Religions for Peace

Senior Religious Leaders of Different Faiths
Condemn Terrorism and Misuse of Religion

—World Council Co-Presidents from Religions for Peace are among delegates from 32 countries at Baku interfaith Summit —

 (NEW YORK, 29 April 2010)—Co-Presidents from the World Council of Religions for Peace, the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition, were among the senior religious leaders from 32 countries who this week condemned terrorism and any attempts to use religion for destructive purposes.

The senior religious leaders from Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Hindu, and Muslim faith traditions were attending the World Summit of Religious Leaders on 26–27 April 2010, in Baku, Azerbaijan. The religious leaders spoke about their concern regarding extremism, terrorist acts, the use of weapons of mass destruction, human rights violations, and drug abuse.

Among those present providing leadership to Religions for Peace were Co-Presidents of its World Council: H.E. Prof. Dr. Ali Bardakoğlu, President, Presidency of Religious Affairs, Egypt; His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians, Armenian Apostolic Church; and The Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, Director of External Affairs, Orthodox Church in America and Moderator of Religions for Peace. One of the conveners of the summit was former Co-President His Holiness Kirill I, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

“People who sow death and destruction attempt to use religious slogans to conceal their objectives,” the religious leaders said in a statement.  “In present conditions, the cooperation of traditional religious communities becomes more and more vital. The responsibility for the future of the world motivates us to declare together that compromises in the choice between sin and goodness are inadmissible and to stand together against egoism, violence and enmity.”

The remarks given at the Summit by the Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, Moderator of Religions for Peace, may be downloaded below.