As a student in India, I sometimes helped at a Leprosy clinic. The other students were a Muslim from Hyderabad and a Catholic from Sri Lanka. The doctor was Hindu. Together we were helping those in need. This is what interfaith work is really about. All the meetings to overcome inherited hostility and isolation are so that together people of faith can contribute to the healing of the world. Jesus said that he came to bring life in all its fullness. Faith communities should be for the service of all, not for their self-promotion. Interfaith work is not just theological discussions of scholars or spiritual sharing of devotees – it is very relevant both to peace and development. www.worldsummit2013.org (For further speeches and photos of the UPF World Summit)

A Universal Peace Federation (UPF) event, 'Forgiveness for the Future', was held on Saturday 8th September in London UPF HQ. This is part of a series of conferences over the last four years. The first session was chaired by Rev. Dr. Marcus Braybrooke who began with a minutes silence for UPF Founder, Rev Sun Myung Moon. He read some words of Father Moon on forgiveness. Jo Berry gave a personal testimony of working for the greater good with Patrick McGee who was responsible for the death of her father during the Brighton Bombing. Brian Frost described the significance of the symbolic gesture, the expressions of regret and the care of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II that comforted the hearts of the Irish people during her visit to Dublin earlier this year. (Photo Link)