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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... Latest Releases
Making news? The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate . If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly.
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| OCTOBER 15, 1998
4:42 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: The Interfaith Alliance Amber Khan at 202-639-6370 ext. 106 |
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| Baptist Leader Calls for Moral and Religious Discussion on Human Dignity | ||||
| WASHINGTON -
October 15 - The Interfaith Alliance Executive Director Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy released
the following statement regarding the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard. We express our sympathy and share grief with the friends and family members of Matthew Shepard. The senseless killing of Matthew is a devastating reminder that the power of hate and intolerance is still present in our culture and society. While this tragedy has fueled a heated debate on hate-crimes legislation, it is time for our nation to begin a moral discussion on the essence and meaning of human dignity and worth and the consequences of hate-filled stereotypes and prejudices. Indeed, we decry acts of violence but we must also acknowledge the political and social rhetoric that inspires and sanctions hate. In this spirit, we call on our nation’s religious and spiritual leaders to make a faithful commitment to reaffirm the truth of human dignity. All of our sacred faith traditions begin with the recognition that we are all children of God – regardless of our differences, shortcomings or strengths. Even as a nation of believers, we still struggle to embrace and affirm the inherent worth and dignity of all God’s children. Although painful, it is necessary for religious leaders to recognize the danger of providing religious or ‘moral’ justification for rejection and hatred of those who are different or, with whom we disagree. Therefore, we cannot ignore the underlying message and consequences of the religious right’s tactics of dehumanizing and demonizing those who disagree with their political agenda. Currently, the Religious Right’s media campaign targets gays and lesbians, labels them as a moral problem, and advocates their eradication by conversion. The moral and spiritual dimensions of this exclusionary message devastate efforts to build a civil society. Indeed, as Christians, Jews, Muslims, and believers from other sacred traditions, as people of faith and goodwill, we have a moral obligation and duty to examine our beliefs and biases. We must take responsibility for changing a society that breeds the brutality and violence that has taken the life of Matthew Shepard and so many others. For additional comment, please call Amber Khan at 202-639-6370 ext. 106 The Interfaith Alliance (TIA) is a national nonpartisan grassroots organization of people of faith and goodwill dedicated to promoting the positive and healing role of religion in public life. Founded in 1994, TIA has a national membership of 80,000 with more than 100 local alliances in 38 states. #30 |
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