51茶馆

Speaking to a large audience at the annual meeting of the , the Communities Minister told delegates that inter faith activity and faith groups were inspiring people to contribute to public service and providing support to those in need.

Mr Stunell, said:

鈥淔aith communities make a vital contribution to national life, guiding the moral outlook of many, inspiring great numbers of people to public service, providing succour to those in need. They are helping to bind together local communities and improve relations at a time when the siren call of extremism has never been louder.

鈥淚nter faith activity is more important than ever in our work towards the Big Society, so I want to push for more inter faith dialogue and action rather than individual faith groups delivering social projects.鈥�

For the greater good

He added:

鈥淧eople of faith are at the heart of civic society in local communities, and have been for decades.

鈥淥f course there are many different approaches, but there is a shared goal: building understanding between people from different backgrounds聽- not just sitting round tables but working together for the common good and tackling shared problems聽- be it picking up litter or challenging the far right.

鈥淚t is not about compromising our individual beliefs聽- indeed we often come to understand and appreciate our own faith more when we are called upon to explain it to one another. But it is about respect for the other, the recognition of shared values and shared needs, and the will to action.

鈥淚nterfaith groups are part of what we want to see: people reaching out to each other across boundaries of religion to make life better for all.鈥