Open Letter to Members of the Senedd from Faith Leaders in Wales

Faith Leaders in Wales have written a joint open letter to Members of the Senedd:

Dear Member of the Senedd,

We write to you as a new Senedd takes up its work, to assure you that we are praying for you at this important time. As Faith Leaders, we know something of the personal cost of public service that you have embraced, and we thank you for your willingness and desire to work for the common good of all the people of Wales.

We are mindful that this is a ‘new moment’ for our nation, and that the Senedd begins its work afresh at a time of significant tension across the United Kingdom. Many in our communities live with some fear for themselves and especially for their children. We uphold the innate dignity of every person, believing that all are to be treated with the utmost respect, recognising their religious freedom so that all can practise their belief in peace and tranquillity. Antisemitism, anti-Hindu prejudice, Islamophobia, or prejudice based on religion or ethnicity must be rejected.

Faith communities make a huge contribution, helping so many across our nation; in education, healthcare and in a diverse range of services and projects which serve some of those most in need. Places of worship act as important ‘hubs’ of social outreach and integration. We are happy to work in this way and are committed to this continuing and growing.

We look forward to the opportunities we will have of sharing this story of public service with you, especially in respect of how it is lived out at local level. We also look forward to a deepening of our relationships of cooperation, mutual understanding and acceptance, so that we can all work together for the good of all in Wales.

Yours Sincerely,

• Archbishop Mark O’Toole Metropolitan Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia, Catholic Church
• Archbishop Cherry Vann Archbishop of Wales, Anglican Church
• Rev Dyfrig Rees President Free Church Council of Wales
• Revd Canon Tim Rowlands Evangelical Alliance in Wales
• Rabbi Michoel Rose Cardiff United Synagogue
• Laurence Kahn South Wales Jewish Representative Council
• Dr Abdul-Azim Ahmed Muslim Council of Wales
• Imam Usman Manan Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Wales
• Gurmit Singh Randhawa MBE Sikh Council of Wales
• Dr Sakti Guha Niyogi Hindu Council of Wales
• Radika Kadaba Chair Hindu Council of Wales Dr Cynan Llwyd General Secretary Cytûn, Churches Together in Wales Kate McColgan Chair Interfaith Council of Wales
• Katie Gilmour Interfaith Representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
• Corinne Hainsworth Interfaith Representative of the Bahai Community
• Marilyn Priday Interfaith Representative & Trustee of Community House, Newport