all authority and power on heaven and earth.

We hope that the world leaders meeting at the G8 summit will not allow this action by unrepresentative extremists to deflect them from making wise and responsible decisions about the crucial questions of social justice for the poor and the oppressed, acting such as not to allow the seeds of resentment which foment terrorism to grow.