The Jewish Catholic Muslim Dialogue of Southern New Jersey released the following statement on the Middle East Aug. 22.
Our world is experiencing unacceptable violence and war across the Middle East and beyond. We, the Jewish Catholic Muslim Dialogue of Southern NJ, are united in our profound concern for the many civilian populations affected. Whether it is by means of rockets raining down from above, or by means of the many other types of weapons of war, innocent civilians of all ages are being terrorized, maimed and killed.
Their nationality does not matter to us. They are fellow human beings, with the same fears, hopes, and desires that we all have. We identify with, and express our support for, the people of Gaza, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and the many other regions where one nation, one religion, or one faction is pitted against another.
We believe that the loss of a single innocent life is a loss to all humanity, whether that life be Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Bahai, Yazidi or of any other religious persuasion. We condemn the forced conversion to any faith. We condemn the destruction or appropriation of churches, synagogues, and mosques. We condemn the targeting of innocent people with hatred in Europe, the U.S., and elsewhere solely because they are of the same faith or nationality as combatants in other countries.
There can be no differentiation in the tears that a bereft mother sheds upon the death of her child, whether she be Israeli or Palestinian, Iraqi or Afghani. The anguish that a person suffers from the loss of a parent, sibling or spouse does not vary from one faith to another, one nation to another. All innocents suffer equally.
We urge the respective leaderships in all the warring regions to find common ground whereby acceptable comprises can be negotiated. We urge the citizens and leaders to make a concerted effort to bring an end to these horrific human tragedies. We support efforts to bring quick material and psychological relief to all those civilians who are suffering. We pledge to support all such efforts to the best of our individual and collective abilities.
Alan Respler,
Co-Facilitator, JCM Dialogue
Farhat Biviji,
Co-Facilitator, JCM Dialogue
Patricia Sandrow,
Coordinator, Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Diocese of Camden
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