Local faith leaders call for religious tolerance

By Shelia M. Poole

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Metro area faith leaders representing Christians, Muslims and Jews issued a call Friday for religious tolerance as the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks is observed.

"When one religion is under attack, we're all under attack," the Rev. Gerald Durley, co-chairman of the Christian Council of Metropolitan Atlanta and pastor of Providence Missionary Baptist Church, said at a news conference. 

About a dozen religious leaders, including the Rev. Joseph Lowery, a veteran of the civil rights movement, attended the gathering in front of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. They also called for renewed interfaith efforts in metro Atlanta.

Another local minister, Stan Wenck of Beulah Church of Christ in Douglasville, was not part of the interfaith gathering. In a phone interview, he voiced his concerns about radical  followers of Islam.

"We should be able to live together in this country," he said.  However, he said, some anti-Islam feelings may be surfacing  because "people are beginning to see how Islam is infiltrating so many parts of our society and culture that there's the perception that they are trying to essentially take over our country from inside out. I believe some are trying to do that."

Dr. Khalid Siddiq, a physician and a leader in the metro Atlanta Islamic community, said such concerns are a reaction to the actions of people who are not representing the true teachings of the Quran.

"People really need to know about Islam before they start fearing it or reacting against it," Siddiq said at Friday news conference.

In recent weeks, tensions have been heightened as debate has centered on plans to build an Islamic community center and mosque near the site of  Ground Zero in New York City and as the country neared the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that killed thousands.

In  Florida, the Rev. Terry Jones said he planned to burn copies of the Quran. U.S. military leaders  voiced concerns that Jones' plan could put the lives U.S. servicemen overseas at greater risk.

Jones, after meeting with a Florida imam, said the event was called off, but he  later said it was still being considered, according to press reports.

In metro Atlanta, two local promoters who wanted to book a concert at the Fox Theatre marking the end of Ramadan sued the venue and its owner, saying the Fox turned them down because they are Muslim.

A spokeswoman for the Fox said the Sept. 11 date was not available because of two prior bookings.