Share alike: Nicky Hardy’s Thought for the week

‘Both faiths share core values.’

I’m a Catholic deputy head in a Quaker independent school, and the chair of governors at a Catholic secondary. These roles present me with unique opportunities to integrate elements of both faith traditions. I can serve as a conciliator between them, fostering connections and partnerships.

Interfaith dialogue serves to deepen my understanding of both faiths. This involves learning about the beliefs, practices, and values of each religious heritage, as well as exploring common ground and differences. I draw on this in my work on pastoral welfare, and in social, moral, and spiritual development. This includes organising reflective activities, involving silence, mindfulness, and prayer.

Both faiths share core values, such as environmental stewardship, justice, peace, service, and compassion. Each of them offers an ethical framework that informs my decision-making as a senior school leader. Drawing on principles from Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and the Quaker testimonies, I approach issues and concerns with a commitment to the common good, equality, compassion, integrity, and justice.

‘A faith that does justice’ captures the essence of it: putting faith into action to prioritise the intrinsic value and equal dignity of every person, while actively supporting the rights of those who are marginalised and vulnerable. The pacifist tradition of Quakerism and the teachings of nonviolence in Catholicism closely align, offering a shared foundation for endeavours aimed at advancing peace, resolving conflicts without violence, and striving for disarmament and reconciliation.

Quakerism focuses on personal spiritual revelation and direct encounters with God, while CST offers a comprehensive framework for examining societal challenges. Quakerism’s focus on individual growth, and Catholicism’s focus on systemic reform, serve to enhance each other.

Quakers and Catholics share a track record of working together on social justice, from advocacy campaigns to humanitarian endeavours. Through combining their resources, skills, and connections, they enhance their collective influence, and successfully tackle entrenched injustices within our systems. Together we can equip individuals and communities with the means to effect change, urging them to pursue justice, advocate for what is right, and contribute to societal betterment. Both faiths offer moral direction, spiritual motivation, communal solidarity, and practical resources, enabling active participation in the quest for positive social transformation.

I firmly believe that engaging in dialogue and embracing the teachings of diverse traditions can foster a deeper mutual understanding, instil a reverence for the inherent richness of each religious tradition, and spark innovative approaches to promoting social justice in educational and community environments. Let’s be inclusive of all beliefs, and all backgrounds.

Nicky is the deputy head pastoral at Leighton Park School.

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