A PROCLAMATION RESPONSE TO THE FATWA AGAINST VIOLENCE
On November 30, 2007, over 300 Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders gathered at the National Press Club, Washington, D.C. to receive and respond to the recently issued Fiqh Council of North America’s FATWA AGAINST VIOLENCE, chaired by Muzammil H. Siddiqi.
On behalf of Christians and Jews, Theodore Edgar Cardinal McCarrick, Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, Reverend Dr. Samuel T. Lloyd, III, the ninth Dean of the Washington National Cathedral, and Senior Rabbi Jack Luxemburg, Temple Beth Ami received the Fatwa and issued the following Proclamation Response:
We are Americans of Christian and Jewish heritage who have joined together with Muslim Americans in celebration and thanksgiving for the United States of America.
We thank God for the wisdom imparted to our Founding Fathers who heard His voice. God has given us our freedom, and America has thrived because of religious freedom enjoyed by all.
As Americans, we are free to differ in our beliefs. We celebrate that freedom knowing that the One God looks into the human heart, judges with perfect justice, and loves every one of us, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or culture.
America has suffered for the third time in its history an attack on its homeland – the War of 1812, Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 Terrorist attack. These may not be the last attacks on our people.
Americans cannot respond effectively to the criminal behavior we call “terrorism” if we are divided. And divisions are nurtured by misunderstanding and fear. Further, we recognize that we insult Muslim Americans when we do not respect their valued believes of their Islamic Faith – the Qur’an and the Prophet Mohammed.
In this Season of Thanksgiving, we proclaim our unity through diversity. We give thanks on this day of thanksgiving for Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and people of other traditions and beliefs.
And it is in this spirit that we pledge our full faith and fortune to hold America’s love of freedom high even as we deal with the serious threats facing America.
In the spirit of giving thanks, we thank the Muslim FIQH (jurist) Council of North America for its Fatwa deploring all acts of terrorism and declaring that it is the duty of every Muslim to help prevent terrorists’ attacks against the American people.
We join in the prayer of the FIQH Council Fatwa and with the American Muslim community:
“We pray for the defeat of extremism, terrorism and injustice.
We pray for the safety and security of our country, the United States of America, and its people.
We pray for the safety and security of all inhabitants of this globe.
We pray that interfaith harmony and cooperation prevail both in the United States and every where in the world.”
On behalf of Christians and Jews,
Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick
Reverend Dr. Samuel T. Lloyd, III
Senior Rabbi Jack Luxemburg
Please join us. Endorse the Thanksgiving Proclamation today.
Learn more about the November 30 event at the National Press Club.
Read the Fatwa issued by the Fiqh Council of North America.
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