Dozens of Interfaith Leaders Back Muslim Center in NYC.

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- A group of 60 interfaith leaders in California will come out Friday in favor of a controversial Islamic center near ground zero in New York City. "Christian, Jewish, Mormon and Muslim leaders will address the rapidly expanding epidemic of Islamophobia across the nation -- from Temecula to Tennessee to New York to Connecticut -- which they view as a threat to religious freedom and rights of mosques, churches, and synagogues to exist," the group said in a statement.

"We Americans, whether Muslim or Christian, whether Jew or Hindu, whether of faith or no faith, were all attacked on 9/11 by terrorists who can only be described as criminals," the text of the signed statement provided to CNN says. "We oppose the exploitation of the pain and suffering of 9/11 by political opportunists. They only divide our country and undermine the principles of pluralism, religious freedom, and security by fostering hate based on fear."

TPJ: Being a former Mormon, I am not surprised that religion is represented in this interfaith group. The Mormons have faced a lot of persecution and intolerance from their fellow Americans in the past, which is in large part what pushed them to move West. Eventually they ended up in Utah, which was then not even American territory!! I have my problems with Mormonism but I will stand up and defend their right to, "worship how, where, or what they may" as stated in their 11th Article of Faith. The same goes for any religious belief that finds freedom here in America. I will defend Evangelical Christians for their religious rights too even though I often find their ideology to be distasteful. We would all do well to remember that America was founded in part by the Pilgrims who fled an intolerant King in England who actively quashed minority religions such as the Christianity practiced by the Pilgrims. It is part of the reason that freedom of religion is part of the first amendment in the much revered Bill of Rights.

Addendum: Last night while my wife and I were talking about the rights of this Islamic center to build in NYC I remarked how interesting it was that two atheists (her and I are Buddhist Atheists) were defending a religion's rights. I'm sure there are plenty more atheists doing the same--how ironic. Atheists defending a religion's rights over many hardcore religious types. Also, consider this; if we allow the religious rights of Muslims to be subjected to the whims of the majority then what will keep people coming after other religions?

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