Christians back plans for Muslim community centre despite threats
-29/09/06
Christian
Christians back plans for Muslim community centre despite threats
-29/09/06
Christian leaders in Cumbria are backing a plan for a Muslim Community centre and prayer room, despite threats against those who support it.
Nine members of Churches Together in Cumbria, including the Bishop of Carlisle, a well know Evangelical, have signed a letter of support for the centre, expressing regret at ìfears and prejudicesî expressed locally, reports the News and Star newspaper.
The Churches Together group includes Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, the United Reformed Church and the Salvation Army as well as aid agencies such as Christian Aid and Cafod.
The 65-strong West Cumbria Muslim Society is trying to raise £300,000 to create the centre which would replace the converted upstairs room currently used for prayers and social activities by the growing number of worshippers.
Since the plan was made public in July a petition against it has been launched and one local councillor, Alistair Norwood, has been threatened because of his public support for the centre.
Bishop of Carlisle, Graham Dow said: ìIt is not something Christians should be negative, critical or afraid of. I am surprised by the resistance.
ìSenior leaders of the Christian churches believe this is an entirely honourable request from the Muslims and should be supported.î
He added that he would hope to see Christian churches in Muslim countries and he feels it is important for the health of the community for such tolerance here.
Cumbriaís Muslim community has already established another mosque in Carlisle, but worshippers on their way to and from the mosque have suffered incidents of racial abuse.
In the letter of support for the Whitehaven plan, the letter from Churches Together said: ìTo exacerbate the sense of exclusion felt by many Muslims, especially young people wrestling with their sense of identity, will do nothing to achieve a community coherence in which diversity is celebrated as strength and not a threat.î
It would not only be open to Muslims but to other members of the community.
Bishop Dow added: ìI think faith communities should be encouraged. I am supportive of the Muslims building their community.î
Christians back plans for Muslim community centre despite threats
-29/09/06
Christian leaders in Cumbria are backing a plan for a Muslim Community centre and prayer room, despite threats against those who support it.
Nine members of Churches Together in Cumbria, including the Bishop of Carlisle, a well know Evangelical, have signed a letter of support for the centre, expressing regret at ìfears and prejudicesî expressed locally, reports the News and Star newspaper.
The Churches Together group includes Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, the United Reformed Church and the Salvation Army as well as aid agencies such as Christian Aid and Cafod.
The 65-strong West Cumbria Muslim Society is trying to raise £300,000 to create the centre which would replace the converted upstairs room currently used for prayers and social activities by the growing number of worshippers.
Since the plan was made public in July a petition against it has been launched and one local councillor, Alistair Norwood, has been threatened because of his public support for the centre.
Bishop of Carlisle, Graham Dow said: ìIt is not something Christians should be negative, critical or afraid of. I am surprised by the resistance.
ìSenior leaders of the Christian churches believe this is an entirely honourable request from the Muslims and should be supported.î
He added that he would hope to see Christian churches in Muslim countries and he feels it is important for the health of the community for such tolerance here.
Cumbriaís Muslim community has already established another mosque in Carlisle, but worshippers on their way to and from the mosque have suffered incidents of racial abuse.
In the letter of support for the Whitehaven plan, the letter from Churches Together said: ìTo exacerbate the sense of exclusion felt by many Muslims, especially young people wrestling with their sense of identity, will do nothing to achieve a community coherence in which diversity is celebrated as strength and not a threat.î
It would not only be open to Muslims but to other members of the community.
Bishop Dow added: ìI think faith communities should be encouraged. I am supportive of the Muslims building their community.î