Birmingham sits at the heart of England. It was the home of Cardinal Newman for many years. And it is also the home of many different faith communities, one of Britain’s most racially and religiously diverse cities.
Inter-religious dialogue is therefore a crucial aspect of Birmingham’s civic, social, cultural and political existence. One of the most successful inter-religious initiatives of recent years is the Birmingham Faith Leaders Group, whose Co-Presidents include the Most Reverend Bernard Longley, Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, the Right Reverend David Urquhart, Anglican Bishop of Birmingham, and Major Samuel Edgar, Divisional Commander of the Salvation Army in the West Midlands.
The close relationship between faith leaders was symbolised at a ceremony on Sunday 22 April in Birmingham when Sikh community leader Bhai Sahib Bhai Dr Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia was invested by Archbishop Longley as a Knight of St Gregory, one of the highest Papal awards. Archbishop Longley commented that he believed it was the first time that a Papal Honour had been bestowed in such a way on a spiritual leader from within the Sikh community, and spoke of “the Holy Father’s recognition of Bhai Sahib Bhai’s deeply held desire for fruitful and lasting relations between Sikhs and Catholics and opportunities to witness together”.
There are some, of different faiths, who fret about the value of inter-religious dialogue. They fear that the special identities of individual religions may be lost in a syncretic mush, and that concrete achievements are outweighed by a drive to the lowest common denominator. The Pope does not agree, as his words and actions at last year’s World Day of Prayer at Assisi demonstrated. Birmingham Faith Leaders Group also gives the lie to such concerns, as does the photograph that accompanies this blog. Faith communities are the bedrock of society. Successful and close relationships between them are something to cheer from the rooftops.