‘Anti-semitism is on the rise’

Exactly halfway through my conversation with the Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, I had an attack of conscience, a small one, but there it was. Sacks had explained the thesis of his book, The Great Partnership — that religion and science don’t have to fight but can co-exist, as separate strands of inquiry. We’d discussed our respective religions (I’m Christian) and agreed that man will always wonder: what am I doing here? And that science has no answer to this.

Then Sacks began to speak about the need for the three great Abrahamic, monotheistic faiths to stand together. ‘The problem,’ he said, in his slow, reasonable voice (which even the lady who transcribed this interview remarked was ‘lovely and soothing’) ‘is that when we do have constructive talks it goes unreported. For instance, myself, Rowan Williams and a Catholic bishop recently agreed to do a discussion chaired by Melvyn Bragg at the London Library. But was the media interested? No! The BBC wouldn’t carry it — not on TV, not on radio. Because we were together, not attacking each other, see? Division is news, unity is boring. And Melvyn said privately to me,’ Sacks lowered his voice, ‘Melvyn said, if the only images of religion people get are of conflict, it’s very bad. And he’s right.’

We both shook our heads sorrowfully at the morally crippled press pack and as I shook I glanced down at the list of questions I had yet to ask.

1) Was Rowan Williams right to tick off the Prime Minister in print? (‘With any luck he’ll attack the Archbishop!’ I had thought)

2) Are Jews against abortion? (could I maybe stir up trouble between Jews and Catholics?)