ÖPIK CALLS TO KEEP THE FAITH IN PUBLIC LIFE

5.18.46pm GMT Thu 12th Mar 2009

Lembit Öpik, Liberal Democrat MP for Montgomeryshire, contributed to a debate on Christianity in Public Life yesterday in Westminster Hall.

Lembit, who has spoken publicly of his faith and commitment to promoting spiritual ideals in his work, said, "some people are uninterested or embarrassed about spiritual matters, and this is also very true of many politicians. It's a dreadful lost opportunity.

"In my view, people who sneer at faith have missed the fundamental point of life. And those who think they can embark on a strong political narrative with no value system to base it on are in danger of drifting in the winds of fashion.

"Having a faith does not mean pretending one is perfect. Indeed, I sometimes marvel at just how ordinary and imperfect most of us are, especially me. But the fact is that once one seriously commits to a spiritual agenda, everything becomes possible and a lot of the old human tendencies - like resentment and envy - become less important.

"I hope that as a result of this debate today, we will bring a mature multi-faith dialogue - one which delivers real results in terms of the relationship between the body politic and the soul of the nation. It's our best chance of re-establishing a moral compass at a time when people are fundamentally good, but also profoundly worried about the future."

Ends/diwedd

Notes to editor:

For more details on the debate please visit: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090311/halltext/90311h0008.htm#09031162000559