ecumenism and dialogue" "
The heads of the main religions in Great Britain have sent an open letter to British Prime Minister Tony Blair to urge him to act against poverty in the world, in view of the summit of the G8 that the British premier will chair at Gleneagles, in Scotland, from 6 to 8 July. It is indispensable write the religious leaders “to change the structures and practices that produce suffering and privation” in the world. The letter is signed by the archbishop of Canterbury, primate of the Anglican Communion, Rowan Williams, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the Chief Rabbi of Great Britain Jonathan Sachs, the chairman of the Council of mosques and imams Sheikh Zaki Badawi, and the Moderator of the Free Churches David Coffey. This is the first time that the religious leaders have adopted a joint initiative since the outbreak of the war in Iraq which they tried in vain to avert by their letter of March 2003. The religious leaders wish to remind the rich countries of the pledge they signed up at the summit in 2000, namely, that of halving poverty and reducing infant mortality by two thirds by 2015. “We must believe says the letter that these were serious commitments and not just hot air”. All this means a series of specific commitments, including the cancellation of the debt of the poor countries. In this regard, the religious leaders express their satisfaction for the “recent progress” made by the rich countries in this direction. The letter also asks for changes in the “rules that regulate international trade to permit the developing countries to realize their potential to the full”. “For Christians, Jews and Muslims say the religious leaders in their letter to Blair a world that fails to offer a fair measure of justice to all our brothers and sisters whoever and wherever they are, is a world that has failed God’s plan for humanity”.
