As the observance of Ramadan begins,
a call for respect for Muslim neighbors
New York, August 11, 2010 -- The National Council of Churches of Christ
in the USA, its Interfaith Relations Commission and the Christian
participants in the National Muslim-Christian initiative, have issued the
following statement:
As our
Muslim neighbors begin their observance of Ramadan with fasting,
re-dedicating themselves to God and God's service, we as Christians are
troubled by fellow Christians in the
United States who
are expressing intolerance against Muslims in words and deeds.
Christ
calls us to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39). It is this
commandment, more than the simple bonds of our common humanity, which is the
basis for our relationship with Muslims around the world.
Grounded in this commitment,
we question the anti-Muslim tenor of actions and speech regarding the
building of Cordoba House and mosque near the site of the former World
Trade
Center in
New York City.
We are keenly aware that many
Muslims, as well as Jews, Christians, Hindus, and others, lost family
members in the attacks on September 11, 2001. We recognize, as does the
Muslim community around the world, that it was a group of Muslims who
embraced terrorism and teachings counter to the Qur'an and Islam that
carried out this action. We stand with the majority of Muslims—including
American Muslims—who are working against such radical influences in their
communities. They have our support for building the Cordoba House as a
living monument to mark the tragedy of 9/11 through a community center
dedicated to learning, compassion, and respect for all people.
This effort is consistent with
our country’s principle of freedom of religion, and the rights all citizens
should enjoy.
We also decry the
anti-Muslim actions and plans of many church leaders and members, such as
those of the Dove
World
Outreach
Center in the
U.S.A.
Misguided or confused about the
love of neighbor by which Christ calls us to live,
leaders and members of this
church and others are engaged in harassment of Muslims, and in the planning
of an "International Burn the Qur'an Day," to be held on September 11th.
Such open acts of hatred are
not a witness to Christian faith, but a grave trespass against the ninth
commandment, a bearing of false witness against our neighbor.
They contradict the ministry of
Christ and the witness of the church in the world.
We ask all Christians to promote respect and love of neighbor, and to speak
and work against extremist ideas, working with Muslims as appropriate, in
order to live out the commandment to love our neighbor, and to promote
peace.
The National Muslim-Christian Initiative brings
together 14 religious bodies from various streams of Muslim and Christian
communities, who seek to enhance mutual understanding, respect, appreciation
and support of what is Sacred for each other through dialogue, education and
sustained visible encounters that foster and nurture relationships.
Since its founding in 1950, the National Council of
the Churches of Christ in the USA has been the leading force for
ecumenical cooperation among Christians in the United States. The NCC's
36 member faith groups -- from a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican,
Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace
churches -- include 45 million persons in more than 100,000 local
congregations in communities across the nation.
NCC News contact:
Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228 (office), 646-853-4212 (cell),
pjenks@ncccusa.org
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