Bishop responds to Muslim 'no-go areas' backlash
The Bishop of Rochester regrets offence to Muslims but warns that "mere tolerance" is not enough to overcome "separation" in multi-faith communities.
by Maria Mackay
Posted: Wednesday, January 9, 2008, 12:47 (GMT)
"It is not fear that there is going to be retaliation but it is a fear that you get it badly wrong and cause hurt to others of integrity of other faith you did not intend," he told The Daily Telegraph newspaper.
"When you engage in proclaiming the Christian faith in an area dominated by another religion, I and others tread very carefully so that the message is heard and not seen as some sort of oppression."
He added that Christians living in towns with a large Muslim population, such as Blackburn and Burnley, could "sometimes feel as though they are strangers".
The Bishop of Rochester attempted to clarify some of his comments in a statement in which he said that the main thrust of his article was "to note that successive governments have failed to foster an integrating vision for Britain based on its Christian foundations".
"Such 'separation' will end only when the hosts can offer proper hospitality, not mere tolerance, and other communities can respond with openness and respect for the well-springs of British values," said Bishop Nazir-Ali.
Some Muslims are now calling for the Bishop of Rochester to resign. Mohammed Shafiq, from the Ramadhan Foundation, was quoted by the Daily Telegraph as saying that the Bishop was "promoting hatred towards Muslims and should resign".
In his statement, Bishop Nazir-Ali said that he did not intend to offend Muslims.
"I deeply regret any hurt and do not wish to cause offence to anyone, let alone my Muslim friends, but unless we diagnose the malaise from which we all suffer we shall not be able to discover the remedy," he said.
The Bishop said he hoped his comments would lead to a "proper diagnosis and, therefore, to an appropriate remedy for separation in due course".
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Added: Thursday, January 17, 2008, 14:30 (GMT)
im a scotsman .
my wife is carribean,born in uk .children mixed .
there are no go areas .
muslims have been threatening the young go to the mosque or you will be stabbed .
people hide behind their race ,colour ,sexuality ,culture ,religion .
any critcism your are a racist .
im sick of it people all humans should be judged by their behaviour attitude and values .
all to quick people scream islamaphobia or this ism or that .
three choices to all young no exceptions ,two years military service ,two eco service or two social service .
build a community out of the so many peoples that have rushed into this small over crowded island or we are all doomed .
the rich in their leafy suburbs and second and third homes are blind to what is going on .
the indigenous brits feel alienated in their own country .
the estb pander too minorities well hows about the long suffering majority .
wake up or are we going to sit on our hands till it kicks of all over the uk ,well are we ??
rab, uk
Added: Wednesday, January 9, 2008, 14:58 (GMT)
Too much true, even in London they are some markets you "cristians" will not go as the welcome is cold.
I wonder if they even speak English.
Something very wrong somewhere.
The bishop is right to point to these getthos, and the answer is ridiculous and childish to say he's racist or whatever. It's exactly the same answer you had from black people or gay people or any else minority when they had to say something to make them like martyr.
Boldo, Tooting - United Kingdom
