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Washington, March 10, 2011 -- More than 25 religious leaders from Christian, Jewish, Sikh, Muslim and other organizations issued a statement today, saying they stood "shoulder-to-shoulder against extremism of all kinds in support of American values."
Signatories included the general secretary and heads of member communions of the National Council of Churches.
The text of the statement follows:
Shoulder-to-Shoulder Religious Leaders Stand
Shoulder-to-Shoulder Against Extremism of All Kinds in Support of American
Values As American religious leaders, we share a deep sense of obligation to call upon our fellow citizens to treat each other with compassion and honesty, and to foster an ethical commitment to bedrock American values such as pluralism and religious freedom, mutuality and respect—values also at the core of our religious traditions.
All of our faith communities share a powerful prohibition
against bearing false witness, with the understanding that destroying a
person’s reputation is tantamount to destroying his or her life. To assert
that Muslims as a broad group are not deeply devoted to Far from a “radicalized” fringe group, Muslims are woven into the American tapestry. Muslims serve as teachers and factory workers, doctors and lawyers, social service volunteers and loving parents. They serve proudly and with distinction in the military and FBI, on police forces and in fire departments, and in all branches of the US armed services next to soldiers of all faiths, many having given their lives for our country. In these and other vocations, Muslims work hard, give back to their communities, and worship in peace. The Muslim community’s clergy work closely with the leaders of our nation’s other faith groups where we study our sacred texts together, pray together, and join hands to address issues of shared concern, such as homelessness, drug abuse, and violence against women. The rationale for these hearings
rests on an assertion that the American Muslim community has failed to
support American law enforcement in its efforts against terrorism.
This assertion is false. A study by As faith leaders, we are committed to building a future in which extremism is an artifact of the past, and where religious identity is not the cause of hostility but of acceptance. This country’s spiritual, religious and ethnic diversity serves to enrich our public discourse. When our public discourse is enriched, extremism is seldom given quarter. We urge the members of our government as well as citizens of good will to refrain from passing judgment on religious or faith groups based on the actions of the few who pervert their spiritual traditions through acts of violence and hostile rhetoric. We believe that politicians, cultural figures and members of the media are never justified in exploiting religious differences in order to advance ideological or political aims. Our leaders in Congress and the Administration must stand up and speak out against these hearings – hearings that perpetuate misrepresentations and harm our country rather than lead it to greater awareness and a strengthened citizenry. Spiritual leaders have a moral responsibility and a
sacred calling to categorically denounce derision, misinformation or
outright bigotry directed against anyone, regardless of faith community.
Silence is not an option. Only by taking a stand together can we fulfill the
highest calling of our respective faiths, and thereby play a role in
building a safer, more secure Shoulder-to-Shoulder: Standing
with American Muslims; Upholding American Values
is a campaign of national faith-based organizations
and religious denominations to promote tolerance and put an end to
anti-Muslim bigotry. Signatories: Members of the Shoulder-to-Shoulder Steering Committee Dr. Roy Medley General Secretary, American Baptist Churches USA Dr. James Zogby President, The Arab American Institute The Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins General Minister and President, Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) Rev. Daniel Vestal President , Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Dr. Michael Trice Associate Executive Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Rev. Jennifer Butler Executive Director, Faith in Public Life Rabbi Marc Schneier President and Founder, The Foundation for Ethnic
Understanding Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy President,
Interfaith Alliance Imam Mohamed Hagmagid Ali President, Islamic Society of North America Rabbi Burton L. Visotzky, Appleman Professor of Midrash and Interreligious Studies Director, Louis Finkelstein Institute for Religious and
Social Studies, Jewish Theological Seminary Rabbi Jack Moline, Director of Public Policy, Rabbinical
Assembly and Board Member, Interfaith Alliance Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon General Secretary, National Council of Churches of Christ
in the USA Rev. Richard Killmer Executive Director, National Religious Campaign Against
Torture Rev. Richard Cizik President, The New Evangelical Partnership for the Common
Good Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II Director of Public Witness, Presbyterian Church (USA) Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster Co-Interim Executive Director, Rabbis for Human
Rights-North America Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer Director, Department of Multifaith Studies and
Initiatives, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College Rabbi Sid Schwarz Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association and Director, Faith and the Common Good (a project of Auburn
Theological Seminary) Mr. Mark J. Pelavin Director, Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism Associate Director, Religious Action Center of Reform
Judaism Rev. Jim Wallis CEO and President, Sojourners Rev. Peter Morales,
President, Unitarian Universalist Association of
Congregations The Rev. Geoffrey Black General Minister and President, The United Church of
Christ Mr. Jim Winkler General Secretary, General Board of Church and Society of
the United Methodist Church Additional signatories Rev. Dr. Carroll A. Baltimore, Sr. President, The Progressive National Baptist Convention,
Inc. Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley Co-Chair, The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia Secretary General, World Sikh Council-America Region
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As the
House Committee on Homeland Security convenes hearings on the putative
“radicalization” of American Muslims, our obligation takes on renewed
urgency. We gather together to affirm that we stand united with all
Americans in urging our elected representatives to act—not against a single,
unfairly maligned group, but against all forms of violence and extremism
that endanger our security. As spiritual leaders and people of faith, we
call on the United States Congress, elected officials at every level of
government, and all American citizens not to perpetuate damaging false
witness against our neighbors. Instead, we encourage all communities
of faith and people of good will throughout this country, to stand
shoulder-to-shoulder in communities of growing awareness, trust and hope.