Local religious leaders ask for peace in wake of Fort Hood shootings

Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders gathered Saturday in Villa Park in an effort to diffuse any faith-based tensions that might result from the shooting at the Fort Hood military base last week.

The leaders offered prayers for the 13 victims of last week's violence, and then called on residents of the suburbs and beyond to resist the temptation to hold a particular religious faith responsible, The suspected gunman, 39-year-old Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, is Muslim.

Shaikh Abdool R. Khan, resident scholar at the Islamic Foundation School in Villa Park, said the actions of one person should not be held against all the members of a religious faith.

"We condemn the acts that took place in Texas," Khan said. "We want to show our solidarity with the American people in that."

Khan urged people to "rise above biases and hate" and instead try to figure why tragedies like the Fort Hood shooting happen.

"We're noticing more anger coming out from individuals," he said, referring to last week's shootings at Fort Hood and Orlando, Fla., as well as earlier incidents at Northern Illinois and Virginia Tech universities. "People are coming to a level where the only way to escape their anger is not to turn to God, but to do violence."

Saturday's meeting took place at the Villa Park school. Khan said that while the facility was the target of vandals shortly after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, no incidents have occurred since the Fort Hood shootings.

The school has a good relationship with the Villa Park Police Department and the community, so no problems are anticipated, Khan said.

Rabbi Steven Bob of Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard pointed out that the Christian, Muslim and Jewish religious traditions all preach against violence, especially violence directed at fellow human beings.

"People often look for simple solutions when something like this happens," Bob said. "Simple solutions are always wrong."

Rev. Kerry Waller, co-chairman of the Villa Park-Lombard Clergy Network, urged suburban residents of all faiths to come together "as Americans and fellow believers" to mourn the victims and pray for their families.

One civilian and 12 soldiers were killed in Thursday's violence at Fort Hood. Two Chicago-area soldiers were among those killed - Pfc. Michael Pearson of Bolingbrook and Pfc. Francheska Velez of Chicago.