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BAY AREA MUSLIMS HOST SUCCESSFUL INTERFAITH PROGRAM

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and United Muslim of

America (UMA) Interfaith Alliance hosted a recent meeting of religious

leaders from the San Francisco Bay area. The event entitled "Building

Bridges Among People of Faith" was attended by 60 leaders representing many

faiths…

At the event, Rev. Gerald O'Rourke, from the San Francisco Archdiocese,

stated, "We no longer have the luxury of not having a dialogue among the

people of faith." Omar Ahmad, Chairman of CAIR said it is important that

American Muslims actively participate in interfaith dialogue. Cooperation

among communities of faith is the key to a harmonious and peaceful society".

Faith leaders attending the event included Rt. Rev. William E. Swing,

Bishop (Episcopal Diocese of California), Rev. Amos Brown (Third Baptist

Church), Bishop John Wester (Archdiocese of San Francisco), Swami Vedananda

(Hindu), Rabbi Jay Miller (Director Peninsula Clergy Council), Rev Heng

Sure (Berkeley Buddhist Monastery) and many others.

SEE ALSO:

CHRISTIAN SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ANTI-MUSLIM RHETORIC

The following is an excerpt from a letter sent to CAIR by an Ohio native:

"I am a Christian who is tired of having my religion hijacked by right-wing

neo-cons who want an ideological war with Islam.

I know that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are sister faiths, with common

roots in the Abrahamic tradition.  We enjoy a protected status as "people

of the book" in Islamic countries, but increasingly, we do not extend

similar goodwill toward Muslims in predominately Christian nations.

Please know that despite the loud voices of the anti-Islam "Christian"

fundamentalists, there are many of us who truly follow the universal truths

of our faith.  We want to live in harmony with Muslims, and deplore these

assaults on Islam…"