FAITHS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT CLOSER

This letter appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Faiths have been brought closer

As a newcomer to Leicester I have been impressed by the way communities get along together, and as the Director of the St Philip's Centre, excited by the togetherness of the faith leaders when they face common concerns.

Today's planned English Defence League (EDL) demonstration has brought us even closer together recognising that an attack on one faith is an attack on all. Our common message is that what the EDL stand for is not welcome here.

In a time of economic pressures on households and public bodies, it is sad to see so much local money having to be spent to protect people and property because the EDL's record is that they cause mayhem wherever they go. Surely, alongside their right to speak and demonstrate comes the responsibility of citizenship. Will the EDL be refunding the hard working tax payers of Leicester?

Failing this, will they at least be respectful, orderly and peaceful when they visit? We shall see.

Tomorrow St Philip's Centre is entering an inter-faith team in the Leicester Marathon for the first time. It is this kind of event which truly reflects our wonderful multi-faith city, not the discordant presence of the EDL.

Canon Dr John Hall, Leicester