Theodore Edgar Cardinal McCarrick Speaks at The National Press Club in Washington,...

Theodore Edgar Cardinal McCarrick Speaks at The National Press Club inWashington, D.C. and Welcomes, With Other Christian and Jewish Leaders, The2007 FATWA of The Fiqh Council of North America, and Announces The Launch ofThe Grass Roots 'Uniting to Protect' CampaignEMBARGOED:Friday, November 30, 200712:30 pm EDTWASHINGTON, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On behalf of the Fiqh Councilof North America and its Chairman, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiq, Dr. Ingrid Mattson,President of the Islamic Society of North America, proclaims the 2007 FATWA --a religious edict -- calling for the end to terrorism. In an unprecedented andhistorical Proclamation issued in the spirit of this Thanksgiving Season,American inter-religious leaders of Christian and Jewish faiths welcome thisFATWA, and unite in the announcement of this grass roots "Uniting to Protect"National Campaign. Theodore Edgar Cardinal McCarrick, the Cardinal Emeritus of Washington, D.C.;Rabbi Jack. A. Luxemburg, Chief Rabbi, Temple Beth Ami, Rockville, Maryland;and Right Reverend Samuel T. Lloyd, III, Dean of The National Cathedral, onbehalf of Christians and Jews seeking to make America inhospitable toterrorists launched the "Uniting to Protect" Campaign.This is the first Christian and Jewish community recognition of an Islamicauthority issuance of a Fatwah against terrorists and their violence. Thisrecognition came in the form of a Thanksgiving Season Proclamation signed byCardinal McCarrick, Dean Lloyd and Rabbi Luxemburg and offered to allAmericans to have their names joined in this grass-roots, on-going "Uniting toProtect" initiative.Former National Security Advisor Robert C. McFarlane, a Proclamation endorser,stated, "There are few parallels in modern history to match the violentconfrontation spreading today between radical Islam and the West. Thus far,the missing element preventing progress toward reconciliation has been theunequivocal voice of courageous Muslim leaders condemning violence and thosewho corrupt Islamic law. Here at last in the 2007 Fiqh Council FATWA is thatcourageous voice. It is an historic statement -- worthy of all our efforts tovindicate its special trust with concrete steps toward peace."Former U.S. Congressman Mark D. Siljander, Author of the forthcoming bookpublished by Harper Collins, A Deadly Misunderstanding - A Congressman's Questto Bridge the Muslim-Christian Divide, "The Fatwa and its reception is apowerful beginning to encourage the formation of small 'get to know eachother' common ground gatherings in every city, town, and hamlet in the UnitedStates."Charles R. Black, Jr., Chairman of BKSH & Associates, Inc., notes, "The'Uniting to Protect' movement is about humanity - a bridge to common ground ofall faith, culture and ethnicity - something within our reach!"Joe R. Reeder, Fourteenth Under Secretary of the U.S. Army, Managing Partner,Greenberg Traurig Atlanta Region, "Islamic leaders - those who trulyunderstand the teaching of the Quran - enjoy the credibility necessary incondemning terrorists and can and should be our most reliable and effectiveallies in making American inhospitable to terrorists.""The primary objective of the 'Uniting to Protect' campaign is to guardAmericans from terrorism and its devastating consequences," said Dr. SayyidSyeed, National Director of the Islamic Society of North America. "The longterm gain will be the building of trust among individuals of differentreligious and ethnic traditions with a focus on the common ground we have inthe love of our nation and the desire to protect our people."To learn more about Bridges to Common Ground, one of the sponsors of thisevent, and become an endorser of the Thanksgiving Proclamation, please visitwww.BridgestoCommonGround.org. For inquiries, please contactinfo@BridgestoCommonGround.org. SOURCE National Press ClubMedia consultant, +1-571-839-2081; For Interviews: +1-571-839-2081, One-on-OneInterviews in Murrow Room Following Luncheon; Former US Congressman Mark D.Siljander, Robert Destro, Dr. Sayyid Syeed; Islamic Society of North AmericaMedia Contact: Mohamed Elsanousi, Director of Communications and CommunityOutreach, +1-202-544-5656, ext. 201