wfn.org | Don't jump to conclusions about attackers, church execs say

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Sept. 12, 2001  News media contact: Tim Tanton7(615)742-54707Nashville,
Tenn.     10-21-71BP{383}

NOTE: Head-and-shoulders photographs of Bishop Fritz Mutti and the Rev.
Bruce Robbins are available. This report is accompanied by a sidebar, UMNS
story #384 .

A UMNS Report
By Tim Tanton*

As authorities investigate the Sept. 11 terrorist acts in New York and
Washington, Americans should resist jumping to conclusions about the
perpetrators, United Methodist leaders say. 

In particular, they must resist stereotyping Muslims, despite the suspicion
that is being directed at the terrorist organization of Saudi billionaire
Osama bin Laden. 

"My feel is that it is almost dishonorable for us to attempt to guess who
the perpetrators are at this time because it has caused such harm when we
have done that in the past," said the Rev. Bruce Robbins, top staff
executive of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and
Interreligious Concerns. "The authorities will certainly be pursuing
rigorously all the leads they have. ... There'll be time enough to lay blame
and deal with the consequences of possible interreligious and interethnic
answers that come out."

Although law enforcement officials haven't accused anyone, bin Laden has
emerged as the prime suspect. If he is the culprit, his culpability would
likely cast suspicion on all Muslims in the minds of many Americans.
Muslims, however, are an integral part of American society and a positive
presence in communities across the nation. They worship the same God of
Abraham, Moses and Jesus.

"Readers need to know that Muslims are nearly all faithful people of one of
the great religious traditions of the world and to take care not to
stereotype any living faith community," Robbins said. 

Bishop Fritz Mutti, president of the commission and leader of the United
Methodist Church's Kansas Area, added that jumping to conclusions about the
perpetrators could also be a racist reaction. Mutti advised that people be
cautious, wait for more information and pray. 

The commission, with offices in New York, serves as the church's interfaith
relations agency. 

"One of our jobs is to be in relationship and dialogue with folks in other
religions, and we'd want to foster that also with Muslims," Mutti said.

The commission had some dialogue with Muslims as well as Jewish leaders a
couple of years ago during a meeting in Denver, Mutti said. "We have to
confess that we've spent more time on Christianity than we have our
interfaith responsibilities." However, he added, the commission does try to
build into every meeting an experience with people of other faiths.

"One thing for us to remember is the role of the church," Robbins said,
"that we're called to be agents of reconciliation, and this is clearly a
time when compassion and reconciliation are so important and outreach to
communities across the country that are threatened by the quick judgments
and stereotyping that take place. ... I would encourage people to connect
with their Muslim counterparts especially to express support in the face of
the kind of blame that so quickly gets labeled against anybody who's
Muslim."

Robbins, Mutti and other commission leaders were meeting in Denver when the
attacks occurred.

"The recognition we've been talking about here (is) that living faith
communities are deeply interrelated in this world, and it's time to seek the
best of the different religions traditions rather than stereotype or be
prejudiced," Robbins said.  He noted that statements of compassion have come
from religious leaders across the world, including Muslims.

"It's difficult to find ways to forgive the perpetrators at this time, but
it is important for us to try to seek explanation as well and
understanding," Robbins said.

Mutti emphasized the importance of restorative justice, which restores
people to whole community and eventually leads them to reconciliation. He
drew a distinction between justice and retribution. "To me, retribution
sounds like we might act before we have all the information; it sounds more
like vigilante justice."

The commission is requesting people to be in prayer.
# # #
*Tanton is news editor for United Methodist News Service.

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United Methodist News Service
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