Moore's Interfaith Council Has No Catholics
Supermajority of Council members are Non-Christian in a state with a Christian supermajority
Governor Wes Moore and Lt. Governor Aruna Miller have instituted a new Council on Interfaith Outreach.
In a press release, they said:
“Growing up in an interfaith household taught me that at its core, faith is about empathy, respect, and promoting a more equitable world,” said Lt. Gov. Miller “I am honored to chair the Council on Interfaith Outreach to create space at the highest level of state government to foster shared discussion between faith groups. There is so much more that unites us than divides us, and by coming together in unity, we can create a more inclusive, compassionate, and understanding Maryland.”
“We come from many different backgrounds, but all of our faiths teach us shared values to care for others, support our children, and love one another, said Gov. Moore. “The council will put those values into practice, and build strategies to foster religious tolerance across faiths, and end the cycle of faith-based hatred, violence, and persecution in the state of Maryland.”
The group will meet every other month to further discussion and develop strategies the state of Maryland can take to foster increased religious respect across faiths.
Unfortunately, the council has left a significant group out of the process: Catholics.
As Marylanders know, Maryland was founded as a safe haven for Catholics. It was founded by Catholics seeking refuge from religious persecution in Maryland. Catholics still make up roughly 15% of Maryland’s population; I’m one of them. And yet, neither Moore nor Miller found it important to include even one Catholic on their Council.
Once again, anti-Catholicism remains the last remaining socially acceptable prejudice. Particularly for Democrats.
The entire Interfaith Council is not representative of Marylanders religious affiliations. The membership consists of:
Mr. Hasan Hammad, President Islamic Society of Baltimore
Rev. Robbie Davis, Bishop Celebration Church Columbia
Rabbi Elissa Sachs-Kohen, Rabbi Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
Rev. Eric Randolph, Rabbi Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
Mr. Jameel Aalim-Johnson, President, Prince George’s County Muslim Council
Rev. Dr. Derek Shackelford, Reverend, Buckeystown United Methodist Church
Rev. Shea Strickland, Pastor, Grace Fellowship - Timonium
Mr. Chandrakant Chove, Priest, Shri Mangal Mandir Temple,
Rev. Donté Hickman, Bishop, Southern Baptist Church - Baltimore
Elder Rico Newman, Elder, Choptico Band of Piscataway-Conoy Tribe.
Rabbi Peter Hyman, Rabbi, Temple B’nai Israel
For those keeping score, that Council consists of Two Muslisms, a Hindu, Three Jewish Rabbis, a member of a Native Tribe, a Methodist, and Methodist, and two Churches that look like business parks more than Churches.
If that seems out of whack compared to the religious beliefs of Marylanders, you aren’t wrong.
Non-Christian faiths make up 8% of the population of Maryland adults, yet make up 70% of the Council on Interfaith Outreach.
Obviously, a Council like this need not be representative of the population. But to have a Supermajority of the Council be religious in a way that is outside of the mainstream of the majority of Marylanders, while also excluding an entire religious denomination that makes up 15% of Marylanders and was instrumental in the founding of the state, is short-sighted at best and intentionally discriminatory at worst.
If Moore and Miller are sincere in their belief that the Council is intended to “bridge divides, increase religious tolerance, end hate, and better serve all communities”, excluding one of Maryland’s largest and most important religious denominations seems to ensure the job does not get done.