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The Newsletter of the Interfaith Working Group
October 2001
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Responses to Terror
We grieve with all who lost family and friends on
September 11; our hearts also go out to those who have
lost a sense of security or purpose because of the
tragedy, and for the many people whose livelihoods are
now at risk as well. The long-term ramifications are still
unclear, but what is clear is that no one in this
country--and possibly the rest of the world as well--will
be unaffected by the events of September 11, 2001.
We believe that continuing our work is the best way
for us to reject senseless violence, especially in a time of
rage and insecurity, when there are those would turn
religious and sexual minorities into scapegoats.
We recognize that the seemingly endless struggle for
justice goes on regardless of September 11. A great deal
occurred in the month preceding the attacks: a Florida
judge ruled that the state had an interest in preventing
gay men and lesbians from adopting children; a legislator
was prevented from posting Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King's "I Have a Dream" speech in the courthouse in
Alabama where the Ten Commandments are now
prominently posted; legislative progress was made in
California and Washington, DC toward gaining more
rights for same-gender couples; a pastor and two
parishioners were assaulted outside the Metropolitan
Community Church of the Blue Ridge in Roanoke, VA;
University Baptist Church
of Austin, TX withdrew from
the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
over anti-gay policies; and the
Atlanta Baptist Association's
executive committee asked
Oakhurst Baptist Church
to reverse its Welcome and Affirming stance or leave the Association.
In this time when more people may feel the need for a
spiritual home, we urge every house of worship to
intentionally welcome those who may think they have no
place to go. Also, if your congregation is interested in an
accompaniment ministry to protect mosques and Muslims
in the Philadelphia area, please call Richard Taylor
(215-248-3178).
This newsletter consists largely of responses that have
been made to the tragedy from organizations and
individuals we often cite, and some of the controversy
that has already been engendered by those responses.
Links to the full text of most of the statements are
available on the IWG web site. While there are common
themes running through these statements, they
represent only a small portion of the religious diversity of
this country and the diverse thinking of religious
Americans. We have not included any specific
commentary on foreign policy, as we believe that is
outside our mission.
The Falwell Controversy
During a September 13 appearance on
Pat Robertson's 700 Club,
Jerry Falwell blamed the
ACLU for the
tragedy and railed against federal court decisions
"throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools." He
also said, "The abortionists have got to bear some burden
for this because God will not be mocked. And when we
destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God
mad." He also blamed
People For the American Way,
pagans, abortionists, feminists, gays and lesbians for having
"tried to secularize America." Robertson's response:
"Well I totally concur and the problem is we have adopted their
agenda at the highest levels of our government."
Falwell, Robertson and other Religious Right figures
claimed for years that church/state separation, acceptance
of religious and sexual minorities, and giving women
control over their own bodies would result in the collapse
of American society. This time their comments were met
with harsh and immediate criticism from many sectors,
though much of the reaction focused more on the timing
rather than the content of their remarks.
Falwell tried several times to apologize, reiterating
that he did not blame anyone but the terrorists, and that
his comments were theological and taken out of context.
A final apology on falwell.com was more apologetic in
tone. Robertson issued a statement saying that he and the
other hosts had not understood what Falwell was saying.
Al-Fatiha Foundation
Faisal Alam, director of
Al-Fatiha,
said:
"We must not allow our fears and anger to overcome us. Religion has
long been used as a tool of oppression against many
communities including LGBT people, and the voices of
peace and justice. But no religion at its core advocates
violence or terrorism, including Islam." Al-Fatiha is an
international organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgendered Muslims and allies.
Rembert Truluck
In response to
Rev. Falwell,
author and web commentator
Rembert Truluck
said in part:
The Supreme Court did not throw God out of the classroom in
the school prayer ruling. Any informed intelligent person knows
that the Court simply ruled that public school boards could not impose sectarian religion in any form on public schools. Homophobic
abusive religionists have worked hard for years to misrepresent the
decision of the Court and to break down the wall that rightly exists
between church and state under the Constitution of the United
States.
Soulforce
The Soulforce
web site has responses to the September 11 attacks and to Jerry
Falwell and
Pat Robertson
from Mel White, plus a
statement
which says in part:
Each and every one of us is partially responsible for an environment
and atmosphere that fosters alienation and superiority.
Discrimination and verbal and physical abuse against individuals based
on their race, religion, nationality, gender, ability, marital status,
gender identity and sexual orientation takes place on a daily basis
in this nation.
