NOTE: See our Facebook.com/azifm for LIVE STREAMING of this workshop.

The Parliament of the World’s Religions returns to the birthplace of the modern interfaith movement after 30 years away to celebrate 130 years of history in the city of Chicago. Parliament Convenings attract participants from more than 200 diverse religious, indigenous, and secular beliefs and more than 80 nations. There will be plenary sessions, hundreds of breakout sessions, art and cultural exhibits, performances, a film festival, and countless opportunities to connect with individuals and organizations committed to justice, peace, and sustainability.

The 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions will be hosted in McCormick Place Lakeside Center from August 14-18, 2023.

Arizona Interfaith Movement Executive Director Dr. Albert Celoza will present in the following sessions:

Monday, August 14, 5:30 – 7 pm – Central Daylight Time – Panel Discussion on Race Amity, with Arizona Faith Network Participants, E267
Speakers: Nicolas Mentha, Rev. Katie Sexton-Wood, Khalil Rushdan, Dr. Albert Celoza, Sheila Afnan-Manns, Nancy Peace and Bhikkhu Vasu Bandhu

Wednesday, August 16 – 1 – 2pm – Central Daylight Time – In Defense of Freedom and Human Rights: An Interfaith Approach to Peace and Nonviolence – E450a
Workshop and Presentation by Dr, Albert Celoza

Parliament Program Chair Rev. HPs. Phyllis Curott calls for Defense of Dignity, Freedom, and Human Rights for All
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb4_oRGy6M8

This Parliament will be the most important and largest gathering of the world’s religious and spiritual leaders, and practitioners, uniting in a collective, courageous, and clear reply to the most dangerous crisis confronting us today – authoritarianism. This existential, expanding, global scourge is manifesting in tyrants and strongmen who commit crimes against humanity, suppress fundamental freedoms, subvert democracies, and murder the truth with lies.  These bullies and despots are pursuing nationalist wars and winking at domestic terrorism, they are fostering hate and the resurgence of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, misogyny, and racism. And they are attempting to misappropriate religions to justify the unjustifiable. This is not who we are. Every faith has, at its core, a summoning to ease the suffering of others and to contribute to a just, peaceful, and sustainable world. Today, the Parliament of the World’s Religions issues its Call to Conscience to people of faith and spirit, to the people of Chicago, to all people of conscience, to stand together in defense of the dignity, freedom, and human rights of all.

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