PASADENA, Calif. (RNS) Leaders of a flagship progressive Episcopal church are defending themselves against charges of sympathy for terrorists in their decision to host the annual Muslim Public Affairs Council convention.
All Saints Church has received dozens of emails accusing it of condoning terrorism for hosting MPAC's 12th annual convention on Dec. 15, the first held in a Christian church.
Ryan Mauro, national security analyst at RadicalIslam.org, contends that MPAC is "taking advantage of naive Christians," and that Islamists seek to protect themselves from critics by forming an "interfaith bloc." He criticized MPAC statements on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and accused its leaders of being part of a Muslim Brotherhood plot to destroy the West from within.
While many Muslims in the public eye have come to expect such condemnation, other religious leaders feel a responsibility to stand up to concerted efforts to demonize Muslims. "This is not just a few random cranky Christians," the Rev. Susan Russell, a senior associate of All Saints Church, told reporters on Thursday (Dec. 6).
"Just because it's directed at Muslims now, doesn't mean it's not going to be directed to other faith communities at other times," added Rabbi Sarah Bassin, executive director of NewGround, a Muslim-Jewish dialogue organization.
Still, All Saints Rector Edwin J. Bacon Jr. said the emails to All Saints were unexpected.
"We've received so much joy and reinforcement from living an interreligious life, so we simply hadn't been aware that this would cause offense for some people," he said, standing at the All Saints altar with about 25 interfaith leaders. "It's bringing us some very good advertisement, talking about our mission."
Salam Al-Marayati, MPAC's president, said that the criticism has given the conference so much free publicity that part of the marketing budget will be transferred to provide extra security.
Al-Marayati invited anti-Islam activists to the convention. "We can remove that hatred and prejudice in your heart and replace it with understanding," he said.
KRE/AMB END SWEAS
Barbara Hopwood | Dec 7, 2012 | 3:03pm
If I lived in Pasadena I would be proud to be a member of All Saints..Our parish welcomes a Muslim community to use our building for their worship space. How else can we begin to know our neighbors?
RAYMOD J RICE | Dec 9, 2012 | 7:20pm
CONGRATULATIONS to All Saints.Bigots demonize Islam by equating it to the pimitive tribal lifestyles of the developing world whlch admitted ly is nominally Muslim , but ethically has not emerged fro its tribal pagan roots.American Muslims are Pro-life, Pro -family, Pro-business and Pro-American.Christians can learn from Muslims especially as Pope Benedict says ” their commitment to prayer”.Read the leading Muslim , Ibrihim Cooper’s Christmas message , emphasising Islamic love and respect for Jesus and Mary !
smart3761 | Dec 10, 2012 | 4:50pm
Indeed it is time we talk about Islam wrongly called ‘Religion’. The base must be ‘independence’ and using ones intellect and reasoning to find the truth and call on others to think on the same. We certainly have one source of knowledge.
As a Muslim, I am free from what one says without proof and evidence from the Qur’an. The Qur’an is the simplified explanation of the guidance prophets and messengers received from Allah before that was revealed to the then world (Quraysh and the Levi clan of the Children of Israel in Madina) through Muhammad Rasulullah.
I am independent of what nations understood if it goes against the practice of Muhammad Rasulullah.
Let us start by reading: ISBN: 9781467883931; ISBN: 978-1-60976-919-2
Michelle | Dec 10, 2012 | 7:07pm
I am an Episcopalian. All Saints showed that love thy neighbor is real. That Inter religious dialogue can take place—even among religions as different as Christianity and Islam.