Faith and Culture in modern Europe

London, 31 May/GNN/ -- FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE News Release issued by The Government News Network on 31 May 2008 On Monday 2 June Jim Murphy MP, Minister for Europe, will host a seminar on

Jim Murphy said:

"Faith has shaped Europe's history and I believe that today faith can and
should positively influence our continent and the wider world in a variety
of ways. Faith has a power to persuade which can and should be harnessed in
support of action against poverty and in favour of responsible environmental
stewardship. I believe it is wrong to say that secular society and faith
communities cannot co-exist and I am opposed to the ghettoisation of religious
belief. Europe should be both a secular space in which communities of faith
can grow and to which they can contribute - and a model power promoting
global responsibility in line with the highest ideals, including those
inspired by faith. I'm looking forward to hearing the views of faith groups,
of academics and of the public in the UK and around Europe."

Source: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

2008-05-31 05:31:57 0374108 PRNEWSWIRE