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Local interfaith leaders issue statement encouraging prayers and peaceful protests, gatherings

News of the Diocese

June 6, 2020

Interfaith leaders from across Northeast Ohio released the following statement in the wake of the recent deaths of African Americans by police officers and the ensuing protests across the country.

A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more. (Jeremiah 31:15)

Rachel is not the only one weeping. The family of Ahmaud Arbury is weeping. The family of Breonna Taylor is weeping. The family of George Floyd is weeping. God is weeping.

We as religious leaders in Northeast Ohio add our cries to those who are weeping. And we know it is not enough to weep. It is incumbent to remind ourselves and those we serve that God advocates for those who have been denied, abused and betrayed. And we who follow this God are called to do the same.

We encourage peaceful gatherings and protests. We do not condone violence by those gathered nor find excusable excessive force of police powers, even in this crisis. We decry desecration of houses of worship and national monuments.

We ask communities of faith to pray, examine and act to redeem a broken society so that all humans created in the image of God will be whole and safe.

The Rev. Sharon K. Core, General Presbyter, Presbytery of the Western Reserve

The Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth Jr., Diocesan Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Ohio

The Rt. Rev. William D. Persell, Assisting Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Ohi

The Rt. Rev. Arthur B. Williams Jr., Assisting Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Ohio

The Rev. Nayiri Karjian, Living Water Association, Ohio NorthEast United Church of Christ

The Rev. Dr. Yvonne B. Carter, Regional Executive Minister, Cleveland Baptist Association of American Baptist Churches

The Rev. Abraham D. Allende, Bishop, Northeastern Ohio Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Father Joseph T. Hilinski, Interfaith Director, Catholic Diocese of Cleveland

Father Stephen J. Callos, Dean, Sts. Constantine & Helen, Greek Orthodox Cathedral

Rabbi Stephen Weiss, Senior Rabbi, B'nai Jeshurun Congregation, Pepper Pike

Father Hratch Sargsyan, Pastor, St. Gregory of Narek, Armenian Orthodox Church

Father Mikhail E. Mikhail, D. Min., Pastor, St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Cleveland, Chancellor of the Diocese of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana

Father Donald P. Oleksiak, Diocean Administrator, Catholic Diocese of Cleveland

The Right Rev. Bishop Andrei of Cleveland, The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America

V. Rev. Father Remus Grama, D. Min, St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Cathedral

Gurdas Singh Dass, President Interfaith Conference of Religions of Greater Cleveland

Rev. David D. Cottingham, Ecumenical Liaison, The Pentecostal Church of Christ, Cleveland

Father Alexander Garklavs, Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Parma

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