London – February 2005. In a speech delivered at the Delegation Gala Dinner held in honour of the Cardinal Archbishop of Washington, the British and Irish Delegate, Mr Anthony Bailey launched the latest Annual Report of the Delegation. “For many of you the charitable, humanitarian and interfaith activities of the Constantinian Order are well known and are, I believe, appreciated by the community at large.
“Yet ancient Orders such as ours can often be misunderstood and attacked as noble relics from the past which some say have little or no role to play in modern democracies such as Britain and Ireland . And frankly they would be right if it wasn't for the way we as an organisation have changed over the centuries. Our Order has moved with the times, and we still play a significant role in fulfilling the basic fundamentals of our membership – namely the defence of our faith and the ensure the care of those most in need in our societies.
“So how have we managed this? Firstly we are an all embracing, internationally recognised dynastic Roman Catholic Order of Knighthood. We work with, give assistance to, recognise, as well as honour, not only those of all different social groups within the Catholic community but also those of other religious communities as illustrated by the Protestant, Orthodox, Muslim and Jewish knights and dames within our Delegation. This multi-faith focus is I believe totally in line with the clear policies and personal aspirations of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II who more than any other Pontiff has given so much to the cause of interfaith dialogue and understanding.
“As a charitable and humanitarian body, our Catholic Order has also been extremely active and no more so than in the British and Irish delegation of just one hundred and fifty people. During the past year, well over US$1 million has been donated in the name of the Order to so many charitable bodies. Principal among these during the past year has been a major interfaith project for the Holy See in the troubled Balkan republic of Serbia and Montenegro.
“We have also funded care workers for the Forthspring Community Centre in Belfast which is undertaking extremely valuable inter community work among the divided Catholic and Protestant communities in Northern Ireland.
“We have supported financially and morally London's Passage Homeless Centre, the St Thomas Fund, the All Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group within the British Parliament, Citywise in Dublin, the Tyburn Covent near Marble Arch, The Dublin Skin and Cancer Hospital, and only last month the Tsunami Emergency Relief Fund.
“Internationally, we are currently well advanced in our discussions concerning the launch of new charitable and interfaith initiatives in Syria , Lebanon , Yemen , Costa Rica and Panama. These new initiatives, which will include the facilitation of exchange visits for religious leaders between Europe and the Middle East , followed the excellent formal exchanges which the Order established last year with the respective Heads of State in each country.
Ultimately this Order exists because of its membership and what they give to it and how they support it. I would therefore, in launching our Annual Report, like to thank in particular my Council Members, Chaplains, and all knights and dames and ask them to maintain their support and co-operation in the months and years ahead” Anthony Bailey concluded.