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Archbishop's Easter sermon focuses on suffering | |
(about 14 hours later) | |
The Archbishop of Canterbury has highlighted the suffering of people facing conflict around the world during his Easter sermon. | |
The Most Rev Justin Welby was delivering his second Easter message since becoming head of the Church of England, at Canterbury Cathedral. | |
He referred to the struggles endured by people in Syria, Ukraine, and Rwanda, as well as in Britain. | |
The archbishop also praised the resilience of persecuted Christians. | |
In the sermon, Archbishop Welby said: "In Syria mothers cry for their children and husbands. | |
"In the Ukraine neighbours cry because the future is precarious and dangerous. In Rwanda tears are still shed each day as the horror of genocide is remembered. | "In the Ukraine neighbours cry because the future is precarious and dangerous. In Rwanda tears are still shed each day as the horror of genocide is remembered. |
"In this country, even as the economy improves there is weeping in broken families, in people ashamed to seek help from food banks, or frightened by debt." | "In this country, even as the economy improves there is weeping in broken families, in people ashamed to seek help from food banks, or frightened by debt." |
"Asylum seekers weep with loneliness and missing far-away families", adding that as they do, "Mary continues to weep across the world". | |
'Persecuted church flourishes' | 'Persecuted church flourishes' |
Praising the resilience of persecuted Christian minorities, the archbishop said: "Their certainty that Jesus is alive enables them to face all horrors with joy." | |
He said he had spoken to a bishop who had come from Pakistan soon after the bombing of a church in Peshawar that killed 122 people. | |
The archbishop said: "I asked how Christians were coping with the fear that such attacks brought, and wondered if there had been anyone in church the week following the attack. | |
"'Oh yes', the bishop replied, 'there were three times as many people the following week'. | |
"Such action is made possible only by the resurrection. The persecuted church flourishes because of the resurrection." | "Such action is made possible only by the resurrection. The persecuted church flourishes because of the resurrection." |
On Saturday, Archbishop Welby spoke of the struggle to do "what is right and just to all" over the issue of gay marriage within the Church of England. | On Saturday, Archbishop Welby spoke of the struggle to do "what is right and just to all" over the issue of gay marriage within the Church of England. |
He told the Daily Telegraph that Christians in some parts of the world find the issue "almost impossible" to deal with. | He told the Daily Telegraph that Christians in some parts of the world find the issue "almost impossible" to deal with. |
But he accepted the Church had caused "great harm" to gay and lesbian groups. | But he accepted the Church had caused "great harm" to gay and lesbian groups. |
Same-sex marriage became legal in England and Wales last month but is not supported by the Church. | Same-sex marriage became legal in England and Wales last month but is not supported by the Church. |
Archbishop Welby added that discussions were to take place shortly about how the Church should respond to the new legislation - and that he did not want to "pre-empt" them. | Archbishop Welby added that discussions were to take place shortly about how the Church should respond to the new legislation - and that he did not want to "pre-empt" them. |
In his Easter message, Archbishop of York John Sentamu linked a "wilful senility" in society to issues including human trafficking, gender-based violence and tax avoidance. | |
He said: "Sadly, we have forgotten our memory as people who have been rescued, and we have become senile." | |
Other major faiths in the UK also marked the Easter period. | Other major faiths in the UK also marked the Easter period. |
Farooq Murad, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "We would like to wish a happy Easter to all those who are commemorating it. | Farooq Murad, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "We would like to wish a happy Easter to all those who are commemorating it. |
"At this time of spiritual reflection, festivity and celebration in our country, we pray for peace, harmony and contentment across the communities and the world." | "At this time of spiritual reflection, festivity and celebration in our country, we pray for peace, harmony and contentment across the communities and the world." |
The Hindu Council UK's Easter message said: "We wish a Happy Easter to our fellow Christians in faith as well as to the British Hindus to celebrate the Ascension of the universal Dharma." | The Hindu Council UK's Easter message said: "We wish a Happy Easter to our fellow Christians in faith as well as to the British Hindus to celebrate the Ascension of the universal Dharma." |