At Capitol Hill press conference, leaders say national security can be protected without singling out a faith community
March 10, 2011
WASHINGTON— Just after Congress convened the first in a series of hearings examining “radicalization” in the American Muslim community, BJC Executive Director J. Brent Walker and a group of faith leaders responded with a statement calling fellow citizens and political leaders to the “bedrock American principles” of pluralism and religious freedom, mutuality and respect.
In the joint statement, released at a Capitol Hill press conference following the hearing, religious leaders urged “elected representatives to act — not against a single, unfairly maligned group, but against all forms of violence and extremism that endanger our security.”
“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,” the statement said. “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.”
Among the signatories were some leaders of BJC supporting bodies, including Dr. Roy Medley of American Baptist Churches USA ; the Rev. Daniel Vestal of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Rev. Dr. Carroll Baltimore of the Progressive National Baptist Convention. Other signatories included the Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners and the Rev. Richard Cizik of The New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good.
The statement is as follows:
Shoulder-to-Shoulder
Religious Leaders Stand Shoulder-to-Shoulder Against Extremism of All Kinds in Support of American Values
Washington, DC—March 10, 2011
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.
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.
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 America’s safety and the peaceful interaction of its entire citizenry – that is false witness. By subjecting American Muslims to such scrutiny, we weaken our more perfect union, and we harm the national vision of our common good that is a witness to the nations. We encourage all citizens of this country to honor freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution that enable the free exercise of religion across our great land.
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 Duke University indicated that “the largest single source of initial information” in helping prevent terrorist attacks were members of the Muslim community. In fact, the American Muslim community is deeply engaged in preventing terrorism. We regret that the Committee on Homeland Security held such a hearing today with specific focus on the Muslim community, and in the future we encourage its Members to listen not only to the voices of Muslim Americans and the law enforcement community, but also to witnesses from other faith communities, leaders who can stand up for the good character and ethical behavior of their Muslim brothers and sisters. It is unfortunate that Chairman King did not call any law enforcement experts to testify to the claims he has made.
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 America.
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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
J. Brent Walker
Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
