Our six bishops, in conjunction with Muslim leaders in West Yorkshire, have issued a statement condemning the recent violence in France and Germany, and sending particular sympathy to Roman Catholic brothers and sisters on the day a priest was murdered in France.
Statement from faith leaders in West Yorkshire
"As Faith Leaders in West Yorkshire we are appalled by the tragic events which have taken place in France and Germany in recent days.
"We reject absolutely the use of violence against innocent people for so-called religious ends, and condemn in the strongest terms the murder of a Roman Catholic priest in Rouen.
"Such an attack on a man of God is an attack on all people of faith and on all humanity.
"We stand together in our commitment to working for peace, justice and tolerance among people of all faiths and none, and our prayers are with the victims of violence everywhere".
Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds
Rt Revd Jonathan Gibbs, Bishop of Huddersfield
Rt Revd Tony Robinson, Bishop of Wakefield
Rt Revd Toby Howarth, Bishop of Bradford
Rt Revd Paul Slater, Bishop of Richmond
Rt Revd James Bell, Bishop of Ripon
And the Directors of the Peace Insitute (an organisation that strives to show the peaceful nature of Islam):-
Mufti Mohammed Amin Pandor
Shaikh Hashim Sacha
Shaikh Irfan Soni