All people of faith - and all Americans in general - must condemn the firebomb attacks this weekend in New York against a Mosque, a small temple where Hindu services are performed, and two other locations (one a Muslim owned business and another a private home where Christians live). Governor Andrew Cuomo was absolutely correct to say that the attacks "go against everything we stand for as New Yorkers and Americans." 100 worshippers were in the Mosque at the time of the bombing. Thankfully, there were no injuries.
We are living during a time of increased religious bigotry directed largely at Muslims and orchestrated as part of a political campaign to divide Americans along religious lines. Our nation was founded on religious freedom and has grown onto to most religiously pluralistic society on earth. That diversity has brought many gifts to the United States. Those who seek to undermine religious freedom seek to undermine the core principles of our democracy. It is particularly important that those of us who are Christian - the dominant faith tradition in the U.S. - stand up for religious minorities and their right to worship freely. As The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
When one faith is under attack all faiths are under attack.
