THE ARCHBISHOP of Birmingham, Bernard Longley, has defended the Islamic community and called for sympathy over the pressures it faces following reports of Islamist infiltration in schools, writes James Macintyre.
Speaking during a Walk of Witness in the city with the Anglican Bishop of Birmingham, David Urquhart, Archbishop Longley said: “It is my privilege to meet regularly with many of the leaders from the other faith communities … and I know that they are deeply respectful of our Christian faith and religious festivals. In turn, we should be mindful of some of the pressures and difficulties that face these communities from time to time.”
At the annual Easter Monday Men’s Mass, the Archbishop said: “Some of us may well have neighbours or work colleagues who are Muslims and wherever possible we should let our contacts with them be enriched.”
He also recalled the times when Catholics were viewed with “misunderstanding and suspicion” and that the Church’s disadvantaged place in society was still a living memory.
The message of reconciliation came after reports that Muslim fundamentalists are attempting to “take over” the “ethos” of schools in the city.
Khalid Mahmood, the Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, confirmed this week that a “small group of individuals” was trying to change the ethos of schools.
Meanwhile Jack Straw, the former Home Secretary and outgoing Labour MP for Blackburn, voiced concern over the impact of increasing numbers of schools being comprised mainly of Muslim pupils. He added: “We have to accept, and the schools with a majority of Muslim parents have to accept … that we also live within the United Kingdom. Alongside values which are religiously based, there has to be an understanding that this is the UK and there is a set of values – some of which I would say are Christian-based – which permeate our sense of citizenship.”
Earlier this month, it emerged that a Catholic primary school in Blackburn, Sacred Heart, which has 95-98 per cent Muslim pupils, is to convert to a Church of England academy.
A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Birmingham said: “Our Catholic schools welcome students who belong to other Christian Communions, other faiths and people without religious affiliation. There is no evidence of any fundamentalist influence in any of our schools.”
Loading ...
