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<p>The Archbishop of Canterbury issued a statement at the time of the attack on the
Roman Catholic Church of St Francis Xavier in 2022, saying: “The massacre of worshippers
– men, women and children – during a Mass in South-west Nigeria was an act of pure
evil and a profound offence to God. My prayers are with all affected by this barbaric
attack. I continue to pray for the nation of Nigeria.” The Archbishop meets often
with politicians and clergy from Nigeria and has raised the issues of inter community
and inter-religious violence.</p><p>Bishops of the Church of England are in regular
discussion with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on matters affecting
freedom of religion or belief, including in Nigeria. On 6<sup>th</sup> June 2022 the
Lord Bishop of Leeds asked a question of the Minister of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth
and Development Office in the House of Lords, during exchanges on an answer to an
urgent question on the attacks. He stressed that while condemnation by religious leaders
was necessary and important, it often had limited impact on the self-proclaimed and
ideologically-driven religious groupings and organisations behind such attacks.</p><p><a
href="https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2022-06-06/debates/B6A5FF6E-A393-4201-9A75-BEBB56A981CD/details#contribution-22B83542-1AF7-4AB0-B1B6-B6D78F081CF2"
target="_blank">https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2022-06-06/debates/B6A5FF6E-A393-4201-9A75-BEBB56A981CD/details#contribution-22B83542-1AF7-4AB0-B1B6-B6D78F081CF2</a></p><p>The
Church has not provided any direct financial aid to the victims of this attack, but
through its diocesan companion links with Nigeria and the work of its voluntary mission
agencies it is continuing to support the Church in Nigeria more broadly as it responds
to violations of freedom of religion or belief.</p>
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