Archbishop opposes Florida pastor’s protest at Detroit mosque
April 22, 2011
Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit joined with other Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders in speaking out against the Rev. Terry Jones’s plans to hold a Good Friday protest outside a Detroit-area mosque. Jones, a Florida pastor, oversaw the burning of a copy of the Qur’an in March.
“My presence here today at Islamic Center of America is but a small token of the local Catholic Christian community’s support for you at a difficult time,” said Archbishop Vigneron. “When some voices choose to promote intolerance, and even hatred, I come as a voice of peace.”
“We have an opportunity to show the nation and the world that it is possible for peoples of many different faith to respect one another and to foster mutual understanding,” he added.
“Terry Jones, he is not representative of the Christian community,” said Imam Hassan Al-Qazwini of the Islamic Center of America. The imam added that Muslims are “indebted to our Christian friends who have showed us absolute support.”
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Further information:
- Archbishop Vigneron comes as ‘voice of peace’ to Dearborn mosque (Michigan Catholic)
- Letter of Archbishop Vigneron to the Muslim community (Archdiocese of Detroit)
- Clergy united in their mission to protest rally by Florida pastor (Detroit Free Press)
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Posted by: bkmajer3729 -
Apr. 23, 2011 1:13 PM ET USA
So, how do you propose to make the distinction any clearer or further than vowed Sacramental Catholic clerical service to the Person of Christ? This is not about Theological and Philosophical distinctions but rather distancing ourselves from the same kind of radical fundamentalism that has led to terror organizations claiming operation in the name of God. To paraphrase, 'Do not be afraid; you are going to have troubles in the world but I have overcome the world'.
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Posted by: -
Apr. 23, 2011 12:55 PM ET USA
Doesn't a Christian pastor have better things to do on Good Friday than to hold a protest in front of a Mosque? You know, like commemorating the death of Jesus? Just saying...
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Posted by: stpetric -
Apr. 23, 2011 9:39 AM ET USA
This is a fine distinction, but I hope what Archbishop Vigneron et al are doing is, as a large part of the Body of Christ, telling a very small part of the Body of Christ that its actions are neither charitable nor prudent; and *not* showing "absolute support" for Islam.
