CARJ calls for reflection and solidarity after London bombings

The Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ) has called on its members to reflect on issues raised by the recent bombings in London and to find creative ways of building solidarity across society and especially between the Catholic and Muslim communities. Members of CARJ, met at their Annual General Meeting on Saturday, 16 July 2005, to review the activities of the past year and to plan for the future. For the first hour of the meeting, the prepared Agenda was set aside to allow members to participate in a prayerful reflection on the causes and implications of recent events and how they might affect the organisation's plans for the future. Margaret Ann Fisken, who was re-elected as Chair Person of CARJ for another three years, announced that she will be writing to all CARJ members, encouraging them to keep unfolding events in mind when planning initiatives for the forthcoming 10th Anniversary of Racial Justice Sunday, which this year will be taking place on 11 September. She will also be asking the staff and trustees of CARJ to contact members in key areas like Leeds, Bradford, Burnley, Oldham, Birmingham and East London to learn from their experience and to offer them support. CARJ recently released a statement supporting the government's proposed legislation on Incitement to Religious Hatred. The statement is available on the CARJ website. CARJ is a charity, established in 1984 to give a voice to black and minority ethnic Catholics and to work in the Church and the wider society to promote mutual understanding, community cohesion and racial justice. CARJ is also an Agency of the Bishops Conference of England & Wales.