FIRST Minister Jack McConnell will stage a second summit on sectarianism this autumn.
The previous summit was held in February last year at Glasgow University and some 40 organisations pledged a "consensus" aimed at stamping out bigotry.
Among those who attended were representatives from Celtic and Rangers, the Catholic Church, Church of Scotland and the Orange Order.
Since then, Mr McConnell has launched an 18-point action plan to combat sectarianism, which he has described as "Scotland's shame", especially in the west ofScotland. The strategy outlined in January included antisectarian classes in schools and plans to introduce banning orders on troublemakers at religious marches.
But the Roman Catholic Church and the Orange Order criticised Mr McConnell at the time for not involving them in drawing up the plan.
The marching season has passed off in Scotland so far this summer relatively peacefully.
Simon Dames, press and publicity officer for the Scottish Catholic Media Office, cautiously welcomed the move.
Mr Dames said: "Certainly the church welcomes any coming together of people of goodwill. The second antisectarianism summit may play a part in the overall strategy to end sectarianism.
"Any step forward will be welcomed by the Catholic Church."
A spokesman for the Orange Order said there was a concern the executive was showboating on sectarianism, and accused ministers of claiming credit for some of the order's ideas.
He said: "Progress on sectarianism has happened in spite of what the executive has done.
"It was so badly handled that the Orange Order and the Catholic Church took it upon themselves to come together.
"It is true to say that a bit of scepticism has crept back in."
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