CAA applauds Church of England for adopting International Definition of Antisemitism, in full, with no caveats
The Church of England has adopted the full International Definition of Antisemitism.
The Council of Bishops took the decision on the recommendation of the Archbishop of Canterbury after he met with the Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis. Rabbi Mirvis had expressed his concern about the “deep sense of insecurity” among the Jewish community in the UK.
The Council also issued a statement calling on public figures to “reject all language and activity that leads to prejudice, stigma, or hatred towards people on the grounds of their religion, culture, origins, identity, or belief.”
The Church of England’s unquestioning and complete acceptance of the full International Definition of Antisemitism has come just a week after Labour’s National Executive Committee voted to accept the definition with a caveat and an option to revisit the issue at a later date.
Dr David Walker, the Bishop of Manchester, said that the Jewish community should feel reassured that the Church of England will continue to reject “prejudice and bigotry”, and that “[we] will continue to speak out critically”.
Campaign Against Antisemitism applauds the decision, which demonstrates the Church of England’s solidarity with the Jewish community at this worrying time.
Image credit: Foreign and Commonwealth Office