Steve Authier

A Michigan Catholic deacon stands up for Muslims in Dearborn after a Christian nationalist rally called for their removal from the country: “To the men and women protesting in the name of Jesus, hurling hate at our Muslim brothers and sisters — not in his name, and certainly not on my watch. “I count many Muslims as my friends, my neighbors, my associates, and yes, my barber. Men and women of integrity, of family, and of faith. We may not be brothers in faith, but we are certainly and absolutely brothers and sisters in humanity. “And freedom of religion is not a footnote to being an American. It is a cornerstone. The same First Amendment that protects my right to go to Mass protects your right to the mosque. “It grieves me that in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace is being used as a weapon to spread fear, intolerance, and hate. That is not the gospel. That is not the cross. And that certainly is not of Christ. “So let me be clear. In the name of Jesus Christ, I rebuke this spirit of hatred and division. Scripture does not leave us confused about this. We are called to rebuke evil, and tonight, this is evil — using the name of the Savior who dined with outcasts to cast out our neighbors, good people.* “John tells us exactly how Christians should be known: by this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another — and your neighbor. “He makes it even plainer: if anyone says “I love God” and hates his brother, he is a liar. “So no. You do not speak for me. You do not speak for my church. And you do not speak for Christ when you chant hate at people of God, no matter the faith. “To my Muslim friends in this room and in this city: you are welcome here. You belong here. Your freedom to worship is my freedom to worship, and I will stand for it because my faith demands it. “We can disagree — and we probably will — on theology, and still defend each other’s dignity. That’s not weakness. That’s Christianity. That is American.”