An Indian cardinal has condemned plans by a US Christian group to burn copies of the Qur’an to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

The move is a “totally insensitive and disrespectful act toward the Holy Koran,” Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay, head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, said in a Sept. 1 statement.

The Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, says it plans to hold an international burn a Qur’an day on Sept. 11. The notion has triggered outrage among Muslims around the world.

Cardinal Gracias said he was deeply distressed at reading media reports about the planned event.

“This was all the more shocking because such a campaign goes totally contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ.”

Christ’s teachings stress respect for “all religions and all men and women” who sincerely seek God, he said. “All Christians are called to do likewise,” said the cardinal who is based in Mumbai.

He said all Christian leaders in Mumbai “disassociate ourselves from the planned program” and that “the Christian community joins all those wanting to promote peace and harmony in our society already torn by so much of violence.”

He said he “hoped and prayed” that better sense would prevail and the anti-Muslim program would be canceled.

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