United Church Expresses Regret over Muhammad Cartoons

 — Feb. 17, 200617 févr. 2006

[Toronto • 17.2.2006] The United Church of Canada has sent a letter to the Islamic Council of Imams expressing the church’s “deepest regret that the name of Muhammad has been so tragically misused in the depictions of cartoons first published in Europe, but now also in Canada.”

The letter strongly condemns the publication of the cartoons as “incitement to religious hatred.” The letter notes that the cartoons falsely teach “that Islam itself teaches, condones and encourages violence, bombings and the mistreatment of women. Furthermore, the implication is that all Muslims believe so as well. This we know to be untrue.”

The letter offers the “sincere apologies” of the United Church community “that such attitudes can persevere in a country that we believe can and should be a model for the world of racial and ethnic respect.”

The full text of the letter is found at www.united-church.ca/news/2006/0217.shtm

Update: In response to numerous letters received by the United Church General Council offices criticising the above statement, the United Church has published further explanation on its website at www.united-church.ca/gco/060223.shtm.

Posted: Feb. 17, 2006 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=206
Categories: NewsIn this article: Canada, cartoon controversy, Islam, Islamophobia, religious hatred, United Church of Canada
Transmis : 17 févr. 2006 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=206
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Canada, cartoon controversy, Islam, Islamophobia, religious hatred, United Church of Canada


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