Qur’an burning plan shocking, says Cardinal Gracias
(Sept.02,2010) An Indian cardinal has condemned plans by a Christian group in the
United States, to burn copies of the Qur’an to mark the anniversary of the Sept.
11, 2001 attacks. The move is a “totally insensitive and disrespectful act toward
the Holy Koran,” Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay, head of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of India, said in a statement on Wednesday. The Dove World Outreach Center
in Gainesville, Florida, says it plans to hold an international burn a Qur’an day
on Sept. 11. The notion has triggered outrage among Muslims around the world. Cardinal
Gracias said he was deeply distressed at reading media reports about the planned event.
“This was all the more shocking because such a campaign goes totally contrary to the
teachings of Jesus Christ. Christ’s teachings stress respect for all religions and
all men and women, who sincerely seek God,” he said . “All Christians are called
to do likewise,” said the cardinal who is based in Mumbai. He said all Christian leaders
in Mumbai “disassociate ourselves from the planned program” and the Christian community
joins all those, wanting to promote peace and harmony in our society, already torn
by so much of violence.” Cardinal Gracias said he hoped and prayed that better sense
would prevail and the anti-Muslim program would be cancelled.