In the first of a series of lectures organised by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Tony Blair has called for religious faith to be rescued from extremism and put at the centre of solving the world's problems.
The former prime minister said that in an increasingly globalised world, the role of faith is 'especially important'.
Religion could 'awaken the world's conscience' and help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to eradicate poverty and hunger, he said.
In his speech on faith and globalisation at Westminster Cathedral, Mr Blair warned against the 'extremist and exclusionary tendency in religion today'.
He said: 'In the last 10 years we have also been reminded sharply, in acts of terror committed in the name of faith, that we ignore the power of religion at our peril.'
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor said: “This lecture series provides an opportunity for key public figures to speak about the pivotal role of faith in Britain today. It is important that the Catholic church engages with society in a positive and creative way and provides a public space for debate about religion. The role of faith in our society cannot be ignored and I hope that the debate these lectures stimulate will highlight the crucial role faith can play in contributing to the common good. “
Leading public figures
Mark Thompson (Director General of the BBC), Dr. Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury), William Hague M.P. (The Shadow Foreign Secretary) and Rabbi Julia Neuberger (The Prime Minister’s Champion for Volunteering), are the other leading public figures who will take part in ‘The Cardinal’s Lectures’. The lecture series has been devised by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster. He will present the final lecture - a personal perspective on Faith in Britain.
• Mark Thompson – Director General of the BBC: Faith in the Media. Thursday 10th April 2008.
• Dr Rowan Williams – Archbishop of Canterbury: The spiritual and the religious: is the territory changing? Thursday 17th April 2008.
• William Hague M.P. – Shadow Foreign Secretary. Practical politics, principled faith. Thursday 24th April 2008.
• Rabbi Julia Neuberger – The Prime Minister’s Champion for Volunteering. Faith, morality, giving time to others. Thursday 1st May 2008.
• Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor – Archbishop of Westminster. Faith in Britain: a personal perspective. Thursday 8th May 2008
Video downloads
Transcripts and Video downloads of the lectures are available on the Diocese of Westminster's website together with a discussion forum. All lectures are fully booked and no more tickets are available.
Book of the Lectures
The Lectures will also be available as a book, to be published by Matthew James Publishers. Copies can be ordered via the publisher's website. How to order copies of the book.
The Lecture series is sponsored by the Forte family, in memory of their father, Charles, the Lord Forte.
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