Detroit, USA - Responding to concerns from their followers, a dozen interfaith leaders from across Metro Detroit announced Thursday they will conduct national lobbying to urge members of Congress to back loans for Detroit's Big Three auto manufacturers and set up an information network about the social services they provide.
"Some of us have larger, national denominations and we can contact those members of Congress who are straddling the fence," said Bishop Charles Ellis of Greater Grace Temple in Detroit.
"We can use our constituents in those communities to influence those people."
The leaders gathered at the behest of Cardinal Adam Maida and said they were troubled by the worries, indeed the near panic, expressed to them by many of their followers about the economy in Metro Detroit.
"Respect of the faith is critical in all times and in all circumstances, and it is more necessary now than ever," said Maida, who is praised as one of the few local religious leaders who could spur such a significant response across religious, denominational, racial and ethnic lines.
"We have a great concern for the countless individuals and families who are in great distress because of the economy. It is time to stand in solidarity."
The clerics said that while each of their faiths and institutions provide considerable charity and social services, individuals in other denominations or religions may not be aware of their programs.
The Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths were all represented in the gathering Thursday to launch the initiatives, and the Christians included leaders from Catholic, Baptist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Methodist and nondenominational congregations.
"We talked much about prayer. We talked much about faith.
"We talked much about politics," said Bishop Edgar Vann of the Second Ebenezer Church in Detroit.
"And yet we are not oblivious to the pain."
Rabbi Daniel Syme, of Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, noted the irony that at the same time some politicians are considering mounting jobs programs to employ 2.5 million people, Congress may be content to let the auto manufacturers die, perhaps creating 3 million unemployed.
"Our concern is with the men and women and families, who need our activism at this point," Syme said.
"There seems to be a political disconnect with our politicians who do not understand that amid a worldwide recession, if Detroit goes down, much in the world is affected," said Victor Ghalib Begg, chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan.
"The Detroit problem is not a religion or ethnic problem. It is our problem."