(ACNS) The Archbishop of Canterbury will today (Thursday 24th July) lay down a challenge to world leaders on behalf of the worldwide Anglican Communion and other faith groups: you must keep your promises on aid and development as failure to do so will lead to further starvation, disease and death in the world’s poorest countries.
Dr Rowan Williams will be joined in his plea to governments across the world by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who will also address the audience of 650 Anglican bishops, their spouses, and representatives from other faith groups and Churches. The rally, set in the courtyard of Lambeth Palace, follows a walk of witness through central London, where up to 1,500 faith leaders, diplomats, parliamentarians and NGO heads will take to the streets to highlight the urgent need for more action on tackling poverty through sustainable solutions.
In the Archbishop’s letter ”“ which is the event’s manifesto ”“ he will outline how this generation has a genuine opportunity to eradicate extreme poverty. The document stresses, however, that most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agreed by global leaders in 2000 to halve poverty by 2015 will not, as things stand, be fulfilled by this deadline ”“ and in fact, risk never being achieved at all.
The letter will be handed to the Prime Minister during the rally by Dr Williams, flanked by Christian and other faith leaders including Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster; Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi; Sir Iqbal Sacranie OBE; Dr Indarjit Singh OBE; and other senior representatives of Muslim and Sikh organisations.
I heard the Most Rev. Dr. Daniel Deng Bul speak on the BBC today. He was present at the “walk” and was in favor of its goals. I hope this is reported by other media so that it can be seen that not all “conservatives” are against the MDGs.
Religious conservatives (as opposed to economic conservatives) are not per se opposed to the MDGs. What we’re opposed to is substituting them for the Risen Lord.
Eugene,
I would note that Henry Scriven (Assistant Bishop of Pittsburgh) sits not only on the board of Anglicans for Life but also that of Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation (where he says it can be “interesting” interacting with Bishops Andrus and Curry).
[url=http://catholicandreformed.blogspot.com]Catholic and Reformed[/url]
[blockquote]We call on leaders to meet their targets for spending on development and implementation of national action plans. [/blockquote]
They are going to “walk” to demand that governments act, but the walkers can’t act? The is a kind of chutzpah here t hat is hard to characterize because it is so extreme. You pious frauds!
Larry