Oklahoma City faith, civic leaders denounce Florida church's Quran-burning plans

Leaders of several Oklahoma City faith and civic organizations on Wednesday denounced as "un-American” a Florida church's plans to burn copies of the Quran on Saturday, the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"The burning of the Quran would be a reprehensible act that no Christian could justify,” Kathy McCallie, pastor of Church of the Open Arms, said as she held up her copy of the Islamic holy book at a news conference at her church, 3131 N Pennsylvania Ave.

McCallie, along with several other leaders who spoke, said Gaineville, Fla.-based Dove World Outreach Center has the right to burn the Quran, but in doing so, the faith group tramples on other American ideals.

"Freedom of religion is an essential American value,” she said.

The Rev. Terry Jones, pastor of Dove World Outreach, has told the media his church will host "International Burn A Quran Day” to mark the 9/11 anniversary. The Quran, according to Jones, is "evil” because it espouses something other than biblical truth and incites radical, violent behavior among Muslims.

The Florida minister said the mass holy book burning is still scheduled, despite opposition from the White House, a chief military leader and interfaith groups across the country.

"We are still determined to do it, yes,” Jones, 58, said on "The Early Show.”

He said supporters have been mailing copies of the Quran to his church of about 50 followers to be incinerated in Saturday's bonfire.

Nathaniel Batchelder, a member of the Central Oklahoma Human Rights Alliance and director of The Peace House, said the local news conference Wednesday was held to show solidarity and support for the Muslim community as the Quran-burning event approaches.

The Rev. Bruce Prescott, executive director of Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists, offered an apology to the Islamic community for the Florida church's anti-Muslim stance.

"They do not represent all Christians or all evangelical Christians,” he said.

Prescott said he is encouraging Christians to "read the Quran instead of burning the Quran” on Saturday.

State Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City, also spoke at the gathering. Rice said he was sharing his comments as the brother of someone who died during the Sept. 11, terrorist attacks in New York. Rice's brother David worked in one of the World Trade Center towers where he was killed.

Rice said he was saddened by the Quran-burning plan. "This is not American,” he said.

The Rev. Mark Christian, pastor of First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City, said Oklahomans decided to let tragedy unite instead of divide them after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. He said the Florida church's Quran-burning will rip open the wounds from 9/11 and play into the hands of the terrorists who perpetrated it.

"Terrorists try to interrupt the flow of our natural life and they succeed when they tear down the bonds that keep us together,” Christian said.

Razi Hashmi, executive director of the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, thanked the group for their support. He said the supportive gathering was a sign "that this is America.”

The faith and civic organizations that co-sponsored the news conference with the Central Oklahoma Human Rights Alliance were: Central Oklahoma Labor Council, American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, Church of the Open Arms UCC, Cimarron Alliance, First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City, League of United Latin American Citizens, Mayflower Congregational Church UCC, The Peace House and Respect Diversity Foundation.

Other's speakers included George Cooper with the Baha'i Faith community. The Rev. Robin Meyers, pastor of Mayflower Congregational Church, read a statement of support from Robert Henry, president of Oklahoma City University.


(2010-09-09/newsok)