Stop the War on Prayer

The Stop the War on Prayer consists of an "Open Letter to the Faithful," signed by a number of religious leaders.

Open Letter

The letter reads as follows:

"We the undersigned call on believers of all faiths to join us in denouncing the dangerous 'War on Prayer' being waged in America.

The War on Prayer is a war against me, against my house of worship, and against my community of faith.

The faithful are no strangers to religious persecution. We recognize the request to build a place of worship “here” but not “there” as a breach of a fundamental American principle: in America, we don't tell anyone where they can and cannot pray.

We believe that there is no more sacred bond than the relationship between people and God found in prayer. For political figures to infringe on this most intimate relationship by telling citizens where, when, or how they should pray is a sin and transgression of the worst order. Our nation’s Founding Fathers recognized the freedom to worship as the most hallowed and self-evident of rights.

We believe it is time to shine light on the hypocrisy of politicians and pundits who expound on the freedom of religion for their chosen sects while seeking to tell our Muslim brothers and sisters where they can and cannot worship. Using a political podium to bully a religious community threatens one of our most fundamental freedoms.

Scripture is our guide. The Hebrew Bible teaches (Lev. 19), "Do not hate your brother in your heart." The New Testament (1 John) teaches, "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar."

We support the rights of all Americans to worship in their chosen place, through a climate of respect, dignity and peace."

Signatories

The following were signatories to the letter:

• Rev. Dr. Fred R. Anderson - Pastor, Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church New York City
• Rev. J. C. Austin, Auburn Director, Center for Christian Leadership
• Rabbi Justus Baird, Director of the Center for Multifaith Education, Auburn Theological Seminary
• Rev. Canon Peg Chamberlin, President, National Council of Churches
• Rev. Robert Chase, Executive Director, Intersections
• Rev. Dr. William P. Crawford
• Rev. Dr. James Forbes, Director, Healing of the Nations Foundation
• Rev. Charles Henderson, Executive Director, CrossCurrents
• Rev. Dr. Katharine Henderson, President, Auburn Theological Seminary
• Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, President, Union Theological Seminary
• Rev. Dr. Michale Kinnamon, General Secretary, National Council of Churches
• Rabbi Irwin Kula, President, Clal - The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership
• Rev. Jim Kitchens, Interim Pastor, Calvary Presbyterian Church
• Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
• Rev. Jacqueline Lewis, PhD, Senior Minister, Middle Collegiate Church
• Rev. Donna Schaper, Senior Minister, Judson Memorial Church
• Dr. Samir Selmanovic, Founder, Faith House Manhattan
• Dr. Tricia Sheffield, Associate Minister, Middle Collegiate Church
• Rev. Dr. Paul Sorrentino, Director of Religious Life, Amherst College
• Joshua Stanton, Editor-in-Chief, The Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue
• Rev. John Vaughn, Auburn Theological Seminary
• Rabbi Burt Visotzky, Appleman Professor of Midrash and Interreligious Studies, The Jewish Theological Seminary
• Rev. Jim Wallis, CEO, Sojourners
• Rev. Dr. Jon Walton, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York

References

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