Refcemi

Listening | Speaking | Impacting | Coptic Orthodox Office for Advocacy and Public Policy #FoRBMatters

[Refcemi @refcemi]

Press Release: https://t.co/aZOu2VENBd @Refcemi @JerseyRoadComms Inaugural Faith in the Media Event in London encourages nurturing of relationships between faith communities and the media “to share important untold stories with the world” HE @BishopAngaelos @TheSanctuaryCDL

[Refcemi @refcemi]

Statement by His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos OBE, Archbishop of London and Papal Legate to the United Kingdom, and Founder and Director of Refcemi, on the attack on the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George in Hmoud, Jordan https://t.co/r8TNY6JUQy

[Refcemi @refcemi]

We celebrate the courage of Members of Parliament today. Refcemi reaffirms the sanctity of life and commitment to advocating for improving quality of life for all, especially those experiencing suffering and vulnerability, requiring true compassion and support in time of need.

[Refcemi @refcemi]

Refcemi echos the words from our Founder Director Archbishop Angaelos @BishopAngaelos today - and call our Members of Parliament to reflect on what genuine compassion entails: care, support and the assured vision that all lives are worth living.

[Archbishop Angaelos @BishopAngaelos]

Tomorrow, as the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of Nayrouz, the Coptic New Year, with a focus on the importance of renewal and life, the assisted suicide bill sadly returns for its reading in the @HouseofCommons. On this occasion, our first in-depth contribution on the issue through @Refcemi remains relevant, despite some expected amendments. It outlines how this bill would not only put vulnerable lives at risk, but also put immense moral pressure on our health practitioners, forcing the acceptance of a dangerous and broken vision of a life that is not worth living. https://t.co/lQyiY7LDI2

As I stressed then, “We must strive to find ways to support people in their pain and to ease their struggles, rather than give in to the narrative that the ending of life is a solution, or indeed the only solution. If we do not reaffirm the sanctity of life at every opportunity, vulnerable people will inevitably be influenced to make irrevocable decisions that will undoubtedly lead to even greater loss to our already injured world. It is time to focus on what can be done better, and to spend greater effort and resources on the safeguarding of life itself.”

I also find myself coming back to what we said as leaders of Orthodox and Eastern Churches exactly one year ago through @ChurchesEngland: 'Human beings need care, not death.' That truth has not changed. https://t.co/d5jGbruflW

We call upon all of our Members of Parliament to advocate for a more compassionate world through support and care, with a collective commitment to genuine dignity, support and compassion.

[David Smith MP 🌹 @dsnorthnorth]

For those interested in a concise argument as to why the #AssistedDying bill should not be brought back any time soon, this Times article is spot on.

Not this bill, not now, not in my name. It would be a colossal ethical & political mistake.

https://t.co/UMos2wEQmh

[Refcemi @refcemi]

We are grateful for the opportunity to foster a warm conversation in The Sanctuary with Mr Pavalascu, to reflect on policy, history and the role of faith communities and cooperation in Romania and beyond, with the shared goal of advancing human rights advocacy. 2/2

[Refcemi @refcemi]

An honour to host Mr Cezar Pavalascu from the Romanian State Secretariat for Religious Affairs, for a fruitful conversation on Freedom of Religion or Belief with our Director Founder @BishopAngaelos, The Lord Bishop of Winchester and UK FoRB Forum Chair, Mervyn Thomas CMG. 1/2

[Archbishop Angaelos @BishopAngaelos]

Honoured to be sitting alongside my dear friends and powerful advocates, Lord @DavidAltonHL, Professor Mariz Tadros and Professor @JavidRehman at the @UKHouseOfLords last night to highlight global evidence around the urgent issue of the grooming and coerced conversion of minority women and girls.

This important research, led by @IDS_UK’s Professor Tadros and supported by @Refcemi, is a powerful resource addressing the ongoing targeting of minority women and girls through unrecognised forms of emotional and affectionate manipulation. Her new book on this issue is now available for all at: https://t.co/H0lBAZCvmZ

[Archbishop Angaelos @BishopAngaelos]

Another alarming attack on London’s Jewish community, today with the stabbing of two innocent men in the streets of North London. We must stand together not only to pray for our religious communities, but to speak against these abhorrent acts perpetrated against people purely because of their faith or belief.

