Speaking on Radio Ulster’s ‘Sunday Sequence’ on 4th August the President of the Irish Council of Churches (ICC), Rt Rev Sarah Groves said she was ‘absolutely appalled’ by the riots in Belfast on the previous evening.

She went on to say that ‘many ICC member Churches are primarily comprised of people who have come here over recent times and we are horrified for them, and also for the Muslim community. There is no place for this behaviour and hatred. It seems to be politically acceptable to say that other people are less than us and that they have no rights. There has been misinformation that has been put out on social media, and even to name it publicly gives it more credence.’

‘The Irish Council of Churches, as a diverse group, has worked hard recently to address the issue of making people who have come here recently not just feel welcome but included in the decision making and activity of the Churches. A handbook called ‘From Every Nation?’ has recently been produced by the ICC as a resource for parishes and congregations to challenge complacency about inclusion and belonging in their own churches. This resource can be downloaded from irishchurches.org/belonging‘

Bishop Sarah finished by saying that ‘Christians should go out and make friends with people on their street, with Muslim neighbours and people who are here from different backgrounds and countries. Be seen to be making friends, be seen talking to people in the mosques and make it clear that this behaviour has no place in our society.’