Sentinel Watch February 28, 2011 Issue

Speaking up for religious tolerance

Maryl Walters

During his New Year’s address, Pope Benedict XVI announced a summit of world religious leaders later this year to discuss how peace and religious tolerance can be better promoted. Earlier that day, the latest of several attacks against Christians had occurred in Alexandria, Egypt. “Religious freedom is a fundamental part of the rule of law,” the Pope said.  “You cannot deny it without, in time, hitting all fundamental rights and freedoms. Words are not enough.” He called on all of us—not just national or religious leaders—to make a “concrete and constant commitment” to peace in our daily relations with neighbors.

Last September, a group of religious leaders met in Washington, DC, for an interfaith summit. They issued a joint statement that said in part: “We are convinced that spiritual leaders representing the various faiths in the United States have a moral responsibility to stand together and to denounce categorically derision, misinformation, or outright bigotry directed against any religious group in this country. Silence is not an option” (The Washington Post, http://tinyurl.com/5w4b956). As these statements indicate, we cannot remain silent in the face of persecution or hate—perpetrated against any group. But we may not feel that we have the wisdom or the courage to speak up in favor of religious tolerance. At one time I thought my main responsibility was to guard against any bigotry or hate in my own thought, and I didn’t feel comfortable speaking up if I heard or saw hateful speech or actions. However, I started noticing wonderful examples in the Bible of individuals who were guided by prayer to speak out against whatever was wrong. 

For example, I totally understood the prophet Jeremiah’s initial reluctance to be a spokesman for God’s message. When God told Jeremiah that he was to speak to God’s people, and that the message was not going to be a popular one, Jeremiah was astounded. He responded, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak.” But God said to him, “I have put my words in your mouth” (Jer. 1:6, 9, New Revised Standard Version). And Jeremiah did not keep silent. He spoke boldly to the people about the need to amend their ways and their doings, to act justly with one another, and not to oppress the alien (see Jer. 7:5, 6).