Cardiff Legal Interfaith Network

In November 2007 Cardiff University's Law School Centre for Law and Religion launched a new initiative - a Legal Inter Faith network

"Developed in response to the large number of recent high profile court cases involving religious symbolism, and the considerable challenges for faith groups by an increase in State law on religion, the Network invited advisers to the Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Orthodox, United Reformed Church, Church of England, Church of Scotland, Church in Wales, Quaker, Mormon and the Order of St Lazarus faiths."

Archbishop's Easter stab at usury

The Archbishop of Wales denounces the immorality of lending money to those least able to pay it back.

Mixed message on resurrection

Read about it here

Archbishop of Cardiff joins embryo policy row

Archbishop Peter Smith has added his voice of concern, calling for a free vote on stem cell research policy. Likewise Archbishop Vincent Nicholls of Birmingham.

Read about it here

Scottish Cardinal attacks embryo research policy

Cardinal Keith O'Brien will use his Easter Sunday sermon to launch an attack on the government's stem cell research proposals. He will also call on Gordon Brown to allow Labour MPs a free vote on the issue at Westminster.

Read about it here

The value of faith schools

Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks in a BBC radio 3 interview with Joan Bakewell recently stated

"Faith schools are giving kids what they are missing in the wider secular culture. The importance of responsibility as well as rights, the sanctity of marriage, the idea that sex is not to be undertaken without love, love is not to be undertaken without commitment, parenthood is not to be undertaken without responsibility. All these things which we found in the culture in which I was growing up all around us which have today disappeared from the public square. It's faith schools, of whatever faith that are putting them back. Without these values we shall implode as a society."

He attended Anglican schools at primary and secondary level, and is grateful for what he received.

"Church schools gave me an extraordinary lesson in life ... those teachers could understand the importance of faith in life."

In defence of different schools for diffferent religions he said that he advocated :

"... separate schools that teach us our heritage as a way of getting us to be responsible citizens, in a country in which we reach out a hand of friendship to people of all faiths, in fact, as I define Judaism, it's to be true to our faith and be a blessing to others, regardless of their faith."

Wales benefits £102m from faith community action

Two years worth of research, carried out by Christian group Gweini, and the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, highlights the contribution of faith groups to Welsh society. Yesterday Gweini published its report called “Faith in Wales: Counting for Communities". It's the first of its kind in Wales – all Wales' faith community groups between them contribute £102 million to the economy through their voluntary activities. The figure is calculated by looking at accommodation provided in faith community buildings, faith tourism, voluntary work and paid work.

Read the Western Mail story here

Sarika Singh back at school - elsewhere

The Sikh teenager excluded from Aberdare Girls Grammar School for wearing the Kara, reported previously is attending Mountain Ash Comprehensive pro tem until her case is reviewed by the High Court. The Western Mail update is here