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WASHINGTON, D.C. (November
9, 2006) – The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) strongly
condemned the egregious and bigoted remarks by Texas Governor
Rick Perry wherein he said that non-Christians are doomed
and condemned to go to hell.
According to The Dallas Morning News
(November 6, 2006), Gov. Rick Perry, after attending a sermon
with nearly 60 Republican candidates on Sunday, November 5,
2006 said that he concurred with the Rev. John Hagee’s
comment during the sermon, in which Rev. Hagee said, “If
you live your life and don’t confess your sins to God
almighty through the authority of Christ and his blood, I’m
going to say this very plainly, you’re going straight
to hell with a nonstop ticket.” The Governor told reporters
that, “In my faith, that’s what it says, and I’m
a believer of that.”
He is later said to have remarked, “Before
we get into Buddha and all the others, I get a little confused
there. But the fact is that we live in a pluralistic world
but our faith is real personal. And my Christian faith teaches
that the way is through Jesus Christ.”
“Such remarks are not only divisive
but silly,” said Ramesh Rao, HAF Executive Council Member.
“In times when interracial and interfaith dialogue are
imperative, it's shocking that a high-level elected government
official should abuse the state's podium by using it as a
pulpit to spread contempt for non-Christians.”
The Governor's remarks are not the first
to be considered an affront to religious minorities under
his governance. In 2005, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF)
spearheaded the
filing of an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief
with the United States Supreme Court in Van Orden v. Gov.
Perry, a case involving the State of Texas defending its placement
and management of a permanent monument of the Ten Commandments
on government property.
HAF also expressed deep concern at the Governor’s
efforts in organizing the Texas Restoration Project, in which
ministers are encouraged to get their congregants politically
involved in their communities. “It is unfortunate that
Governor Perry has not learned from the mistake of his predecessor
governor, George W. Bush, who was roundly criticized for his
1993 statement that ‘those who do not accept Jesus as
their personal savior cannot get to heaven’,”
said Aseem Shukla, member of the HAF Board of Directors. “We
hope now that the mid-term elections are over, and the results
are in, better sense will prevail among religious fundamentalists
in the United States. We are a multi-faith, diverse nation,
and we believe that people will not countenance such bigotry,
especially from those who hold high office.”
The Hindu American Foundation is a 501(c)(3),
non-profit, non-partisan organization promoting the Hindu
and American ideals of understanding, tolerance and pluralism.
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