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CTAL & LCS
c/o Church House
The Old Palace
LINCOLN
LN2 1PU
Tel: 01522 504070
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Press
Statement
23
April 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
This Statement is issued
on behalf of the Presidents of Churches Together in All Lincolnshire
We represent approximately 50,000 Christians in Lincolnshire, North
Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire who belong to Church congregations and
fellowships. The following statement has also been endorsed by leaders of the
Jewish and Muslim communities in Lincoln.
Our care is not only for our members, but also for the communities in
which we and they live, work and worship. We are charged with pursuing the
common good of all people, but especially those who are in particular need and
who find themselves marginalised and disadvantaged in our society. We cannot
stand by when groups and individuals are maligned, misrepresented and singled
out for verbal or even physical abuse.
In a democracy it is even more alarming when prejudices founded upon
country of origin, race or religion become part of a political platform, and are
offered to the electorate for endorsement.
So we wish to express in the strongest terms our distaste for any political
platform which has the effect of destabilising communities through the use of
misinformation, scare stories and inflammatory rhetoric and which should be
resisted and not rewarded, be it via the ballot box, silent assent or public
endorsement. The presence in our communities of Migrant Workers in significant
number undoubtedly raises issues which have to be addressed. However, these
issues must be addressed in an informed and balanced way according to the
highest standards of civilised society and mutual respect. There is now
sufficient evidence to confirm that Migrant Workers are vital to the economic
well-being of our region, and they can also greatly enrich the cultural life of
our communities if encouraged to do so.
Meanwhile, the extent to which such platforms attract popular support
must be a warning to all people of good will that standards of decency and
fair-dealing in our society require to be actively promoted, and may not ever be
taken for granted.
Signed:
The Revd Dr David Perry, Chairman of Lincoln & Grimsby Methodist District
The Rt Revd Dr John Saxbee, Bishop of Lincoln
The Revd Terry Oakley, Moderator of East Midlands Synod of the United
Reformed Church
Major Jonathan Roberts, Divisional Commander, East Midlands Division of
the Salvation Army
The Rt Revd Malcolm McMahon, Roman Catholic Bishop of Nottingham
The Revd Steve Mantle, Regional Minister, East Midlands Baptist
Association
Dr Peter Atkins, Ground Level Network of Independent Churches
For the Presidents, Churches Together in All Lincolnshire
ENDS
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