Taking time in worship to counter bigotry

Religious and human rights activists are asking U.S. churches to
invite Jewish and Muslim clergy to their sanctuaries June 26 to read
from sacred texts in an initiative designed to counter anti-Muslim
bigotry.

The initiative, called "Faith Shared: Unit­ing in Prayer
and Understanding," is co­sponsored by the Interfaith Alliance and Human
Rights First. Leaders of the two Washington-based groups said the event
is intended to demonstrate respect for Islam in the wake of Qur'an
burnings in recent months.

"As a Christian minister who is a
pastor in a local congregation, it is important to me for our nation and
our world to know that not all Christians promote hate, attack
religions different from their own and seek to desecrate the scripture
of others," said Welton Gaddy, a Baptist pastor and president of the
Interfaith Alliance, on May 17.