wfn.org | Interfaith Summit April 30 on Iraq War's Lessons

["Nat'l Council of Churches" <nccc_usa@ncccusa.org>]

FOR NEWS PLANNING				CONTACT:  Trevor FitzGibbon,
Wednesday, April 30, 2003				    (202) 246.5303
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EXCELLENT VISUALS AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES
Christian & Muslim Worlds: At War?

Major Christian, Muslim, and Jewish Leaders to Release First Joint
Declaration Since the Iraq War

Interfaith Summit to Address the Wars Lessons for Foreign Policy, Iraqs
Humanitarian Needs, U.S. Role in Iraqs Future, and Religious and Cultural
Tolerance

Chicago, IL - Nationally recognized leaders of Christian, Muslim, Jewish and
other faith communities will be convening in Chicago April 29-30 to prepare
and release their first joint declaration since the Iraq war.  They are
expected to address the humanitarian, spiritual and political costs of war
and its ramifications here at home.  Together they will consider:

7	What are the promises - and perils - for religious freedom and human
rights now in Iraq?
7	Who should administer humanitarian aid to Iraq?
7	Who should administer reconstruction and incur the cost to rebuild
Iraq?
7	Should the U.S. stay in Iraq for the foreseeable future or support a
multilateral effort led by the United Nations?
7	Did this war strengthen fundamentalism -- and is that good or bad?
7	Is U.S. foreign and domestic policy helping or hurting interfaith
relations?
7	How can interfaith understanding be promoted in the current context?

WHAT:  Press Conference, National Interfaith Summit on Iraq
WHEN:	2:00 pm central time Wednesday, April 30
WHERE: OHare Marriott Hotel
		      8535 W. Higgins Road
	      Chicago, Illinois

WHO: Summit convenors:
Dr. Bob Edgar, National Council of Churches, General Secretary
Dr. Sayyid Muhammad Syeed, Islamic Society of North America, Secretary
General
Rabbi David Saperstein, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Director

Other key summit participants include experts in humanitarian aid, the
Middle East and interfaith relations, among them: The Rev. John L.
McCullough, Executive Director, Church World Service, which has provided
nearly $4 million in humanitarian aid in Iraq since 1991; the Rev. Dr.
Tyrone Pitts, General Secretary, Progressive National Baptist Convention,
part of an NCC delegation that met with the Pope in February; the Rev. Dr.
Victor Makari, Presbyterian Church (USA), a Middle East specialist; Dr.
Janice Love, a United Methodist and interfaith relations specialist; Dr.
John Borelli, an interreligious affairs expert with the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops; peace activists Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Director, The Shalom
Center; and Jean Stokan of Pax Christi U.S.A., and more.

-end-

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