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European churches welcome World Interfaith Harmony Week

By staff writers
February 3, 2015

Four years ago, the United Nations unanimously adopted a proposal declaring the first week of February as World Interfaith Harmony Week.

Since this first observation in 2011, the week has grown into a worldwide celebration of dialogue and peace building. Hundreds of local events bring together people from different religious traditions in a shared love of the good and love of neighbour.

The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is one of the official church bodies involved from a Christian perspective.

In statement released this week it says it "enjoys a deep commitment to the hopes of World Interfaith Harmony Week through its dialogue and human rights work."

CEC has made contributions to relevant theological dialogue in a number of fora and carries out extensive work on freedom of religion or belief in Europe and beyond.

As an instrument of dialogue for European churches, CEC supports peace and harmony among Christians and all people of faith and goodwill, the agency declares.

CEC General Secretary and former president of the Belgian Council of Religious Leaders, the Rev Dr Guy Liagre, said, “I am convinced that bringing together religions and religious leaders to promote peaceful coexistence is of great value to any European society. We are thankful for the many initiatives taken by our members and partners for the sake of cultivating peace and tolerance across Europe.”

* Conference of European Churches (CEC) : www.ceceurope.org

* World Interfaith Harmony Week: http://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com

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