Bolton is a good multi-cultural model, says Bishop (From This Is Lancashire)

Bolton is a good multi-cultural model, says Bishop

11:02am Tuesday 10th October 2006

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THE Bishop of Bolton has added his weight to claims that the Government is favouring Islam over other religions -and told ministers they should follow the lead of Bolton in bringing different faith groups together.

The Rt Rev David Gillett said he agreed with the conclusions of a paper prepared by the Archbishop of Canterbury's adviser, Canon Guy Wilkinson, which accused ministers of showing political preference to Muslims, sidelining the Church of England.

But he hailed Bolton as a "model example" of a successful multi-cultural society which has avoided the sort of divisions the report claims have been deepened by Government policy.

Canon Wilkinson's paper lists a number of Government initiatives since the London bombings, such as shelving legislation on forced marriages, and claims these efforts have undermined the interfaith agenda and produced no noticeable impact on communit cohesion.

Mr Gillett said: "Cohesion in society can only be achieved by all faiths coming together. It is putting too much weight on the Muslim community to expect them to come up with all the solutions in the wake of 07/07."

He said there were "marvellous examples'" of different faiths working together in Bolton. He praised Bolton Council and its support for groups like the Bolton Harmony Forum and Bolton Inter Faith Council.

"They have done what the Government has not always done," he said.

The Bishop said examples included the employment of community cohesion workers and Bolton Council's sponsorship of festivals including Eid, Divali and Easter.

He said facilities such as the drop-in centre at St Luke's Church in Halliwell and Winter Watch, a scheme for homeless people run by an independent Christian charity, embraced members of all faiths.

The Bishop said he did not agree with cabinet minister Jack Straw's request for Muslim women to abandon their veils.

"I know Muslims respect other faiths and they would never ask me to remove my cassock," he said.

Tony McNeile, secretary of the Bolton Inter Faith Council, said: "There seems to be a trend towards being critical of multi-culturalism at the moment, but Bolton itself is working very hard.

"Originally the Muslim community needed support and positive discrimination, but it is now well established and perhaps we have reached a time when we need to emphasise the need for a cohesive community working together."

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