4 days ago
Dublin's Church of Ireland Archbishop urges people to stand against racism
Dublin's Church of Ireland Archbishop has urged people to stand firmly against racism and to stand with the people who are impacted by it.
Archbishop Dr Michael Jackson said "what seemed to be sporadic assaults on Indian people in Ireland" had been "escalating alarmingly".
He echoed the appeal of the chairman of the Ireland India Council, Prashant Shukla, for a coordinated, multi-agency response to attacks and called for a cross-departmental response to hate crime and youth violence.
Archbishop Jackson, who is the chairperson of the Dublin City Interfaith Forum, said the Church of Ireland had "warm relations" with many Indian Christian traditions and that members of the Church "respect them deeply".
A number of Church of Ireland churches in Dublin are used by a range of Indian Christian traditions for worship and he pointed out that numerous other parishes are "privileged" to count members of the Indian community in Ireland amongst their parishioners.
The Archbishop said that organisations like the interfaith forum offers the opportunity for "friendly and fruitful interaction" with a wide range of people from other faith traditions from India and south Asia for whom Ireland is their home.
"We want this to continue and to grow because it enriches everyone involved," he said.
He added that it was "essential" that people, irrespective of their age or nationality be safe and feel safe as a community of hope, opportunity and equality is built.
