U.S. Archbishop Wester Supports Muslim Right to Worship saying "anti-Muslim sentiment has no place in the heart of a Christian" FULL TEXT
Archbishop John C. Wester, age 75, 12th Archbishop of Santa Fe since 2015, in New Mexico, responds to controversy surrounding proposal to build a mosque.
ALBUQUERQUE—Statement from Most
Reverend John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe, supporting our Muslim neighbors’ right to worship.
In recent weeks, I have heard concerns from some residents regarding the
proposal to build a mosque and community center in the North Valley of
Albuquerque. As Archbishop of Santa Fe and a resident of Albuquerque, I feel
compelled to speak clearly and pastorally: our Muslim neighbors have the
same God-given and constitutionally protected right to worship freely as every
other faith community, including our own. Defending that right is not only a
civic duty but a core element of Catholic teaching.
The Catholic Church has long affirmed religious liberty as essential to human
dignity. In Dignitatis Humanae, the Second Vatican Council taught that every
person “must be free from coercion” in matters of faith. This principle applies
universally. It is not limited to Catholics or Christians; it extends fully to
Muslims, Jews, and all people who seek to worship according to their
conscience. Supporting the construction of a mosque is therefore entirely
consistent with our own tradition and moral commitments.
At a time when divisions can easily deepen, I urge our community to choose
respect, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence. We do not need to share the same
beliefs to share the same neighborhood. What we do need is a willingness to
listen, to learn, and to recognize the face of a neighbor rather than a stranger.
Interfaith relationships enrich our civic life and strengthen the social fabric we
all depend on.
I must also speak plainly: anti-Muslim sentiment has no place in the heart of a
Christian. Any hostility toward Muslims—whether expressed through rhetoric,
suspicion, or opposition to their places of worship—is incompatible with the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, who commands us to love our neighbor without
exception. Fear of the other is not a Christian virtue. Hospitality is.
Our Muslim brothers and sisters have faced discrimination and hostility in
many parts of the country. When such prejudice arises, Catholics are called to
stand beside them, not apart from them. Supporting their right to build a
mosque is one concrete way to affirm their dignity and to reject the forces that
seek to marginalize them.
I encourage us all to welcome this project with goodwill. A neighborhood that
makes room for the prayers of many is stronger, more compassionate, and
more reflective of the values we claim to uphold.
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