October 14, 2010
by Frank Frederiks

If America was founded on religious freedom, New York City has stood as a beacon of hope for religious communities across the world. Yet, many New Yorkers are concerned that dissident voices could disrupt the interdependence that brings religious communities together because of the issue surrounding Park51. In response, Religious Freedom USA was founded, which is a network of religious leaders in support of religious freedom, no matter where or who in America.

On Islamophobia

Listen to CPWR Board Chair Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid as he speaks on Islamophobia and flooding in his native Pakistan on Chicago Public Radio's Worldview: http://parliamentofreligions.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=15d4f7de1064a5171ce87bc0e&id=5a6001acb1&e=b62c4ed567.

After a series of support videos (at http://parliamentofreligions.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=15d4f7de1064a5171ce87bc0e&id=db050a6620&e=b62c4ed567) and a petition, (at http://parliamentofreligions.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=15d4f7de1064a5171ce87bc0e&id=a36bcd655b&e=b62c4ed567) an interfaith rally was organized, called the Liberty Walk (see http://parliamentofreligions.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=15d4f7de1064a5171ce87bc0e&id=7eaefef894&e=b62c4ed567) which brought together a thousand religiously-diverse people, including religious and interfaith leaders, as well as seminarians, who demonstrated on Sept 12th in support of Park51 and religious freedom. This was a defining moment, where religious leaders like Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky, Reverend Katharine Henderson, and Muslim author Ibrahim Abdul-Matin shared why they support religious freedom in America. After gathering to hear speakers at Saint Peter's Church, the first Catholic church built in New York, the crowd walked downtown and along the World Trade Center.

Moving forward, this is a crucial time to challenge ourselves as a nation to widen our view. Do we as Americans have the imagination to expand the social fabric of our nation to include Muslim Americans? Our answer must be yes, and we must actively work to support the ethos of religious freedom, which America was built upon. Join us in signing the petition, and by engaging with your Muslim neighbors in your community, online at http://parliamentofreligions.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=15d4f7de1064a5171ce87bc0e&id=35a89b4b06&e=b62c4ed567.

Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions