The Muslim Martin Luther?

Fethullah Gulen Attempts an Islamic Reformation 

By Victor Gaetan

In a video posted on his Web site last December, the Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen called on God to curse Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Gulen, who has lived in exile in the United States since 1999, declared in a sermon broadcast on Turkish television, “Those who don’t see the thief but go after those trying to catch the thief: may God bring fire to their houses, ruin their homes, break their unities.” This went far beyond the normally secular bounds of political debate in Turkey.

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World Day of Social Justice - 20 February

"The gap between the poorest and the wealthiest around the world is wide and growing. ... We must do more to empower individuals through decent work, support people through social protection, and ensure the voices of the poor and marginalized are heard."

          Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
          Message for the 2014 World Day of Social Justice

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What happened to the Turkish model of passive secularism?

Ahmet Kuru

In 2006 I wrote an essay to refute the depiction of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) as anti-secular. The argument was based on the two types of secularism.

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Fethullah Gulen’s interview with The Wall Street Journal in English

Joe Parkinson and Jay Solomon

1. The Prime Minister has repeatedly attacked you and Hizmet in recent weeks. Do you believe that your alliance with his faction of the AKP is now definitively at an end?

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As it happens:Turkey’s graft investigation and PM Erdoğan’s response

Kerim Balci

Last updated Jan. 08, 2014   Turkey is passing through interesting times. Very recently the country has been shaken by two corruption investigations involving ministers from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party). The related investigations heralded the final parting of the ways between two strong players in Turkey: the AK Party and the Hizmet movement (a faith-inspired community affiliated with the now US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen). Once allies against military tutelage and staunch secularist elite control of power centers in the country, recent events and the Turkish prime minister’s response demonstrate the differing views and positions of both sides. 

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A Conversation with Rev. Alexei R. Smith on Interfaith Dialogue

Alp Ataizi

As Pacifica Institute we have started a new interview series with prominent leaders of today's society. To launch the series, we sat down to enjoy an enlightening conversation with Rev. Alexei R. Smith, Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs Officer for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, to speak about interfaith dialogue. Rev. Smith is one of the very first interfaith activists on interfaith dialogue in the Los Angeles area and has paved the way in this meaningful cause. 

Father Alexei served as an elected member of the Council of Priests of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for six years, serving as Vice President of the Council and Chair of the Priestly Life and Ministry Committee for the last two years of his service on the Council.

In November of 2000, Cardinal Roger Mahony appointed Father Alexei to a five year term as Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer of the Archdiocese, and reappointed him to a second five year term in July 2006.

Father Alexei served as president of the Interreligious Council of Southern California for five years and is the recipient of numerous commendations and awards: in 2007 he was awarded the prestigious Religious Leadership Award of the Valley Interfaith Council.

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