Invite to landmark religious freedom conference
Norfolk Christians are invited to attend a hybrid landmark conference, in London and online, addressing increasing challenges to religious freedom around the world.
A panel discussion “Dare to Believe – Is Religious Freedom under growing threat around the world”, a hybrid event, is taking place at 3pm on Sunday April 19 at Farm Street Catholic Church, W1K 3AH.
Baroness Patricia Scotland, former Secretary-General to the Commonwealth of Nations, will give a keynote address. Another keynote speaker at the event, organised by Farm Street Church in conjunction with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), is Professor Brian Grim, founding president of the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation and a globally recognised expert on religious freedom.
People of different faith backgrounds – including those almost killed for their beliefs – will provide testimonies of persecution.
An address will also be given by Bishop Philip Mounstephen of Winchester, who produced the ground-breaking Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review for the UK Foreign Secretary of Foreign and Commonwealth Office Support for Persecuted Christians.
The event follows the launch of ACN’s global campaign calling for the full enforcement of the principles of religious freedom set out in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – “everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion”.
Event chair Father Dominic Robinson, Farm Street parish priest, and ACN (UK) National Ecclesiastical Assistant, said: “Freedom to express religious belief is one of the basic human rights which is under daily attack in so many parts of the world. As a nation whose values of tolerance and mutual respect are enshrined in our laws, we can easily forget how people of faith are treated elsewhere.
“This is why this campaign to promote and protect Article 18 of the Universal Declaration is so vital to international peace and harmony and why educating ourselves in the issues surrounding this are so important. It is hoped that this event will help to serve this dire need.”
Aloma Do Rozario, Community Outreach Manager Southeast, encouraged Norfolk Christians to get involved: "The conference will be livestreamed, so people in Norfolk who are interested will still be able to follow the event online," she said.
For a live stream of the event visit: Livestream — Farm Street Church
Click here for more information and how to attend in person.
Pictured above is Baroness Patricia Scotland, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, with Father Dominic Robinson, Farm Street Church parish priest (Image © ACN)