Church in a spin

Last week in the Sunday Telegraph the Bishop of Rochester made his controversial comments about Muslim ‘no-go’ areas which sparked both outcry and some agreement in more or less equal measure. This week Jonathan Wynne-Jones continues the story with an IOC poll which concludes that while most people disagree with Nazir-Ali and think he’s wrong, the majority also think Muslims should do more to integrate. Make of that what you will.

I was asked about it again this morning on Radio Leeds, having tried to steer carefully through the story doing the Paper Review last week on Radio York. Hopefully, I again gave my usual measured response. Hmm. But it’s a tricky one to discuss. The problem is that the accusation may have an element of truth, and if local clergy say it does (as they have been doing this week), then who am I to argue? On the other hand, it won’t make things easier for those trying to build up better interfaith relationships, as in south Leeds, and there are lots of moderate Muslims for whom it clearly doesn’t ring true at all.

And, hang on, aren’t there already hundreds of reasons not to go through certain parts of our inner city areas? Norris Green, where two people were shot to mark the start of Liverpool’s year as Capital of Culture, would be near the top of my list of no go areas. (Though, as I have now been introduced to the Vicar of Norris Green, Helen, who is marrying my former Best Man, I might have need to venture there in the future). Tarring and Feathering is still taking place in the Shankill Road area of Belfast according to this week’s Sunday’s - so possibly somewhere to avoid in September when the Savoyards take their annual tour Gilbert and Sullivan show to the city (with either Patience, Ruddigore or the Pirates of Penzance – decision being taken tomorrow - seats in all parts).

But, re. so-called 'Muslim no-go areas', many Muslims I’ve personally met are looking for better relations with those around them. In the very week of the Nazir Ali story, I have had a very interesting meeting in Leeds with two Muslim guys from the Educational Dialogue Charity of Turkey who are trying to develop better understanding in the West about moderate Islam. Hakan and Hakan, who I met, are both educated and friendly and are organising a third visit to Turkey for westerners, after succesful visits in 2005 and 2006. They were keen to know of the sort of journalists who might benefit from a visit in may to Istanbul and Ankara, meeting government officials and visiting TV and newspaper offices. Five star hotels and all hotel costs, food and trips are paid for by Turkish sponsors, so I’ve offered to help – it’s tough work but someone has to do it! If you’re a journalist reading this and are interested then the website with more details is here. Of course, there will be another agenda too- a better understanding of Turkey itself as it tries to join the European Union, and I’m glad to see there’ll be opportunities on the visit to ask difficult questions – on religious minorities, human rights, democracy etc.. but if influential writers for British media learn more about different forms of Islam then it has to be a good thing.

I see Stephen Bates is still at it …the now non-religious correspondent is on page 2 of today’s Grauniad sounding off about the Archbishop of Canterbury and claiming he has been thrown into a political controversy thanks to his remarks in a Muslim magazine. You have to get three quarters of the way through the piece to discover that this political controversy amounts to a blogger in America called Katherine who didn't like what he reportedly said. Gosh. Rowan must be worried.

Guardian editors were, of course, probably a bit piqued to see the story on the Sunday Times’ front page when it had been totally missed on Saturday’s Guardian or in Sunday’s Observer, its sister paper. We know SB doesn’t think much of the ABC but the worst he does here is accuse the ST of selective reporting. Gosh again. The Grauniad would never do that. (I like it really.)

I was doing the Sunday Paper review on the newly crowned local radio station of the year yesterday. Yes BBC Radio Leeds has won the award again for its lively and informative approach. Whether the slot from 8am to 8.30am was lively and informative I leave the listeners to judge but we certainly romped through seven or eight stories including both of the main religious stories – the Archbishop of Canterbury, and more interestingly the one on the front page of the Sunday Telegraph about Tony Blair and his decision not to go pubic on his faith because people would think he was a ‘nutter’.

Richard Staples was also keen to talk about Borders and their ‘O Come All Ye Faithless’ cards (see previous blog), and I found I had revised my views a bit. As an ironic commentary on Richard Dawkins and his dismal faithlessness, the cards have grown on me a bit. I’m seeing them now as a bit of a send-up, knowingly and humorously shooting themselves in the foot – though that’s after I’ve had time to think about them and discuss them on the radio. Maybe I’m being a bit too sophisticated.

Still trying to get my Power Point presentation together for the gathering of DC’s (Diocesan Commmunicators) in London on December 6th. I’ve been searching the interweb for hours in an attempt to get hold of the excellently produced Caritas TV adverts to download, but so far nothing. I did however manage to download, edit and embed an interview with the head of the Vatican website, a Sister Judith Zoebelein. Remarkable woman - she has been in that post since 1995. Ive had to keep it to a minute or so, but if you watch the whole thing (see it here) its quite funny when they get onto the subject of Second Life – clearly some confusion, not helped by the French student who is asking the question but quite enlightening.

The website itself still looks like it did ten years ago and appears to have been created in the dark ages, and with a staff of 17 (‘not enough’ according to Sister Judith) you’d think they’d have done something about the design. Several people I met in Rome were a bit despairing of the site, but although it's a bit dull on the outside, it's quite sophisticated once you get into it. Sort of like the Da Vinci Code in reverse.