nterFaith Conference's Diverse Faith Traditions Gather for Prayer at Gaston Hall, Georgetown University, Thursday, September 13, 2001 at 10 a.m.

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archdiocese of Washington, The Right Reverend Jane Dixon, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, Rabbi Fred Reiner,

President, Washington Board of Rabbis, Imam Hendi, Muslim Chaplain, Georgetown University and Other Key Religious Leaders to Participate

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington is gathering leaders and members of diverse faith traditions to pray together in this time of national crisis at Gaston Hall (main auditorium located in Healy Hall) Georgetown University, 37 & O Streets NW, Washington, D.C. on Thursday, September 13, 2001 at 10:00 a.m. Thursday had already been designated as the World Day of Prayer. The public is invited to join people from the Baha'i, Hindu-Jain, Islamic, Jewish, Latter-day Saints, Protestant, Roman Catholic and Sikh faiths, the members of the InterFaith Conference. Persons of all faith traditions and good will are welcome.

"The InterFaith Conference shares the profound outrage and grief of this country and world at the terrorist attacks against the United States yesterday," said Reverend Clark Lobenstine, Executive Director of the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington.

Imam Yahya Hendi, Muslim Chaplain for Georgetown University, said "Yesterday's incident is as tragic and unacceptable to the Muslim community as it is to every community in the nation. The Muslim community in America and worldwide is very sad, and would like to see those behind these attacks brought to justice."

Father Adam Bunnell, Georgetown University chaplain, said, "It is very important for all of us to pray together in such moments."

Reverend Lobenstine said, "We urge all people to lift up prayers for the dead and their families, for the injured and their loved ones, and all emergency service personnel. We also pray for our government officials -- especially President Bush -- in this time of deep crisis. We urge people to join together in order to provide disaster relief through established channels ... Where it is appropriate, we urge churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and all other religious centers to stay open for community prayer, meditation, and the provision of comfort and counseling ... The perpetrators of these heinous acts must be brought to justice."

Because religion has already been raised as a possible motive, the InterFaith Conference reiterated a part of their policy statement on "Violence in the Name of Religion" which states, "We strongly deplore the misdeeds of those who routinely justify violence on religious grounds; not only do their violent actions cause harm to people who are the creation of God, but also their justifications do violence to the fabric of our respective faiths. Our religions teach us the sanctity of human life; they apply no veneer of respectability to slaughter carried out for personal vengeance or political purpose."

The InterFaith Conference (IFC) of Metropolitan Washington connects, informs and unifies eight faith communities of this region to work together toward positive social change and to build understanding among diverse people.