The petition
A Call for Interfaith Reconciliation
As religious people from diverse traditions, we call upon Virginia Congressman Virgil Goode to re-examine his opposition to newly-elected Representative Keith Ellison, a Muslim, taking his unofficial oath of office using the Qur'an, and to apologize for his statement that, without punitive immigration reform, "there will be many more Muslims elected to office demanding the use of the Quran."
Mr. Goode insinuates that having more Muslims in the United States would be a danger to our country. As people of faith, we reject such ill-considered words.
An attack against one religion is an attack against them all. Next week, it could be Jews. Next month, it could be Christian fundamentalists or evangelicals. Right now, it is Muslims. It is they who feel targeted by repression and abuse, and they who live among us in a growing climate of fear.
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel once implored us: "No religion is an island! We are all involved with one another. Spiritual betrayal on the part of one of us affects the faith of all of us."
We hold it to be self-evident that all Americans have the right to practice their faith, whatever it may be, and that any Americans - regardless of race, color or creed - may be elected and sworn into office holding whatever book they consider sacred.
We would point out that there are some five million Muslims in the US. Many have been here for generations. They are every bit as American as Rep. Goode. Some Americans have also converted to Islam, including Rep. Ellison. We call for a renewed unity among people of conscience and of faith.
We would further point out that just as it was appropriate for the late President Ford to be honored by a profoundly Christian memorial service, so it is equally appropriate for Rep. Ellison to be sworn into office, in a private ceremony, holding the book representing his deepest religious convictions.
Above all, we urge all Americans to stand up for religious freedom and to deplore the hurtful words of any public figure who would disparage a particular religion.
In a spirit of reconciliation and peace, we invite Rep. Goode to join with us in an inter-religious delegation to visit a mosque in his district, in order that the healing may begin.
Signed:
Rev. Dr. George Hunsinger
Princeton Theological Seminary
David A. Robinson, Executive Director
Pax Christi USA: National Catholic Peace Movement
Rev. Robert Edgar
National Council of Churches
Stephen Rockwell, Director
Institute for Progressive Christianity
Jeffrey Boldt
Wisconsin Christian Alliance for Progress
Katie Barge, Director of Communications
Faith in Public Life
Rev. Debra Hafner
Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing
Rev. Peter Laarman, Executive Director
Progressive Christians Uniting
Rev. Dr. Rick Schlosser, Executive Director
California Council of Churches
Rabbi Steven B. Jacobs
The Rabbi Steven B. Jacobs Progressive Faith Foundation
Elizabeth Sholes, Director of Public Policy
California Council of Churches
Rev. Rita Nakashima Brock, Ph.D.
Co-Director, Faith Voices for the Common Good
Jesse Lava, Co-founder and Executive Director
FaithfulDemocrats.com
Rev. Jennifer Butler, Executive Director
Faith in Public Life
Rev. Dr. Larry L. Greenfield, Executive Minister
American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago
Rev. Cedric A. Harmon
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Rev. Chuck Currie
Parkrose Community United Church of Christ, Portland, OR
Joseph C. Hough, Jr., President
Union Theological Seminary, New York
Mary E. Hunt, Ph.D., Co-director
Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual
Rev. Harry Knox, Director of Religion and Faith Program
Human Rights Campaign Foundation
Rabbi Rebecca Alpert, Chair
Department of Religion, Temple University
Vincent Isner, Executive Director
Faithful America
Frances Kissling, President
Catholics for a Free Choice
Rev. Timothy F. Simpson
Christian Alliance for Progress
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