As we seek to discern the appropriate action to prevent this from
occurring again, let us also take the time to reflect on the violence
we can cause to one another as a result of our bigotry and fears, and
make sure that we do not turn on each other in our anger.
We are all sisters and brothers, children of the same Divine Creator,
neighbors living together on an ever-shrinking planet. Gandhi
reminds us that if we demand an eye for an eye and a tooth for a
tooth, "the whole world will end up blind and toothless."
As we seek guidance to make sense of the acts against humanity
on September 11, 2001, let us remember to be ever vigilant that we
do not become what we abhor.
Reform Judaism
Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
said in part:
I have worked with Revs. Robertson and Falwell over the years.
I have had opportunities to see them as pastors of great empathy
and caring. To have failed so painfully to manifest those qualities
at this time is deeply troubling. If this tragedy teaches us anything
it is that it is time to stop the hate.
What would they say to the gay men and women who perished
in this tragedy; to their families and loved ones? What would they
say to the families of those who died who are supporters of civil liberties, America's cherished tradition of separation of church and
state and those who are supporters of the right for a woman to
choose? Does not the logic of their statements blame these victims
and their families for their deaths? I cannot believe that this was
their intent. I urge them to retract their statements immediately and
to apologize to those whose unimaginable pain has been intensified
by such remarks.
Rabbi Saperstein and Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, president
of the
Union of American Hebrew Congregations
also issued a
statement
which said in part:
At times such as these--and we pray that there will no more
such times--it is especially important that we behave with deliberation,
lest trauma distort our actions. Specifically, we need to
bear in mind that this conflict is between the United States and
those who would see our way of life destroyed. It is not between
some Americans and others. We must not allow this attack on America
to divide Americans
We are concerned, in particular, with reports that some in our
nation have directed their understandable anger at Tuesday's carnage
at individual Arab Americans and Muslim Americans. We
are outraged at reports of attacks on Arab Americans, Muslim Americans,
and their mosques and businesses and condemn all such acts
of lawlessness. Such attacks, such scapegoating, are deeply unAmerican.
They also violate what is perhaps a preeminent lesson of
Jewish history--the danger of group hatred, of imputing to a group
the actions of a few individuals.
We know that like all Americans, Arab Americans and Muslim
Americans overwhelming share our revulsion at the terrorist attacks, and
our commitment to American values. We know that
they, too, have family and friends injured or killed in the attacks,
and our condolences go out to them, as to all who are grieving.
On Tuesday, evil was evident, but humanity will prevail. Since
Tuesday, we have witnessed a remarkable outpouring of human
kindness, as Americans instinctively insist that evil's victory would
be limited and that we would not permit inhumanity to prevail. We
believe, deeply and stubbornly, that goodness and kindness are
more powerful than cruelty. We therefore call on all Americans in
their interpersonal dealings, and especially in dealing with those
rendered particularly vulnerable by these events, to be fully
American--to act with kindness and with courtesy, to seek to express, as
Lincoln put it, "the better angels of our nature."
Dignity/USA
Mary Louise Cervone, president and Marianne Duddy, executive director of
Dignity/USA
released a statement which begins:
Dignity/USA joins with all people of goodwill in expressing our
shock and horror at the terrorist strikes against the US earlier this
week. We extend our deepest sympathy to all of those who have
lost people they love, or who are still waiting for word of the missing. In particular, we extend condolences to the loved ones of Fr.
Mychal Judge, NY Fire Department Chaplain, who was a longtime
member of Dignity, and to all our members and friends who have
been directly impacted by these events. May those responsible be
brought to justice under the law in the not too distant future.
Pagan
In The Witches' Voice,
cofounder Wren Walker wrote:
For any nation, for any people staring at the choices that the
United States faces today, these serious considerations would present a set of serious challenges. And for any nation, for any people,
these serious challenges would set faction against faction, liberal
against conservative, hawk against dove, civil liberties against national
security and religious beliefs against secular power. And in
any nation these confrontations surely would cause a quite a
ruckus, stir up the smoldering passions of old resentments and
generally strain the very fiber of national identity and the
commitment to the ideals of 'liberty and justice for all.'
But this is not just any nation. This is America. We cut our
teeth on this stuff. We can disagree on political policy, fight over
religious dogmas and creeds, squabble over budgets, book bans and
social morals and at the same time remain steadfast in our declaration
that we are one people and one nation. For Americans-and for all people
anywhere in the world who hold liberty dear--it
is simply the normal procedure that we go through, the normal discomfort
that we bear and the normal price that we are willing to
pay in order to remain free.
