From The Miami Herald-
Several high-profile South Florida religious organizations and politicians joined a growing chorus of international condemnation Wednesday against a tiny Gainesville church whose pastor wants to observe the Sept. 11 anniversary with a large-scale Quran burning.
The Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami, the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, the Anti-Defamation League and the Miami Coalition of Christians and Jews all spoke out strongly against Terry Jones, pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center, which has become an international name -- to the alarm of U.S. government officials -- for its planned protest against the Islamic faith it calls ``of the devil.''
Jones, who has said he enjoys the increased media attention, told The Miami Herald that ``plans have not changed,'' even as top government brass have publicly asked him not to proceed and anti-American protests have broken out in a handful of Islamic countries.
``As members of a community which knows the results of the burning of books in Nazi Germany, we reject the intolerance and narrow-mindedness that this planned action reflects,'' said Rabbi Mark Kram, the rabbinical association president who also ministers at Temple Beth Or in South Miami-Dade.
``What would Jesus do? I am quite sure that burning the holy scriptures of another faith would never be his choice,'' said a statement by Bishop Leo Frade of the Episcopal diocese, who appealed to Jones to ``desist from an action that will hurt his Christian brothers and sisters around the world.''
Fort Lauderdale's largest churches, including Coral Ridge Presbyterian, Calvary Chapel, First Baptist and Mouth Bethel, also spoke out against Jones on Wednesday.
Read more:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/09/1815036/religious-leaders-slam-plan-to.html#ixzz0z26hk000
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