Cancellation at Crystal Cathedral
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I was shocked at the irresponsible and damaging headline in The Times (June 6), which included my name: “Schuller Cancels Cathedral Address by Foe of Apartheid.”
We did not cancel the address of a foe of apartheid. We rejected the use of the cathedral by an advocate of terrorism.
I am on record as having been long opposed to apartheid.
Why then did we block the appearance of Alfred Nzo, a representative of the African National Congress, at the Crystal Cathedral? On only one ground: The ANC advocacy of violence and its use of terrorist tactics. The violence of apartheid itself is unconscionable, but if its cure is to be more violence, where will the killing stop?
The Crystal Cathedral was dedicated to be a “spiritual Switzerland,” an oasis of peace. It is not a platform for political advocacy. We are committed to peaceful change in obedience to the teaching and example of Jesus Christ, modeled for us in our time by Martin Luther King Jr., and by Mohandas K. Gandhi.
I would urge all people to pray that a path to peace and racial equality will be discovered in South Africa to prevent that country from becoming another Lebanon.
No to apartheid!
No to terrorism!
No to violence!
Yes to freedom!
Yes to peace!
Yes to brotherhood!
ROBERT H. SCHULLER
Founding Pastor
Crystal Cathedral
Garden Grove
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