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'Muslims Welcome': How One Australian Church Is Combating Islamophobia Amidst ISIS Outrage
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/05/muslims-welcome-church_n_5928422.htmlBy Antonia Blumberg
Posted: 10/05/2014 9:15 pm EDT Updated: 10/05/2014 9:59 pm EDT
Perhaps what the world needs most now is a renewed emphasis on what it means to be a good neighbor.
For Michael Barnes, the minister of Gordon United Church in New South Wales, Australia, being a neighbor entails doing everything in his power to make sure marginalized groups feel welcome in their own homes. That's why Barnes is sending the powerful message that Muslims are welcome in his church -- and he hopes the community at large will follow suit.
"There has been concern bubbling around in Australia for most of this year about discrimination against minorities," Barnes told HuffPost, citing suggested legislation that would have altered the protections guaranteed in Australia's Racial Discrimination Act.
"I’ve been aware of this issue for some time; often when I listen to comments of ‘ordinary and good’ people in the local community I am surprised to hear misunderstanding and anxiety expressed about Muslims."
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