nterFaith Conference's Diverse Faith Traditions Gather for
Prayer at Gaston Hall, Georgetown University, Thursday, September 13, 2001
at 10 a.m.
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archdiocese of Washington, The Right Reverend
Jane Dixon, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, Rabbi Fred
Reiner,
President, Washington Board of Rabbis, Imam Hendi, Muslim Chaplain,
Georgetown University and Other Key Religious Leaders to Participate
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The InterFaith Conference of
Metropolitan Washington is gathering leaders and members of diverse faith
traditions to pray together in this time of national crisis at Gaston Hall
(main auditorium located in Healy Hall) Georgetown University, 37 & O Streets
NW, Washington, D.C. on Thursday, September 13, 2001 at 10:00 a.m. Thursday
had already been designated as the World Day of Prayer. The public is invited
to join people from the Baha'i, Hindu-Jain, Islamic, Jewish, Latter-day
Saints, Protestant, Roman Catholic and Sikh faiths, the members of the
InterFaith Conference. Persons of all faith traditions and good will are
welcome.
"The InterFaith Conference shares the profound outrage and grief of this
country and world at the terrorist attacks against the United States
yesterday," said Reverend Clark Lobenstine, Executive Director of the
InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington.
Imam Yahya Hendi, Muslim Chaplain for Georgetown University, said
"Yesterday's incident is as tragic and unacceptable to the Muslim community
as it is to every community in the nation. The Muslim community in America
and worldwide is very sad, and would like to see those behind these attacks
brought to justice."
Father Adam Bunnell, Georgetown University chaplain, said, "It is very
important for all of us to pray together in such moments."
Reverend Lobenstine said, "We urge all people to lift up prayers for the
dead and their families, for the injured and their loved ones, and all
emergency service personnel. We also pray for our government officials --
especially President Bush -- in this time of deep crisis. We urge people to
join together in order to provide disaster relief through established channels
... Where it is appropriate, we urge churches, synagogues, mosques, temples
and all other religious centers to stay open for community prayer, meditation,
and the provision of comfort and counseling ... The perpetrators of these
heinous acts must be brought to justice."
Because religion has already been raised as a possible motive, the
InterFaith Conference reiterated a part of their policy statement on "Violence
in the Name of Religion" which states, "We strongly deplore the misdeeds of
those who routinely justify violence on religious grounds; not only do their
violent actions cause harm to people who are the creation of God, but also
their justifications do violence to the fabric of our respective faiths. Our
religions teach us the sanctity of human life; they apply no veneer of
respectability to slaughter carried out for personal vengeance or political
purpose."
The InterFaith Conference (IFC) of Metropolitan Washington connects, informs
and unifies eight faith communities of this region to work together toward
positive social change and to build understanding among diverse people.
©Copyright 2001, PRNewswire
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