Minister opposes 'ghettoisation of faith' in Europe

Faith should not be ghettoised but instead be used to positively influence Europe, says Minister for Europe, Jim Murphy.

Mr Murphy, a Catholic, was speaking ahead of a seminar on 'Faith and Culture in modern Europe' at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Monday. The seminar will draw together representatives of NGOs, academia and religious and inter-faith organisations.

He acknowledged that faith had "shaped" Europe's history and said he "believed that today faith can and should positively influence our continent and the wider world".

"Faith has a power to persuade which can and should be harnessed in support of action against poverty and in favour of responsible environmental stewardship," he said.

Mr Murphy went on to say that secular society should not sideline religious belief.

"I believe it is wrong to say that secular society and faith communities cannot co-exist and I am opposed to the ghettoisation of religious belief.

"Europe should be both a secular space in which communities of faith can grow and to which they can contribute - and a model power promoting global responsibility in line with the highest ideals, including those inspired by faith."

The role of faith in Europe came to the fore during negotiations on the unsuccessful EU constitution. Christians in Europe faced huge opposition from secularists in their attempts to see a "God clause" included in the constitution that would have made reference to the importance of the Judeo-Christian tradition in Europe. Countries are in the process of ratifying a new Reform Treaty, and Ireland will hold a referendum on June 12.

The 'Faith and Culture in modern Europe' seminar will be chaired by Stephen Timms, a practising Christian.