(Aug. 31, 2017) The CURE, or Clergy United for Reconciliation and Equality, invite locals to “Take Back the Light” following the recent events in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The CURE have adopted as part of its mission, “As leaders of (some) faith communities in Ocean City, Maryland, we affirm the beauty and dignity of every human being who, being created in the image and likeness of God, deserve to be respected and honored as such. Therefore, we stand against all that attacks, fragments, or diminishes such dignity, claiming that under no circumstance will any form of discrimination be accepted or justified.”
CURE officials said they were compelled to speak out and denounce “the ungodly beliefs and demonic violence that were brought out during the Unite the Right protests in Charlottesville” on Aug. 11-12.
“Among the racist groups represented were the Ku Klux Klan, and new-Nazi and Alt-Right sympathizers. Their goal was only to intimidate others with their numbers, rhetoric, and thuggish violence,” officials said in a statement. “We denounce racism as contrary to the dignity of every human being. We denounce bigotry as contrary to the recognition that we are created in the image and likeness of God. We denounce prejudice, which is contrary to the fact that all persons deserve respect and honor. We reject violence in the service of hatred as it attacks human dignity.”
Prayers and condolences were extended to the families of Heather Heyer, Lt. H. Jay Cullen, and Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates.
“As we recognize the image and likeness of God even in those who participated in the bigoted protest, engaged in violence against their brothers and sisters, and those who defended them, we call them away from their bigotry and hatred, challenge them to reconciliation with their neighbors, appropriate penance, and finally amendment of life,” officials said.
Members of Jewish, Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic, Lutheran and Episcopal congregations are invited to attend an evening of reflection and reconciliation called “Take Back the Light” at Temple Bat Yam, 11036 Worcester Highway, in Berlin, on Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m.
Guest speakers will discuss “past histories of oppression and challenge those gathered to turn away from sin and embrace the light of reconciliation and equality.”
The event is free and open to the public.