France: Faith leaders statement on riots

Photo by Anthony Choren on Unsplash

Source: eglise.catholique.fr/

As religious leaders of France and committed for a long time to harmony and fraternity, in these trying times for our neighbourhoods and our country, we want to call together for dialogue and peace.

We share the pain of Nahel's family and pray for him, especially for his mother. We hear the suffering and the anger that is expressed.

We also affirm with one voice that violence is never a good path.

We strongly deplore the destruction of schools, shops, town halls, means of transport… The first to suffer the consequences of this are precisely the inhabitants, families and children of these neighbourhoods.

In these difficult times, we call for the safeguarding and consolidation of the necessary bond of trust between the population and the police who have given so much during the trials that our country has gone through We encourage our rulers and the elected representatives of the Nation to work together, with responsibility, to bring about justice and peace.

May all believers today more than ever be servants of peace and the common good. We are all together available to contribute to it.

The leaders of the Conference of Religious Leaders in France (CRCF)
Me Chems-eddine Hafiz, Rector of the Great Mosque of Paris
The Chief Rabbi Haïm Korsia, Chief Rabbi of France
Mohammed Moussaoui, President of the CFCM
Mgr Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, President of the Conference of Bishops of France
Mgr Demetrios Ploumios, President of the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of France
Pasteur Christian Krieger, President of the Protestant Federation of France
Antony Boussemart, President of the Buddhist Union of France

LINK

French Catholic Bishops Conference: https://eglise.catholique.fr/