Media and Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)
Media and Communications Office
HG Bishop Angaelos delivers address during
historic Foreign Commonwealth Office conference highlighting importance of Freedom
of Religion or Belief
25 October 2016
The Foreign Commonwealth
Office (FCO) hosted a ground-breaking 2-day summit 19-20 October which brought
together more than 50 expert speakers, including His Grace Bishop Angaelos, and
over 170 participants from 38 countries, to explore how the promotion of Freedom
of Religion or Belief (FoRB) can help prevent violent extremism.
In
the opening address during the conference, FCO Minister for Human Rights, The
Rt Hon. the Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE, said:
“Freedom
of Religion or Belief is fundamental to a successful society. It builds
resilience against the prejudice, discrimination and persecution that not only
prevents a society from achieving its full economic potential but also leaves
it vulnerable to extremism.
That is why it is so important that we work together now to put freedom of religion or belief at the heart of our effort to prevent violent extremism.”
That is why it is so important that we work together now to put freedom of religion or belief at the heart of our effort to prevent violent extremism.”
In
his address, His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox
Church in the United Kingdom, said:
“It is time for us to rethink the dynamic and the way
in which we communicate because the world is no longer a place in which
politicians, religious leaders, civil society, and NGOs should function
separately. Nor is it a place that can allow for any nationalist agenda to override
the human right. We all need to work in collaboration to present a nuanced
understanding of who we are as today’s international community.”
Highlighting the importance of
respecting people of all faiths and none, Bishop Angaelos continued:
“We cannot speak of regions as being religious. A
religion is something that we live by and does not define geographic borders. We
must also push beyond the understanding of tolerance, because as a Christian, I
cannot accept ‘tolerance’ as my benchmark; the Scriptures actually call us to
love, respect, honour, and forgive indiscriminately. As religious leaders we
need to support one another in advocating for people of faith and, indeed, of
no faith.”
Following the FCO conference,
over 100 participants joined the Coptic community at the annual Nayrouz service
in St Margaret’s, Westminster Abbey on 20 October 2016. FoRB was highlighted
during the sermon by Bishop Angaelos and messages received from His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister Theresa May, and the Most Rev. and the Rt Hon. the Archbishop
of Canterbury. Issues of FoRB were also raised in addresses delivered by HE Ambassador David Saperstein, USA Ambassador-at-Large for International
Religious Freedom, The Lord Alton
of Liverpool, HE Ambassador Nasser Kamel, Ambassador of the Arab Republic
of Egypt to the United Kingdom, and The Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, Parliamentary Under
Secretary of State for Wales and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for
Communities. [Read
full report containing quotes and photographs HERE].
In 2015 Bishop Angaelos was
conferred the honour of Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British
Empire for ‘Services to International Religious Freedom’ by Her Majesty The
Queen.
*Ends*
