Interfaith Leadership of New York City Calls for Respect and Condemns Deceptive Proselytizing

The Commission of Religious Leaders of New York City (CORL), an interfaith group that brings together representatives from many faiths including Roman Catholic, Muslim, Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and Jewish, adopted a statement entitled "Respect for Faith Traditions" in advance of the aggressive proselytizing campaigns hitting the Greater New York community in July. While recognizing that every faith group has its own beliefs and supporting the rights of all religions to share their message, they felt it necessary to state:

"We do, however, speak out when a religion uses activities that are harmful to the spirit of inter-religious respect and tolerance. We condemn proselytizing efforts which de-legitimize the faith tradition of the very person whose conversion is being sought. In our opinion such tactics go beyond the bounds of appropriate and ethically based religious outreach.

Groups that specifically target the members of one religion for conversion to their vision of faith, making the claim that in accepting it they are being more faithful to that faith when in fact those who are proselytizing may be undermining the fundamentals of the person's faith heritage. Such efforts are deceptive and dishonest. Furthermore, by incorporating symbols, rituals and prayers in their houses of worship and, sometimes, even calling their leaders by titles borrowed from the targeted tradition they seek to win over, are examples of deception."

For a copy of the full statement "Respect for Traditions" click here