Muslims must speak out against ISIS

Muslims must speak out against ISIS

The live burning of a caged 21-year-old Jordanian pilot by ISIS is the last straw. It is the audacious culmination of the beheadings, sale of children into sex trafficking, burying people alive and other atrocities.

It stimulates recollection of Nazi extermination of Jews during World War II, with one huge difference. Hitler's agenda was personally and politically motivated.

ISIS has the word "Islam" in it; that is, it is religiously motivated, or so it would appear. Few spoke out against the Nazis. What Imam in America is speaking out against ISIS? It is my opinion that most Americans on the street cannot and do not distinguish between ISIS and the moderate Islam practiced by prayers on Friday afternoons in the U.S. It is, therefore, incumbent upon the spiritual leaders of America's mosques to publicly take a stand against ISIS. It will not be enough to insert a few sentences on a mosque's webpage.

Public burnings, beheadings and live burials mandate a strong public voice beginning with our nation's mosques. America's Imams, if they oppose what ISIS is doing in Allah's name, must be quoted in print, heard on radio and seen on TV. The evil nature of what we're seeing lately demands an equally loud voice from both the synagogues and churches. Before the American public becomes anesthetized by these atrocities, all spiritual leaders and communities must join voices leading to concrete action against ISIS demonic behavior. If Islam is to take root in America as a viable religion, its leaders must distance themselves from ISIS - loudly and publicly.

If Christians and Jews are to love our neighbors, that means we must not leave the confronting of evil only to American citizens who happen to be Muslims who are guaranteed their constitutional right to freely express their religious convictions.

Paul O. Bischoff

Wheaton