Houston, USA - A week after its first amendment forum regarding Gov. Rick Perry’s involvement in a Christian prayer rally, the Anti-Defamation League has released a letter expressing their concern over the nature of the event, scheduled to take place in Houston Saturday.
The ADL letter has been signed by about 50 rabbis, imams and pastors, mostly from mainline Protestant denominations.
They write:
One of Houston’s greatest strengths is its religious diversity. As part of the Anti-Defamation League’s Coalition for Mutual Respect, we are keenly sensitive to the fact that Houstonians may pray differently or not pray at all. We cherish the fact that we can pray freely in our own way, because our founding fathers wisely envisioned and provided for a nation grounded in the principle of separation of church and state. This freedom from government imposed religion allows all religions to flourish in our democratic society. It is with this thought in mind that we express our concern that Governor Rick Perry has called for a full day of exclusionary prayer on August 6, 2011. This religious event is not open to all faiths, as its statement of beliefs does not represent religious diversity.
Governor Perry has a constitutional duty to treat all Texans equally regardless of race, religion or ethnicity. His official involvement with the Response at minimum violates the spirit of that duty. By his actions, Governor Perry is expressing an official message of endorsement of one faith over all others; thereby sending an official message of religious exclusion and preference to all Texans who do not share that faith. We believe our religious freedom is threatened when a government official promotes religion, especially one religion over all others. We urge our elected leaders, who have the privilege of representing us, to practice their own religion as they choose without seeking to impose their beliefs on others or using their official offices to divide citizens along religious lines. They should be role models for all Americans, and can be by honoring and respecting our constitutional freedoms.
“We strongly believe this statement, signed by so many of our most respected religious and community leaders, reflects the feelings of many Texans who are concerned that Gov. Perry is overstepping his bounds in supporting an exclusionary sectarian religious event,” said Martin B. Cominsky, the director of ADL’s Southwest Region. The ADL aims to end Antisemitism and other forms of discrimination in communities.
The Houston Clergy Council, representing a more progressive group of gay-affirming Christian leaders, previously released a letter condemning the event for being sponsored by the American Family Association, which opposes homosexuality.
Leaders from Houston’s biggest megachurches—Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church, Ed Young of Second Baptist, Greg Matte of Houston’s First, Kerry Shook of Woodlands Church and others—have voiced support for the mission of Perry’s event, which is to pray on behalf of the country.
Organizers say the seven-hour affair remains about prayer and not politics and invite critics to join them at Reliant Stadium Saturday.