September 24, 2001
Baylor Hospital calls for understanding
___DALLAS--Religious leaders at Baylor Health Care System have called upon employees to transcend all their differences in time of tragedy.
___The Dallas-based hospital system is the Baptist General Convention of Texas' largest institution.
___The system's Interfaith Task Force issued a statement affirming Baylor Health Care employees' desire to "unite in love and mutual support" in the wake of the terrorist attacks Sept. 11.
___The statement was signed by Jann Aldredge-Clanton, chaplain coordinator and co-chair of the Interfaith Task Force; Robert Fine, a medical doctor and director of the Office of Clinical Ethics and the other task force co-chair; and Mark Grace, director of pastoral care.
___"The Interfaith Task Force joins with these individuals in calling all of us to come together as a community of healers and offer the prayers of our hearts," the statement notes.
___Both the health care system's staff and patients represent "diverse ethnic groups, cultures and religions," the statement acknowledges.
___"As an institution built on both science and faith, we affirm that we work hand-in-hand with our Creator," it states. "Although we come from different traditions, we believe these differences enrich our healing strength."
___The terrorist attacks deeply impacted the Baylor system, the statement adds. "We are saddened ... when fanatical terrorists attempt to distort the will of God, and we reject any who would believe that God calls on them to kill themselves and their fellow human beings. We are also saddened when we hear statements, even within the walls of this great hospital, of bigotry and hate directed against either Arabic or Islamic members of our community and the world at large."
___The source of hateful words may be understandable during a time of tragedy, but those words cannot be condoned, the statement stresses.
___"Although we can understand the emotional origin of these hateful words, we do not believe they should be let loose on the world," it says. "Words of hate create wounds that even the best healers among us can never completely mend.
___"We believe the heart of true spirituality is characterized by love, respect and service to all humankind. We reject the bigotry that dehumanizes those who are different and in fact helps make injustice and terrorism possible."
___The statement exhorts members of the Baylor Health Care organization to "reach out across cultural, ethnic and religious differences and affirm each other, our common mission and purpose, and our common partnership with the Creator in serving all humanity."
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