Shoulder to Shoulder Celebrates Muslim Prayers at Washington National Cathedral

Posted Nov 15, 2014      •Permalink      • Printer-Friendly Version Bookmark and Share

Shoulder to Shoulder Celebrates Muslim Prayers at Washington National Cathedral
National Cathedral’s November 14 Muslim Prayer Service is its First

WASHINGTON – On the eve of the Washington National Cathedral’s first Muslim prayer service in which Muslim leaders have been invited to lead their own Jummah prayers inside the sacred national institution, Catherine Orsborn, Campaign Director for Shoulder to Shoulder, expressed solidarity with the Cathedral’s efforts to embrace and open itself up to members of the Muslim faith.

Shoulder to Shoulder is a national campaign of religious and interfaith organizations dedicated to ending anti-Muslim bigotry in the United States and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Shoulder to Shoulder supports regional and local efforts combating discrimination against Muslims and focusing on interfaith engagement and solidarity through positive relationships across faith lines.

In support of the National Cathedral, Orsborn said:

“I applaud the National Cathedral for hosting this momentous event and recognizing the shared experience of sacredness between Christian and Muslim communities. The Cathedral is an icon of the American religious experience, and it is important to all faiths. This display of support between the two faiths is significant, particularly in these difficult times for religious minorities in many parts of the world. The Muslim population in the United States is no stranger to discrimination and is currently experiencing a wave of unfounded bigotry. The Cathedral’s actions are a powerful reminder that it is incumbent on all Americans of faith to defend the civil rights and religious freedom of our Muslim brothers and sisters.

“Expressions of mutual support for the Muslim community are why national religious denominations and diverse faith-based organizations came together to form the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign. Together, we stand up for the American values of respect, equality and religious freedom. Our public discourse and identity is enriched by our religious diversity. As faith leaders, we are committed to building a future free of extremism and bigotry. The Cathedral’s decision to host Friday prayers demonstrates an important move toward this goal.”

Shoulder-to-Shoulder: Standing with American Muslims; Upholding American Values ( http://www.shouldertoshouldercampaign.org ) is a national campaign of religious, interfaith and faith-based organizations dedicated to ending anti-Muslim sentiment. Founded in November 2010 by more than 20 national religious groups, Shoulder-to-Shoulder works locally, nationally and internationally to offer strategies for and support to efforts to address anti-Muslim sentiment.

 

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