The Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable and several religious leaders in the Salt Lake Valley — including Bishop Gérald Caussé, the Church’s Presiding Bishop — released the following statement, titled “Homelessness, Compassion, and Civility,” on April 13:
The depth and strength of a community’s character can be measured by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens. As a group representing many faiths, we implore all to seek a deeper understanding of the many paths that lead to homelessness and to join our common efforts to assist our homeless brothers and sisters in meeting their needs for housing and other services that will help them achieve economic independence and a life of dignity.
All faiths teach a form of the Golden Rule. Confucius said, “Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.” The Talmud states, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.” Christ said, “Do to others as you would have them do to you,” and the Prophet Mohammad peace be upon him said: “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself” (Bukhari and Muslim).
We have a wonderful opportunity to minister as we work together to ensure all people in our community can meet their basic needs. We ask all to move forward with the Golden Rule etched in our hearts, demonstrating goodwill toward all men and women.
Signed
- Pamela Atkinson, Community Leader and Presbyterian Elder
- Bishop Gérald Caussé, Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- The Reverend France Davis, Pastor of the Salt Lake Calvary Baptist Church
- The Rt. Reverend Scott B. Hayashi, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah
- Father Elias Koucos, Holy Trinity Cathedral
- Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church
- Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman, Congregation Kol Ami, Salt Lake City
- Imam Muhammad Shoayb Mehtar, Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake
- The Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City
- Josie Stone, Chair of the Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable
