Search

Results

Homily stories

28 Feb 2016 - Third Sunday of Lent, Cycle C

Not long ago a professor at a Christian college created controversy when she expressed her solidarity with Muslim students by wearing a hijab and stating that Christians and Muslims “worship the same God.” Though some, including the college’s administration, were shocked by the teacher’s statement, Catholics rallied to the professor’s side. Why? Because Catholics do believe that Christians, Jews, and Muslims worship the same God, even if our understandings of the manifestations and revelations of that God are quite diverse. When my daughter was baptized, the priest made specific reference to the “Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham.” He chose his words carefully because he wanted to make sure that my husband, a Bosnian Muslim, appreciated that our daughter was being baptized into a faith that had ancient and common roots with Judaism and Islam. Pope Francis stated in his Bull at the start of the Holy Year of Mercy, Misericordiae Vultus: “There is an aspect of mercy that goes beyond the confines of the church.” He urged Catholics to use the Year of Mercy as an opportunity to learn about Islam and other religions to “eliminate every form of close-mindedness and disrespect . . . violence and discrimination.” Mercy connects Christians to Judaism and Islam, both of which also consider mercy to be one of God’s most important attributes. As that college professor quickly learned, many are scandalized by such mercy. But it is that very mercy that the God of our fathers calls us to embrace.

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

Mercy Holy Year of Mercy Islam Muslims religious tolerance

Restricted
Is religious intolerance on the rise this 9/11?

12 Sep 2010 - Preaching the News for Sunday

An angry God in this Sunday’s first reading complains to Moses that the Israelites have “turned aside from the way I pointed out to them.” Leaders of many faith traditions fear that some of the American people are being persuaded to turn away from the value of religious tolerance, especially when it comes to Muslims. From the debate over a proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero in New York City to a pistol-toting Florida pastor’s plans to ignite a bonfire of Qurans on 9/11, observers fear a rising tide of intolerance. Rev. Terry Jones, pastor of the Dove Outreach Center, a small Pentecostal church in Gainesville, Florida, has sparked worldwide condemnation for his plans to burn copies of the Quran on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The Vatican said Wednesday that burning the Quran would be an “outrageous and grave gesture," and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it would be a “disrespectful, disgraceful act.” Fearing violence, some Muslims are leaving Gainesville this weekend to avoid problems. Last week in South Florida, 13 mosque leaders issued a call to the region's Muslims for nonviolence in anticipation of high emotions over the desecration of Islam's holy book. In a rare example of a military official commenting on domestic affairs, Gen. David Petraeus, directing the military effort in Afghanistan, said Monday that the provocative act would hurt U.S. troops and play into the hands of extremists. Meanwhile, hundreds of Afghans protested in Kabul and burned Jones in effigy. The Gainesville Fire Department has denied Jones a permit for the event, but he plans to go ahead with it anyway. Known for posting signs proclaiming that Islam is the devil's religion, Jones says the U.S. Constitution gives him the right to publicly set fire to the Quran. In response to the ongoing controversy over the proposed Islamic community center near Ground Zero, a group of prominent Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders held an “emergency summit” meeting in Washington, D.C. Tuesday to denounce what they called the "derision, misinformation, and outright bigotry” aimed at American Muslims. “This is not America,” said Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, the emeritus Roman Catholic archbishop of Washington, flanked by three dozen clergy members and religious leaders at a packed news conference at the National Press Club. “America was not built on hate.” Source: Articles by CNN wire service, Liz Goodwin and Mitch Stacey for Associated Press, Dave Cook for the Christian Science Monitor, Jaweed Kaleem for the Miami Herald, and Damien Cave and Laurie Goodstein for the New York Times

Muslims 911 terry jones anti-muslim religious tolerance dove outreach center quran theodore mccarrick david petraeus florida gainesville

Restricted
Freedom of religion by no means universal

03 Aug 2014 - Preaching the News for Sunday

In this Sunday’s gospels, the disciples wanted to send the crowds away to fend for themselves, but Jesus invited them to stay and eat their fill, saying “there is no need for them to go away.” Religious minority communities around the world are facing hostility rather than hospitality, as detailed in a new report on religious freedom that paints a grim picture of what it calls, "the largest displacement of religious communities in recent memory." The U.S. State Department’s 2013 International Religious Freedom Report cites violent conflicts in countries like Syria, as well as ongoing discrimination against religious minorities and government-sanctioned attacks on members of unpopular sects in countries around the world, in its description of an international environment in which the ability to practice faith freely is in scarcer supply than in previous years. All religions are affected by the violence, according to the annual update on the State Department's work to address religious freedom issues, with minority communities particularly at risk. In Pakistan, for example, militants killed more than 400 Shia Muslims in attacks throughout the year, while the Chinese government persecuted leaders of Catholic communities. The report also calls attention to anti-Semitism spreading throughout Europe, breeding in online discussion groups and chants at sporting events. “When 75 percent of the world's population still lives in countries that don't respect religious freedoms, let me tell you, we have a long journey ahead of us. We have a long way to go when governments kill, detain, or torture people based on a religious belief,” Secretary of State John Kerry said in his remarks about the report. The State Department is mandated by Congress to produce an annual assessment of the state of religious freedom in every country. The 2013 report is designed to inform foreign policy decisions throughout the next year. Homily hint: Those of us who have the privilege to live in nation’s that protect religious freedom have a responsibility to speak for those whose voices have been silenced. Make a point to inform yourself of the state of religious repression around the world. View the State Department’s report here: International Religious Freedom Report for 2013 Articles by Brian Pellot for Religion News Service and Kelsey Dallas for Deseret News

religious tolerance religious repression

Restricted
ISIS shocks yet again

23 Aug 2015 - Preaching the News for Sunday

Hearts will be broken and spirits crushed, warns the psalmist before promising that the Lord will respond. Hearts were broken around the world to learn that ISIS militants had beheaded an 82-year-old archaeologist who had been in charge of overseeing the ancient site at Palmyra in Syria. “Khaled Asaad was a treasure for Syria and the world,” said Khalil Hariri from Palmyra's archaeological department. “Their systematic campaign seeks to take us back into pre-history,” he added. "But they will not succeed." Homily hint: The psalmist demonstrates how the Lord responds to the heartbroken and downtrodden. How do we respond to atrocities committed around the world? Though we may feel helpless, we have the power of prayer and a voice to add to the chorus calling for peace and reconciliation in all parts of the world convulsed in violence. Pray with fervor for religious tolerance worldwide. For more on ISIS’ war on antiquities, see: ISIS beheads 82-year-old archaeologist in Palmyra, Syrian official says

terrorism religious tolerance

Restricted
Obama calls for unity in State of the Union

17 Jan 2016 - Preaching the News for Sunday

In this Sunday’s first reading, Isaiah speaks out “for Jerusalem’s sake.” He “will not be silent . . . will not be quiet.” In his last State of the Union address, President Obama made an impassioned case against religious bigotry and cast other key issues in moral terms. He rejected “any politics that targets people because of race or religion.” “This is not a matter of political correctness,” he said. “This is a matter of understanding just what it is that makes us strong. The world respects us not just for our arsenal; it respects us for our diversity and our openness and the way we respect every faith.” Homily hint: A climate of fear encourages scapegoating. We live in a dangerous world, but that has always been the case. “Fear is useless, what is needed is trust” counseled Jesus to a crowd fearing the worst (Mark 5:36, Luke 8:50). Don’t let anyone convince you that an entire class of people are suspect because of race, religion, or other features. We are all in this together. For more on the State of the Union address, see: Religious voices respond to State of the Union

state of the union Unity religious tolerance

Restricted
Homily story of the week

28 Feb 2016 - Preaching the News for Sunday

Not long ago a professor at a Christian college created controversy when she expressed her solidarity with Muslim students by wearing a hijab and stating that Christians and Muslims “worship the same God.” Though some, including the college’s administration, were shocked by the teacher’s statement, Catholics rallied to the professor’s side. Why? Because Catholics do believe that Christians, Jews, and Muslims worship the same God, even if our understandings of the manifestations and revelations of that God are quite diverse. When my daughter was baptized, the priest made specific reference to the “Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham.” He chose his words carefully because he wanted to make sure that my husband, a Bosnian Muslim, appreciated that our daughter was being baptized into a faith that had ancient and common roots with Judaism and Islam. Pope Francis stated in his Bull at the start of the Holy Year of Mercy, Misericordiae Vultus: “There is an aspect of mercy that goes beyond the confines of the church.” He urged Catholics to use the Year of Mercy as an opportunity to learn about Islam and other religions to “eliminate every form of close-mindedness and disrespect . . . violence and discrimination.” Mercy connects Christians to Judaism and Islam, both of which also consider mercy to be one of God’s most important attributes. As that college professor quickly learned, many are scandalized by such mercy. But it that very mercy that the God of our fathers calls us to embrace. Homily stories library

