THE Bishop of Kirkstall, in the diocese of Leeds, the Rt Revd Arun Arora, has said that the events of recent weeks have reminded him of what it was like to grow up in the 1970s and ’80s in Britain. That was also a time when flag of St George was used as a symbol of division and intimidation, he said.
“Over the past four weeks alone we have seen and heard of a litany of incidents of violence, abuse and intimidation.”
Bishop Arora, one of the two lead bishops for racial justice (News 21 March), was speaking at a gathering of 150 minority-ethnic Church of England clergy and ordinands in the Central Hall, Westminster, on Wednesday. It is believed to have been the largest C of E gathering of its kind.
The call of the Church in such situations was not to remain silent or neutral, but to “pursue the way of mercy”, he said.
“If the Church of England does not use its voice to stand with those who are being attacked, we are passing by on the other side of the road. If we are silent or timid in our preaching or prayers about not standing up for victims of violence, we are passing by on the other side the road.”
He said that he and some fellow clergy had recently spent time with some of the demonstrators outside Leeds hotels that house asylum-seekers. He had also spent time with counter-protesters, because “our call is to love our enemies . . . to stand alongside those on both sides of the road.”
The Church could help to be a reconciling presence between groups of ordinary people, by meeting those on all sides and hearing their concerns. “Let us meet together. Let us find common ground.”
He called for the Church to embrace “a positive patriotism rooted in gospel values . . . that enables a bold, welcoming, confident English voice which celebrates the love of God for all and his Church, a love which speaks of Jesus Christ and which seeks to serve all throughout this green and pleasant land”.
