Muslim leader urges support for Pope

MANILA --A high-ranking Filipino Muslim leader exhorted all people of faith, regardless of specific religious affiliations, to go all out in their support for Pope Francis, especially in the promotion of global peace through inter-religious dialogue.In an interview Tuesday over the Know The Truth program, Imam Ebra M. Moxsir Al-Haj, an Islamic scholar and a chaplain of the Philippine National Police (PNP), specifically invited his fellow Filipino Muslims to back the Catholic Church’s call for cooperation among the leaders and members of various religious traditions. I enjoin my Muslim brothers and sisters to join the Holy Father in his efforts at fostering goodwill among adherents of the world’s religions,” he shared in Filipino.Moxsir, who chairs the Imam Council of the Philippines (ICP), stressed he shares the pontiff’s stance against extremist elements who have found their way into Islam and Christianity, and who will stop at nothing, not even the use of violence, to spread discord and hatred.According to him, religious leaders must do their best to prevent radical fundamentalists, whether Muslim or Christian, from hijacking their respective religions. Good Muslims and Christians all want peace … Education has an important role to play to make it happen … We must see to it that our brothers and sisters are properly educated in their faith so that they will not be swayed by those extremists,” the Imam explained.Meanwhile, Moxsir confirmed he is one of at least ten religious leaders chosen to have an audience with Pope Francis in an event at the University of Santo Tomás on Jan. 18 next year.Moxsir’s full interview will be aired in Know The Truth’s Papal Visit Special over TV María early January.(Raymond A. Sebastián/CBCP News)