The Churches and the Independent Review of FCO support for persecuted Christians

The Church of England and the Roman Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales have submitted a joint response to the Independent Review of Foreign and Commonwealth Office support for persecuted Christians, which is being chaired by the Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen.

The submission, published on 17 April, expresses disappointment that the Terms of Reference

“are limited to the FCO rather than including other Whitehall departments and bodies, not least the Department for International Development and the Department for International Trade (but also the Cabinet Office, National Security Council and the Home Office). The Government’s work promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) should not be seen as an isolated strand of diplomatic activity, but incorporated into aid, trade, resettlement, asylum and security policy.” Continue reading