Reconstructionist Judaism
A
"Statement from Leaders of the Reconstructionist
Movement: On the Attack On America and the Coming
High Holidays" said in part:
In shock and sorrow, we mourn with all Americans. We
express our horror at the devastating loss of life and stand in
solidarity and sympathy with the families of the dead and injured
and with those awaiting news of loved ones. As Jews we believe
that human beings are created b'tzelem Elohim, in the image of
God; that each life is infinitely precious in the sight of God; and
that each life lost diminishes God's presence in our world.
Tuesday's attack was a devastating assault on the values for
which our country stands-freedom and democracy, justice, pluralism and
tolerance. Yet the soul of America cannot be weakened
by acts of terror, as long as we realize that the safety and security of
every nation and individual lies in an affirmation and defense of
freedom and democracy that extends to all peoples. In the wake of
terror we need to be especially vigilant lest our understandable anger become a pretext for persecution or discrimination against any
individual or group.
Together Americans of all backgrounds and faiths share grief
and rage, and together we must seek justice. We cannot withdraw
from the struggle for freedom; to do so would only strengthen the
hands of those devoted to the destruction not only of America, but
of what America stands for as well....
...As we approach the Jewish New Year, we ask: how can we
shape that world for freedom and democracy? If we believe that
God has no hands but ours, then the work of building a just world
will require the efforts of each one of us. If God has no voice but
ours, then human rights and justice are the messages we must
speak. And if God has no heart but ours, then our integrity and
commitment to sacred values must permeate our daily lives, as we
seek to heal the world.
Family Research Council (FRC)
An email from the FRC's Ken Connor (9/13), to
"Friends of Family Research Council" entitled "Heroes of
Flight 93," said: "Americans are not rising up to defend
the right to slaughter the unborn. They are not sacrificing
their lives so homosexuals can marry. They are not paying the ultimate
price so pornographers can peddle their
smut." However, Connor's 9/17 email, entitled "A
Bruised Reed He Will Not Break," said (evidently referencing
Rev. Falwell): "This is no time, I believe, to further wound America's spirit, by casting blame on our fellow citizens. Scripture tells us that 'all have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God.' Singling out groups
whose conduct offends us is not likely to bring about the
national repentance that our country needs. It is more
likely that such actions will simply polarize at a time
when we are desperately in need of national unity." He
also said: "If the attacks represented God's judgment on
America for our national wrongdoing, how can we justify
retaliation against the terrorists? Shouldn't our response
be one of repentance rather than retaliation? Shouldn't
we embrace our attackers as agents of God?"
Interfaith Alliance
The Interfaith Alliance and
Interfaith Alliance Foundation issued
a statement,
which said in part:
Even though the great religious traditions of in our nation differ
significantly, they do share a set of core values. Let us face into
our fears, holding fast to those values. Such a posture will prevent
the kind of dangerous stereotyping evidenced in despicable acts of
hate and violence fomented upon Muslim and Islamic centers of
worship in our land. Guidance from the sacred scriptures and oral
traditions of our varied religions will keep us on a path characterized by
respect for the dignity and worth of all people, appreciation of diversity,
and a compassionate pursuit of community.
Unitarian Universalist Association
A letter from
Unitarian Universalist Association
President, Rev. William G. Sinkford said in part:
The terrorist attacks are being likened to the bombing of Pearl
Harbor, a day that "will live in infamy." Pearl Harbor did galvanize
this nation into action, and my hope is that this tragedy, too, will
impel us to address the brokenness of our world that makes violence an imaginable solution. Remember also that Pearl Harbor led
to the impounding and imprisonment of thousands of innocent Japanese Americans. There are Arab and Muslim communities in this
country and around the world that grieve as we do, and fear as we
do. I hope our congregations will reach out to those communities
and stand with them.
Some Operational Changes
We have decided that it is no longer feasible to produce IWG events; we will
focus on written materials and maintaining ties with other
organizations/coalitions, while publicizing and participating in other
groups' events.
Eliminating events will help with our time/labor constraints, but could
also reduce income (the concert was a
major funding source). We will be more dependent on
the kindness of congregations, individuals, and organizational grants for
the continuation of our work. Tax
deductible contributions under $1,000 may be sent to:
Interfaith Working Group
PO Box 11706
Philadelphia, PA, 19101
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