The 9th meeting of Parliament of World Religions in 130 years holds in Chicago this week

RELIGIOUS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – The Parliament of World Religions is meeting in Chicago this week, it’s ninth meeting in 130 years and five years since its last gathering.

It is attracting speakers from all major religious traditions and leaders including the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the former US House speaker, Nancy Pelosi. The theme is “A call to conscience – defending freedom and human rights” with a focus on combatting authoritarianism.

Topics include climate change, human rights, food insecurity, racism and women’s rights. The chair of the gathering is a Wiccan priestess who is also an author and lawyer. The Parliament was started in 1893 to bring together world religions to find common cause, promote harmony and engage with world issues.