13.03.2020
Dublin City Interfaith Forum Statement on the Covid–19 Crisis
The Dublin City Interfaith Forum (DCIF) speaks in unity, asking all people of faith and none to come together in mutual support and solidarity at this challenging time.
Our various congregations – Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish and Sikh – speak with one voice in calling on all our citizens to offer care and support to one another in the days ahead, and to follow the instructions and considered advice of the relevant authorities, who are acting in our best interests.
Our members are providing pastoral care and support to many people right now, and we encourage all to find ways to set up networks of support for each other, even while respecting the necessary reality of ‘social distancing’ that health protection requires us all to engage in for the foreseeable future.
May our various faiths and convictions, our decent and cherished values come to the fore in the face of the trials ahead. And may these human values of compassion and social solidarity define us now, rather than the anxiety and panic that we may be tempted to succumb to.
By supporting each other – the old and the young; the weak and the strong – we will all come through this trying time with our humanity and values intact, and with our society strengthened.
The DCIF encourages all our members and supporters to engage in practical measures to ease the burden on others at this time – especially the elderly and the vulnerable. These practical measures may be just checking in on neighbours, or offering to do some shopping for an elderly or sick acquaintance or friend.
In addition, the DCIF would like to place its considerable network reach into the major faith communities of Ireland at the disposal of the HSE and other relevant state authorities at this time. If our network of stakeholders needs to be reached with instructions, guidelines or targeted information, please be assured that the DCIF will do everything possible to support this work and to assist.
May we all find a deep resource of support in our various faiths and human values at this time. And may this difficult period bring out the best in us all, as our common humanity comes to the fore, in a hundred thousand human acts of kindness and decency that encourage us all and offer us hope and support throughout the difficult days ahead.
DCIF is a network of people from the different Faith Communities in the City of Dublin. It aims to create awareness and dialogue through building relationships that nurture harmony and deepen understanding and respect. The World Faiths currently present and active in Dublin City and represented on DCIF are: Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism.