Prayer event sparks debate
By James Fuller Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Saturday, May 06, 2006, by DailyHerald.com
 
A table of literature gave those who attended a National Day of Prayer celebration in Wheaton Thursday a sense of the messages they'd hear.

The "Pro-Life Action Guide" and a large Protect Marriage-Illinois sign advertised conservative Christian viewpoints that would play a prominent role.

But it was a comment by nationally known conservative leader Sandy Rios that, while seemingly well-received at the time, left some in attendance stammering a day later when asked if they agreed with her.

A radio host and occasional Fox News contributor, Rios spoke of abortion, gay clergy and the murder of innocents like Terry Schiavo as "perversions of the Bible."

But it was a comment about God and Islam that prompted some strong objections.

Rios told the roughly 200 people in attendance in Wheaton that she understands multiculturalism and respect for other religions, but the Christian God is supreme.

"If you were to go God shopping, you would choose (the Christian) God," Rios said. "He is a God of grace and mercy. He does not demand the blood of innocents to satisfy him. There is no other God like that. No Hindu God; no other God. Allah is not like that. Allah is a God of vengeance."

Told later of the remark, Sheik Abdool R. Kahn of the Islamic Foundation in Villa Park said Rios' view of Islam is "far from being true" and particularly out of line on a day of peace and prayer.

"This concept that God in Islam is revengeful is a total blasphemy on God," Kahn said. "Islam is a religion of peace and mercy."

Kahn said Allah rewards obedience with kindness and paradise. Disobedience is met with forgiveness first, but also with appropriate punishment.

"As Muslims, we believe in hope and fairness," Kahn said. "Hope for His mercy. Fairness for the consequences. There is no bloodthirsty God in Islam."

Rios' thoughts on Islam are not without precedent. In a 2002 appearance on CNN's "Crossfire," she said she agreed with the Rev. Franklin Graham, Billy Graham's son, when he said Islam is "a very evil and wicked religion."

Rios spoke Thursday in place of state Sen. Peter Roskam, the Republican candidate to replace Henry Hyde in Congress. Roskam was tied up in Springfield and didn't attend.

Roskam campaign spokesman Ryan McLaughlin said Roskam wasn't privy to the specifics of Rios' speech. McLaughlin declined comment on whether Roskam agrees with the comments.

Friday, several officials who attended the prayer ceremony and applauded Rios said the praise was for her message of turning to God daily for help.

"If comments get taken out of context, it can be made to seem like she's a bigot," DuPage County Board member Debbie Olson said. "I don't think that they are at all meant that way by her. I have not looked in the Quran. I don't know if Allah is a God of vengeance. But I think we can all agree that we have a lot of dispute in our country in what's right and what's wrong. We need to humble ourselves and say, `I need divine guidance.'"

West Chicago High School District 94 Superintendent Lee Rieck said he found Rios to be "very dynamic, very engaging."

"I don't know that (her comments on Allah) caught me by surprise at all," said Rieck, adding: "I can see how the comments would be problematical for some people."

Wheaton city Councilman and mayoral candidate Alan Bolds said he supports Rios' right to free speech. He hopes people of all faiths prayed for America Thursday and are not deterred from that by one person's views.

Bolds did not say if he agreed with Rios' remark but spoke of the power of Christianity.

"I have seen the truth of a verse from the Bible substantiated through real people," Bolds said. "That verse is John 3:16. There are other faiths, but I've seen that verse change the lives of men, women and children around the world."