Speaking to Premier Christianity magazine, Cardinal Nichols said: “When people think we’re a society without much cohesion or mutual understanding and that’s because of the different religious beliefs, they’re wrong.

“The real problem lies not between those who believe in God, but between those who do believe in God and others who are puzzled by the whole thing, have never really thought about it and pick up stones to throw at things they don’t understand.

“The level of religious illiteracy in this country really is quite considerable and is a real obstacle to social cohesion and sharing of a vision.”

Speaking of his friendship with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Cardinal Nichols said “it’s a great joy”, adding relationships were strong with other faith leaders.

“Recently I was giving evidence to the House of the Lords on civic engagement. I did it sitting with the Chief Rabbi and we could speak with great understanding between us, most of the time making the same points.”

Cardinal Nichols made the comments during an interview about his latest book Hope in Action which deals with social issues including rehabilitation for prisoners and ending human trafficking.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols described modern slavery as “a great evil” and said the Catholic Church in particular “has an important role to play” in ending it, because the Church has “a worldwide structure and network”.

“The Metropolitan Police…

A commission set up by MP Jo Cox before she was murdered said the UK needs a government-led national strategy to combat loneliness.

The final report of the Jo Cox Loneliness Commission noted that nine million adults in the UK are often or always lonely and that loneliness is as harmful to health as obesity or smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

The commission calls for a UK-wide strategy for loneliness across all ages, led by government “but built on the insight, expertise and capacity of many others including the NHS, voluntary and community sector and business”.

As part of this, the report says, a lead minister should be appointed to drive action on loneliness across government and be accountable to parliament.

Graham Steven, partnerships and communications manager at Glasgow City Mission, has championed the commission’s recommendations and urged people to get involved.

He told Premier: “Everybody has a responsibility to play.

“Governments can do so much. But all of us as individuals, as a church, as charities, as normal citizens… there are a lot of ways we can all play a part.

“It would be a danger for us to be complacent and see it as a job the Government has to sort out.”

He added that he’s noticed loneliness is a common thread behind issues such homelessness, addiction and mental health.

Steven said just having a cup to tea with someone and lending a listening ear can make a difference.

Sophie Corlett, a…

Fenwick has removed the cartoon image from its ten department stores across the country, saying it never meant to upset shoppers.

In a statement, spokesman Nigel Poulton said: “On reflection, this greeting card has been removed from display and de-listed.

“It is definitely not our intention to cause offence to any customers.”

The £1.99 card, which shows a clergyman looking into the pan of the toilet and shouting an expletive, was withdrawn after customers at the Fenwick branch in Canterbury complained.

Rev Simon Tillotson from All Saints Church in Whitstable, Kent told the Sun: “It’s beneath a shop like Fenwick to be selling a card like that.

“They’ve done the right thing removing it.”

One shopper told the newspaper: “A card featuring a vicar in such a situation might be amusing in the right context.

“But, frankly, it’s offensive in a family store”, he added, while another said: “It’s very bad taste, indeed”.