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Christian Conference of Asia
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NCC Bangladesh Press ReleaseTo All Electronic and Print Medias Dear News Editor/Director Greetings with Peace from the National Council of Churches-Bangladesh! Please print or broadcast this Statements to your renowned Media. You may aware the news of attempt to burn the copies of the Holy Quran by some misguided and communal Christian groups at the Dove World Outreach Centre in the United States on the 11 September, 2010. The National Council of Churches-Bangladesh strongly condemning the intention and plan of the persons connected with this ill-motivated and ultra-communal attempt. Never this kind of action can be supportable by any genuine Christian, as it demonstrate a intolerant and aggressive attitude to other religious sentiment. We strongly urge to the Administration of US Government not to allow them to do this unwanted activity or to take drastic measures to stop it. At the same time we strongly appeal to refrain themselves, people who are attempting to do this. To attack any religion in the United States is to do violence to the religious freedom of all Worlds and religious harmony. We are anxious about their intention while the Eid-Ul-Fitr has been celebrated by our Muslim brothers and sisters. We deeply express our sense of solidarity and the mutual respect to our Muslim brother and sister here in our country and all over the world, as specially we have a long tradition of a peaceful Communal harmony. We also request you to take necessary measures in your level for about any unexpected situation in our communities. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely yours, David A. Das General Secretary Joyanta Adhikari President posted by cbs on Monday, September 13, 2010 CCA joins condemnation of the burning of the Qur’an to mark 9/11As the world prepares to remember the thousands who died in New York on 11th of September 2001, CCA joins the voices of condemnation from leaders of Christian churches and other religious faiths against plans by members of the Dove World Outreach Center to burn the Quran on the anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks. We believe as Christians that burning the Qur’an does not reflect the mind of Christ. Youth representatives from the Council of Churches in Malaysia handed a memorandum of protest to the officials of the United States Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. The Rev. Sivin Kit, Bangsar Lutheran Church Pastor and Ms Chrisanne Chin, Youth Moderator of the CCM voiced their protest before Jeremy Nathan, US Embassy Deputy Political Counselor. They expressed their protest in the Memorandum and reiterated that the act of burning the Quran do not represent the sentiments of Christians in Malaysia and that they consider the burning of the holy scriptures of any faith as disrespectful, provocative, insulting, harmful and is contrary to the fundamental Christian belief to love our neighbors as ourselves and to be peacemakers. They also expressed their conviction “that any proposed act of banning or burning another faith’s holy text is tantamount to a form of hate crime that must be dealt with utmost severity”. The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA joined leaders of other faiths in condemning the proposed plans of the Dove World Outreach Center to stage the burning of the Quran to mark 9/11 in the US. In a public Statement, issued on 2nd September, they affirmed - “As religious leaders in this great country, we have come together in our nation’s capital to denounce categorically the derision, misinformation and outright bigotry being directed against America’s Muslim community. We bear a sacred responsibility to honor America’s varied faith traditions and to promote a culture of mutual respect and the assurance of religious freedom for all.” “The threatened burning of copies of the Holy Qur’an this Saturday is a particularly egregious offense that demands the strongest possible condemnation by all who value civility in public life and seek to honor the sacred memory of those who lost their lives on September 11. As religious leaders, we are appalled by such disrespect for a sacred text that for centuries has shaped many of the great cultures of our world, and that continues to give spiritual comfort to more than a billion Muslims today.” Asia is home to more than 60%, the world’s largest Muslim population, with 670 million living in countries with CCA member churches and Councils. Indonesia, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh have the largest Muslim population in the world. And for centuries, Muslims were living in peace and shared values of community, tolerance and hospitality with Christians and people of other faiths. The Christian Conference of Asia calls the world religious communities to observe September 11, 2010 with prayers calling for peace, reconciliation and healing in Asia and the rest of the world. We also call on all our member churches and Councils to continue sharing and learning from adherents of Islam and other faiths their various ways of witnessing to peace and justice in their particular religious traditions. CCA will also join the World Council of Churches and Christians worldwide in celebration of the International Day of Prayer for Peace on 21st September calling people to prayer, mediation and other forms of spiritual observance. CCA is an Asian regional ecumenical organization with member churches, Councils and inter-church bodies in Aoteroa/New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Hong Kong SAR China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Laos, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Timor Leste. Yours faithfully, Henriette Hutabarat-Lebang General Secretary Rev. Rex R.B. Reyes For the Presidium posted by cbs on Friday, September 10, 2010 CCM Youth Hands Over Protest Memo On Threats by Dr Terry Jones of Dove Outreach Center to US Embassy Officials in Kuala LumpurKUALA LUMPUR, Wed, 8 Sept 2010: Representatives of the Youth Wing of the Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM Youth) handed a memorandum of protest to the United States Embassy today calling on the US government to stop a church in Florida from burning the Quran this 11 Sept 2010. The group of five people were led by Bangsar Lutheran Church pastor Rev. Sivin Kit, and CCM Youth Moderator and Executive Council member Chrisanne Chin, who handed the memorandum to Jeremy Nathan, the Deputy Political Counselor of the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. CCM Youth is strongly against threats by Dr Terry Jones of The Dove World Outreach Centre, a small congregation of 50 people in Gainesville, Florida, to burn the Muslim holy text, the Quran, on the anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks, condemning attempts to ban or burn another faith’s holy text as tantamount to a form of hate crime that must be dealt with utmost severity. CCM Youth reiterates that The Dove World Outreach Center’s intentions do not represent the sentiments of Christians in Malaysia, and considers the act of burning the holy scriptures of any faith a disrespectful, provocative, insulting and harmful act that is contrary to the fundamental Christian belief to love our neighbours as ourselves and to be peacemakers. After handing over the memorandum, the group was invited into the embassy for a private discussion with the officials. Kit and Chin were assured by Jeremy that this matter is being taken very seriously up to the highest levels of the US Government as both the White House and the State Department have issued statements of warning and criticism against Jones and his church. The group was encouraged to learn that Americans have stood up to condemn the act, and at least two dozen counteractive measures have been made by the grassroots of the American interfaith community – from synagogues to churches to mosques – working together in solidarity against Jones’ plan. CCM Youth believes that there are better constructive ways to commemorate September 11, and will endeavour to promote to the Government of the United States, as well as the United Nations, to turn this day of grief and sadness into an international day of reconciliation and just peace, upholding the rights of every single human life created in the image of God Almighty, henceforth building an equal place for all under the sun. http://ccm-youth.blogspot.com/2010/09/ccm-youth-hands-over-protest-memo-on.html posted by cbs on Wednesday, September 08, 2010 |
