DALLAS - The firestorm over faith created by the Florida pastor is creating tensions in North Texas.
On Saturday, local religious leaders spoke about the proposed Islamic Center near Ground Zero, as they struggled to calm emotions running high, and volunteers outside fed the hungry.
Inside, the faithful tried to cool tempers.
Eleven religious leaders from many different faiths, gathered Saturday at the Masjid Al Islam Center near downtown Dallas, urging tolerance.
"No matter what your faith... join with us on the side of love," said Shams Cohen from the First Unitarian Church of Dallas.
It comes as controversy embroils the ninth anniversary of the terrorists' attacks, including a proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero, something the leader of Dallas' oldest mosque supports.
"They have the right to build it there. Let's not associate the religion of Islam with the horrors, atrocities that took place on 9/11 - those two are not connected," said Khalid Shaheed.
Islamic leaders, increasingly nervous recently about threats, are trying to convince people violent extremists don't represent the majority.
Just last month, the head of Dallas' First Baptist Church railed against Islam at a sermon.
"It's an oppressive treater of women. It is a religion and here is the dark and dirty secret of Islam, it is a religion that promotes pedophilia - sex with children," Dr. Robert Jeffress said.
It's a statement, many here feel, crossed the line.
"We've had members of Christian faith that commit atrocities, but that doesn't mean that Christianity is evil," said Shaheed.
Still, Saturday's anniversary sparked tense emotions for a faith, still hungry for acceptance.
E-mail: jbetz@wfaa.com