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

religious tolerance Islam Mercy Holy Year of Mercy Muslims

Restricted
Expand the borders of your compassion

Holy Year of Mercy reflections for your bulletin or website - The Holy Year of Mercy: Reflections

For many Catholics it is not a priority to find common ground with other Christians and to remain in loving and respectful relationships with people of all faiths. That’s regrettable because only mutual respect and knowledge of one another’s religious values and traditions can get us beyond suspicion of those who are “not like us.” Confronted by the needs of others, including sinners, lepers, and those who were seriously ill, Jesus saw beyond the religious restrictions of his ancestors and brought healing, forgiveness, and empowerment at all times. To overlook human suffering for the sake of religious tradition is nothing less than a sad disease of the heart. Readings: Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17; Mark 3:1-6. “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath?”

Holy Year of Mercy religious tolerance

Restricted
Love thy neighbor’s freedom of religion

19 Feb 2017 - Preaching the News for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus sets a new standard for tolerance and even loving kindness toward those who we might have traditionally thought of as enemies. Whereas Americans used to harbor deep suspicions of those whose religion differed from their own, a new study from Pew Research Center suggests warmer feelings now exist for nearly every major religious group. Whereas Mormons received a “neutral” rating of 48 in June 2014, that’s now risen to 54 percent of Americans who say they have a positive view of the LDS faith. This six-point gain has moved Mormons toward the “warm” side of the spectrum, according to Pew. Almost every religious group received higher marks this time around, though, with the exception of evangelical Christianity, which remained flat at 61. The biggest gains were made by atheists (41 to 50), Muslims (40 to 48), and Hindus (50 to 58). However, Mormons rank dead last among the 18-to-29 year old demographic, whose 54 rating for Mormons was their lowest of any religion. Mormonism’s highest rating was with the 65+ age group, which gave it a 59 percent approval rating. Evangelical Christians are the only group for which the mean rating did not change since the question was last asked in 2014. Americans’ feelings toward Mormons and Hindus have shifted from relatively neutral places on the thermometer to somewhat warmer ratings of 54 and 58, respectively. Ratings of Buddhists rose from 53 to 60. And mainline Protestants, whom respondents were not asked to rate in 2014, receive a warm rating of 65 in the new survey. The increase in ratings is broad based. Warmer feelings are expressed by people in all the major religious groups analyzed, as well as by both Democrats and Republicans, men and women, and younger and older adults. However, the ratings given to particular religious groups still vary widely depending on who is being asked. For example, young adults—those ages 18 to 29—express warmer feelings toward Muslims than older Americans do. Moreover, young adults rate all of the groups in the study within a relatively tight range, from 54 degrees for Mormons to 66 for Buddhists. By contrast, older Americans (ages 65 and older) rate some religious groups, such as mainline Protestants (75) and Jews (74), very warmly, and others, such as Muslims and atheists (44 degrees each), much more coolly. Lessons drawn from the readings The reading from the Book of Leviticus instructs the reader to “cherish no grudge,” but instead to “love your neighbor as yourself.” When it comes to religious identity, it sounds as if younger Americans might be taking that message more to heart, with their more tolerant ratings, than their older compatriots—or is it just that they don’t care all that much about religious identity? Final thought in light of the news We’ve come a long way as a society from the days our grandparents were discouraged from “fraternizing with the enemy”—for Catholics, that would have included most Protestants and certainly Jewish people, not to mention “those other” religions. We’ve come a long way from the era when a Catholic running for president raised alarm bells for many non-Catholics. But have we journeyed to a place of true religious tolerance, or landed more in an era of religious indifference? Have we truly learned to love our “enemies,” or have we just learned to ignore our neighbor? The verdict is still out on those questions.

religious tolerance religious indifference pew research center love your neighbor love your enemies

Restricted