Plan a 'Unity Event' for Sept. 11th

by Maureen Fiedler on Sep. 03, 2010

Ever since I heard that a minister in Gainesville, Fla., plans to burn copies of the Qur’an publicly on Sept. 11, I began to think about what people of faith can do to offer a counter-witness to such hatred and intolerance.

In Washington, D.C., we will hold our annual Unity Walk, an event that has taken place every year since 2002. We walk down Massachusetts Ave., and stop to visit an amazing variety of houses of worship on that route. As many as 2,000 people have attended in the past. We usually conclude our walk -- fittingly -- at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. We will hold it again this year, on Sept. 12.

But Catholic parishes and other groups might also plan "unity events," especially those showing solidarity with our Muslim sisters and brothers. Groups could invite a Muslim speaker, exchange church/mosque visits, or hold a joint public prayer service… there are lots of possibilities.

Such events do not have to take place on the weekend of Sept. 11, but public actions by people of faith in the next month or two can speak volumes about the value of interfaith understanding and dialogue in the face of the misinformed and destructive Islamophobia so much in evidence right now.

remember our Pope praying in

Submitted by charles scanlon (not verified) on Sep. 03, 2010.

remember our Pope praying in the Blue Mosque. He has given us example that so we likewise may do.

I really do not believe you

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sep. 04, 2010.

I really do not believe you can force or pretend solidarity where there is perhaps is none. To proclaim solidarity with Islam in general could be misinterpreted as proclaiming solidarity with extremist radical violent Muslim jihadists. You may as well proclaim solidarity with the "book burners." after all their creatures of God too.

Good basic idea, I am not sure you have worked out all the"bugs" yet. Keep trying to promote Solicarity in Peace.

God Love You.

The minister's actions likely

Submitted by Sirach (not verified) on Sep. 04, 2010.

The minister's actions likely stem from frustration that the mass of muslims have not spoken out publically condemning the actions of their fellow muslims that committed mass murder in 2001 and around the world since then in the name of Islam. The larger body’s silence speaks volumes to some Christians and implies complicity with the violence perpetrated by the smaller number of terrorists that actually commit such crimes against humanity. Muslims could make significant progress in interfaith understanding if they invited the construction of a synagogue and cathedral in Mecca. Unfortunately, I’m not optimistic that that either will ever happen.

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