WashPost: 'Moment of Hate Intrudes' on Muslim Service at DC Cathedral

November 15th, 2014 11:28 PM

The Washington Post reserved its top left spot on the front page Saturday to highlight the Washington National Cathedral, run by leftist Episcopalians, host a “first Muslim service, a plea for harmony.” Under a big color photo, the Post explained the service had a sermon from a Muslim scholar who is South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, “urging unity in the fight against extremists who appropriate Islam.”

The story by Pamela Constable came on the front of the Metro section with the headline “Unity call at cathedral’s first Muslim service.” But inside on B-2, in between two more large color photos, came the headline “During cathedral’s first prayer service for Muslims, a moment of hate intrudes.”

What horrible thing did this “hater” say? “You’re all no better than Osama”? “Muhammad had a child bride”? It doesn’t match the headline:

Nevertheless, the carefully scripted ceremony was marred once when one well-dressed, middle-age woman in the audience suddenly rose and began shouting that “America was founded on Christian principles. . . . Leave our church alone!” She was swiftly ushered out by security aides, and the service continued.

That's a protest, but how on Earth is that “a moment of hate”? When gays have heckled Catholic Masses, was that “a moment of hate”? Not in the Washington Post.

Constable did conclude with Rev. Franklin Graham offering an evangelical critique, that no house of Christian worship should be welcoming in a false religion:

The Very Rev. Gary Hall, dean of the cathedral, spoke of Saint Benedict, who he said believed equally in the importance of prayer and hospitality. Marveling at the sounds of Arabic prayers, which he called “a beautiful sacred language in a beautiful sacred space,” Hall said he hoped the service would serve as the start of more efforts to work together for good....

The intent was to make a statement about religious tolerance that would resound around the world.

It was not without critics, however.

In a Facebook post Thursday, the Rev. Franklin Graham, who heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said that it was “sad to see a church open its doors to worship of anything other than the One True God of the Bible.” As of late Friday, 64,000 people had “liked” the post. [On Saturday night, it's up to 76,950.]