Leaders share faiths' teachings
Nearly 200 gather to hear responses to attacks
By TOM HEINEN
of the Journal Sentinel staff
Last Updated: Oct. 12, 2001
About 180 people of many faiths and ethnic backgrounds gathered Thursday
night at Milwaukee's Islamic Center for the first of four forums the
Milwaukee Association for Interfaith Relations is holding in response to
the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"As we gather here tonight, we really are aware of a mix of emotions that
we all have - sadness, anger, frustration. . . . But also an awareness that
we are called to a deeper understanding of how we live together as members
of a very diverse and plural faith community," said Judith Longdin,
chairwoman of the association and director of the Milwaukee Catholic
Archdiocese's Ecumenical and Interfaith Concerns Office.
Panelists from Islamic, Jewish, Buddhist and Christian traditions
each spoke for 15 minutes on their faith's teachings about violence,
intolerance and the common good before answering questions. Each
tradition has commitments to justice and peace, and each sees the taking
of innocent lives as wrong.
The speakers, in order of appearance, were: Othman Atta, Islamic
Society of Milwaukee vice president; the Rev. Tonen O'Connor, Milwaukee
Zen Center resident priest; Father Bryan Massingale, professor of moral
theology at the archdiocese's St. Francis Seminary; and Jody Hirsh,
director of Judaic education at the Jewish Community Center.
The association is the dialogue arm of the Interfaith Conference of
Greater Milwaukee. The series, "Interfaith Conversations: Community in a
Time of Crisis," offers similar programs at 7 p.m. on: Monday at
Congregation Shalom, 7630 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Fox Point; Thursday
at Baha'i Faith-Milwaukee, 2526 W. Vliet St.; and Oct. 21 at St. John
Vianney Parish, 1755 N. Calhoun Road, Brookfield. Call (414) 276-9050.
Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Oct. 13,
2001.
©Copyright 2001, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
|