THE newly crowned King Charles III – who in addition to being named sovereign ruler of the UK, is now also the head of the Church of England – affirmed his commitment to his role as a religious authority.
Stating that his work must include protecting the space for faith itself, he added that it was his duty to protect the diversity of the country.
Charles made these comments during a reception in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace, where 30 religious leaders from numerous faiths were present on Friday.
In the course of the reception, he said that he valued the differences which people lived by, adding that he had always thought of Britain as a "community of communities".
“That has led me to understand that the Sovereign has an additional duty – less formally recognised but to be no less diligently discharged.
“It is the duty to protect the diversity of our country, including by protecting the space for faith itself and its practice through the religions, cultures, traditions, and beliefs to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals.
“I also wanted, before all of you today, to confirm my determination to carry out my responsibilities as Sovereign of all communities around this country and the Commonwealth and in a way which reflects the world in which we now live,” he said.
The King also confessed how much their words of condolence meant to him after the demise of his mother – the late Queen Elizabeth II last week.
According to reports, he also said his own Christian beliefs "have love at their very heart" and that they bound him to respect those following other religious paths.
“By my most profound convictions, therefore as well as by my position as Sovereign – I hold myself bound to respect those who follow other spiritual paths, as well as those who seek to live their lives in accordance with secular ideals.
“I am determined, as King, to preserve and promote those principles across all communities, and for all beliefs, with all my heart.
“This conviction was the foundation of everything my beloved mother did for our country, over her years as our Queen.
“It has been the foundation of my own work as Prince of Wales. It will continue to be the foundation of all my work as King.”
Charles described himself as a committed Anglican Christian, who, at his coronation, will take an oath relating to the settlement of the Church of England.
He also noted that he has already 'solemnly' given an oath at his accession ceremony which pledges to maintain and preserve the Protestant faith in Scotland.
The Bow Room in the palace was filled with a cohort of faith leaders that included the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, the Dean of Westminster, David Hoyle, and Helen Cameron of the Free Churches Group.
The reception was also attended by Imam and Islamic scholar Dr Asim Yusuf and Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy. – The Vibes, September 18, 2022
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