ISCA - The Islamic Supreme Council of America

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate
ISCA Attends Faith-Based Initiatives Conference in Philadelphia
President Bush thanks ISCA for its participation

(Philadelphia, December 14, 2002) - Responding to special invitation from the White House, the Islamic Supreme Council of America (ISCA) was honored to attend the White House Regional Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives held this week in Philadelphia, PA. During the conference, ISCA had an opportunity to speak with President George W. Bush, who thanked the Council for its participation in the event and for helping to show America that his faith-based initiative is designed to help people of all faiths.

"It's very important to me that you are here," President Bush told ISCA's executive director, Jamaluddin Hoffman. "I want people to see that, when I speak about people of faith, I am speaking about people of all faiths."

During the conference, the president signed an executive order ending discrimination by government agencies against faith-based groups. Participants also attended workshops designed to educate groups on how to partner with the federal government.

Addressing more than 1,500 religious and community leaders, the president declared, "Many faiths and many traditions are represented here. Yet we share the same belief that every person in need is a worthy child of God ... Government has often been slow to recognize the importance of faith-based and community efforts ... If a charity is helping the needy, it should not matter if there is a rabbi on the board, or a cross or a crescent on the wall, or a religious commitment in the charter."

ISCA supports the president's courageous effort to recognize the long-standing contributions faith-based groups have made to the social welfare of this nation, as well as pioneering effort to open the door to federal funding for these organizations. ISCA believes that it is in the United States' best interest to harness the unique capabilities and resources offered by religiously inspired charities, to bring them to bear upon the many social challenges facing our country today and to let them help build a nation whose strength is in its compassion and striving for good deeds. A nation whose foundation is built on the strength of its faith commitment cannot but succeed in all that it does.

ISCA also congratulates the president on his foresight in striving to bring unity to a nation whose diversity is its hallmark, forging from many distinct and unique communities a citizenry whose direction is informed by faith and spirituality and whose care is for all of mankind.

The Islamic Supreme Council of America (ISCA) is a non-profit, non-governmental religious organization. It is dedicated to presenting traditional, scholarly Islamic perspectives on global issues and working proactively with non-Muslim individuals and organizations to present Islam as a religion of moderation, tolerance, peace and justice. ISCA is comprised of over 150 scholarly advisors from around the world.

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Islamic Supreme Council of America
1400 Sixteenth Street NW
B112
Washington, DC 20036

Phone: (202) 939-3400
Fax: (202) 939-3410
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E-mail: staff@islamicsupremecouncil.org