Bishop condemns Islamophobia after Scottish church’s Qur’an recital
The head of a UK church in Scotland has condemned Islamophobic attacks following the recital of the Qur’an at a cathedral in Glasgow.
The Most Reverend David Chillingworth, the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, wrote in his blog on Sunday that the church “regretted” the abuse received by St. Mary's Cathedral.
Last week, it was reported that a verse from the Qur’an was read at a service to mark the feast of the Epiphany at the church.
The recital led to a row, where some church-goers said while Muslims revere Jesus as a prophet, they do not view him as the son of God and therefore their holy book should not be read at the service.
”The decisions which have led to the situation in St Mary's Cathedral are a matter for the provost and the cathedral community but the Scottish Episcopal Church is deeply distressed at the widespread offense which has been caused,” Chillingsworth’s online post read.
“We also deeply regret the widespread abuse which has been received by the cathedral community,” he said.
“In response to what has happened at the cathedral, the Scottish Episcopal Church will bring together all those who are involved in the development of interfaith relations,” the bishop went on.
"Our intention will be as a church to explore how, particularly in the area of worship, this work can be carried forward in ways which will command respect,” he continued. “Our desire is that this should be a worthy expression of the reconciliation to which all Christians are called.”
The cathedral’s provost, the Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth, defended the decision to include the passage and said the move was aimed at promoting understanding between Islam and Christianity.
He also said during his Sunday sermon that the church was targeted by a “storm of abuse” from “10,000 Christian voices.”
“I cannot believe that moderate churches in the West should follow a policy of appeasement towards those who are Islamophobic and particularly not towards the recently invigorated far-right media,” he noted.
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