Below is the statement prepared by various religious leaders of the Lawrence community on the recently reported attack on Kansas University professor Paul Mirecki.

December 7, 2005

Recently much press has been devoted to Professor Mirecki’s proposed course on “intelligent design and other mythologies” and subsequent emails. More recently there has been media coverage of a physical attack upon Professor Mirecki. These incidents have aroused strong emotions among many people who hold differing views regarding the issues of science and faith.

All religious traditions condemn violence to others in response to conflict. In our Christian tradition we are in a season of penitence and preparation for the birth of Jesus who proclaimed an ethic of compassion at the heart of which is seeking the other person’s highest good. As religious leaders in the Lawrence community, we condemn the hate and violence escalating around this whole debate as contrary to the message of the Gospel we proclaim.

We recognize violence comes not only in “sticks and stones,” that hurt physically, but also in words of disrespect and innuendo often used to assassinate the opinions and reputations of others. We find ourselves saddened to see our deeply held values of tolerance and civil discourse give way to extremist behaviors that threaten another’s highest good.

We as citizens of many faiths are called to find a way to live together in harmony and peace. This means we will strive to deal with our differences through energetic but non-violent discourse. On behalf of all of the citizens of the Lawrence community, we offer our prayers for respectful understanding and the peace that refuses violence in any form.

Peter Luckey, Senior Pastor, Plymouth Church, United Church of Christ
Thad Holcombe, Campus Minister, Ecumenical Christian Ministries
Gary Teske, Senior Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church (ELCA)
Raymond J. Fancher, Interim Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church
Randy Beeman, Senior Pastor, First Christian Church