A Christian minister vowed Tuesday to go ahead with plans to burn copies of the Quran to protest the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks despite warnings from the White House and the top U.S. general in Afghanistan that he would endanger American troops overseas.
Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center, which has about 50 members, said he understands the government's concerns but plans to go forward with the burning Saturday to mark the ninth anniversary of the attacks.
The Vatican has denounced as "outrageous and grave" plan.
The Vatican office responsible for relations with Islam issued a stern statement Wednesday saying that every religion has the right to respect and protect its sacred books, places of worship and symbols.
While deploring the terror attacks, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue said they "cannot be counteracted by an outrageous and grave gesture against a book considered sacred by a religious community."
Pastor Terry Jones of the small, evangelical Dove World Outreach Center has said he would go ahead with plans to burn copies of Islam's holy book this weekend despite opposition.
WE STRONGLY OPPOSE THE DECISION!