Tonight, we pray for these two men who are being treated after their injuries and for their families and communities at this time of great pain, as we pray for our sisters, brothers and colleagues in the Jewish community who feel additionally vulnerable after today’s attack.

We also pray that anyone who considers perpetrating such attacks recognises the sanctity of every life, and that acting in this way targets a bearer of the image and likeness of God, while also acting against that very same image within him or herself.

[Archbishop Angaelos @BishopAngaelos]

Grateful for the opportunity earlier in the week to be with esteemed colleagues, Lord @RussRook, @FCDO_FoRB_Envoy @DSNorthNorth and @Alkhoei_org’s Aliya Azam MBE for a @UKHouseofLords gathering reflecting on the importance of preserving and protecting religious heritage.

Our history as a Church that has endured persecution means that we share a profound understanding of how essential sacred spaces are to identity and communities.

Through @Refcemi, we stand with thoughtful voices which recognise that what is sacred to one community can be a gift to us all.

[Refcemi @refcemi]

"Acts of abhorrence come and go, but communities remain. As sojourners, we can fundamentally disagree, but we share this world and must fundamentally stand up for each other. Our standing together is powerful, and the light of truth will always break the darkness" @BishopAngaelos

[Refcemi @refcemi]

With a vision of solidarity, our Founder Director, HE @BishopAngaelos said: "Sacred spaces and imagery are essential, not only as space of convening but as expressions of identity. They are places that allow us to do good. (...) 2/3

[Refcemi @refcemi]

We are grateful to @AlKhoei, @Baqee and Lord Rook for the invitation to an impactful religious heritage reception in the House of Lords, where diverse voices came together to reflect on the essential work of standing together for shared human and spiritual heritage at risk. 1/3

[Archbishop Angaelos @BishopAngaelos]

Proud to host @JerseyRoadComms and @Refcemi’s first joint “Faith in Media” Conference at @TheSanctuaryCDL today alongside my dear friend @GarethWRussell.

“If we are going to be effective as faith communities…we need to invest in relationships. …I do not believe that media is ‘bad’, nor do I believe that it is all negative; but I do believe that we need to engage properly with one another and invest in relationships with people who are in a position to share important well researched and resourced stories with the world.”

[Archbishop Angaelos @BishopAngaelos]

As a pastor, I have served at the bedside of the dying and provided support to their families. I have also provided support and pastoral care to countless people battling illnesses, challenges and difficulties.

In all these cases many have expressed their lack of hope and desire to be without pain, bringing their experience to an end. In every case, these have been defining moments in which the love, care and compassion of others have helped to redirect their experience to one of reconciliation, hope, and, in many cases, complete transformation. Those same people would now admit to regretting any decision taken to end their pain.

I plead with members of our @UKParliament to understand the very real risk to the lives of so many who will consider assisted suicide an option that is irreversible. Let us commit to rebuilding robust systems of compassion, hope and love for those most in need of our care and support.

[Archbishop Angaelos @BishopAngaelos]

Honoured to meet yesterday with my dear friend @LordWajidKhan, Minister for Faith and Communities, discussing the significance and impact of faith communities across Britain, and reflecting on opportunities to further steward support and stability to our wider society.

[Refcemi @refcemi]

10th Anniversary of the Libya Martyrs marked in events worldwide, Washington DC @IRFSummit London @UKParliament with HE Archbishop Angaelos @BishopAngaelos and The @TheSanctuaryCDL Watch the videos, see ‘The 21’ animation and read the report here: https://t.co/ix5TfGg5QR

[Archbishop Angaelos @BishopAngaelos]

As always, a wonderful opportunity to meet and interact with dear friends and trusted colleagues and partners in the Freedom of Religion or Belief space at this year’s @IRFSummit #IRFSummit2025.

Privileged to speak on a panel addressing the impact of mass migration and religious pluralism on religious communities around the world.

With the extent and magnitude of people movement and migration around the world, it is important to look at identity more cumulatively, and in a way that does not force people to make artificial and irreconcilable choices around ethnicity.

[Sean Nelson @Sean_ADFIntl]

Very warm welcome for @VP Vance this morning at @IRFSummit.

“We know that the source of religious liberty is the recognition that all of us are equal under the eyes of God.”

[Sam Brownback @SamuelBrownback]

“Religious liberty is the recognition that we are all equal under the eyes of God.”

Grateful for @VP Vance joining us this morning and for his and President Trump’s commitment to protecting religious liberty at home and abroad. #IRFSummit2025