A Day of Remembrance for Worshipers Who Died

 

In several of the congregations I served through the years we developed evacuation plans in case of fire on a Sunday morning. Because we had Sunday Schools and nurseries those plans extended beyond the sanctuary and included where everyone would assemble and ensuring that children were accounted for. We even ran fire drills in a couple of those congregations so that ushers, teachers and congregants knew what to do in case of an emergency.

We never discussed a plan of action in the event we were attacked by an angry or deranged person, perhaps someone who held a grudge against Christians, or was motivated by a toxic mix of conspiracy theories and hatred to perpetrate violence against us. We assumed that our sanctuary was, in fact, a sanctuary, a safe place.

Sadly, this is not the reality for places of worship for other religions in this country. Jewish synagogues have been defaced and threatened. In recent years the growing number of Islamic mosques and worship centres cross the country has meant they too have often become targets of graffiti and confrontation.

Yesterday the federal government announced that today, January 29th, will be a national day of remembrance on the anniversary of the 2017 Quebec City mosque attack during which six worshipers were murdered. It was an unprovoked attack by a young man who was convinced that Muslims were a threat. I recall that in the immediate, confusing aftermath of the attack there was speculation that it was carried out by other Muslims, as though it wasn't possible that this sort of violence could be carried out by anyone else in peace-loving Canada. It was a reminder that prejudices against Muslims runs deep in this country, which is why the declaration about this day says that the goal is also to promote action against Islamophobia. 

I was aware of anti-Muslim sentiment in one community where some members of the ministerial in which I was involved were reluctant to send a letter of welcome and support to the Islamic worship centre which had recently opened. We did send the letter because some of us were persistent but it was a spirited conversation. 

I'm happy to say that several Christian congregations here in Belleville developed a warm relationship with the local mosque when we worked today to sponsor nearly two dozen Syrian refugees a few years ago. The people we met were warm, welcoming, and incredibly dependable and helpful -- I often described them as an Allah-send. 

Whatever shape this day takes in the future, it is important to honour those who died in 2017, and to work against religious discrimination wherever it may rear its ugly head.