Desmond Tutu supports academic centre

Wednesday 5 October 2005

Scholars of religion at the University of St Andrews have received the support of anti- apartheid campaigner Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The renowned churchman is to be a patron of the University’s Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics (CSRP).

The research centre, which focuses on the link between the two dominant forces of religion and politics, started its activities in February of this year and already counts Cardinal Keith O’Brien and writer and theologian Gustavo Gutierrez as its patrons.

The Centre involves key academics across six disciplines – Divinity, History, International Relations, Management, Modern Languages, and Philosophical and Anthropological Studies. Based at the University’s School of Divinity, it is directed by Dr Mario I. Aguilar.

Dr Aguilar said: “We are delighted that Archbishop Tutu has agreed to become a patron of our centre. It is difficult to imagine anyone else in the modern world who has so embodied the relationship between politics and religion as Archbishop Tutu. A leading churchman in the Anglican communion and an opponent of apartheid and human rights abuses across the world he has been honoured on numerous occasions, most famously receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. We hope that he will deliver one of our Religion and Politics Lectures in the near future when visiting the UK”.

The Centre has already hosted seminars and lectures including one dedicated to the assassinated Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero and another by former Desert Rat Major General Patrick Cordingley.

Tomorrow (Friday 7th October) it will host its annual colloquium “On Religion and Politics”, featuring talks by leading figures in religion, politics and academia including Archbishop Mario Conti and the Ambassador of Chile to the UK, H.E. Mariano Fernández.

“On Religion and Politics”, the annual colloquium of the Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics, will be held on Friday 7th October from 9.30am to 5.00pm at Parliament Hall, South Street, St Andrews. This event is open to the public.

Weblinks: http://www.st- andrews.ac.uk/divinity/csrp.html

ENDS

Issued by Beattie Media On behalf of the University of St Andrews

Contact Gayle Cook, Press Officer on 01334 467227 / 462529, mobile 07900 050 103, or email gec3@st- andrews.ac.uk Ref: Archbishop Tutu 061005.doc View the latest University press releases at http://www.st- andrews.ac.uk


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