Terry Jones cancels Quran burning for possible move of NY mosque

A small and obscure evangelical church in Florida turned the International Muslim world on its head by threatening to burn a pile of Quran books on Saturday to protest the ninth anniversary of 9/11.

However, late on Thursday, Jones attended a press conference outside his church, where he cancelled his plans to burn the holy books, because he had received “a sign from God”, after a conversation with the promoters of the mosque in lower Manhattan and getting the indication it would be moved.

Rev. Terry Jones, who sports long, gray sideburns, and a droopy gray mustache, has a small congregation of followers. The church and some of its gun-totting members have a history of making bigoted statements under the justification of God and religion.

Jones had been insistent that his “International burn the Koran Day”, was to send a message against the evils of Islam, because Muslims are terrorists, who want to control the world.

“This action is against radical Muslims,” said Jones. “The rest of the Muslims should agree with what we are doing. If they don’t, we will pray for them.”

According to Rev. Welton Gaddy, of the Interfaith Alliance, such an ignorant statement holds religion contrary to religious teachings. People like Jones are narrow extremists and it has nothing to do with patriotism or religion.

“Jones was saying Muslims want to control the world, when he is the one who wants control,” said Gaddy in a CNN interview. “This guy represents an extreme fringe, certainly not religion or God.”

On Thursday morning, the U.S. State Department issued travel warnings to Americans abroad and Interpol issued a statement on Thursday to 188 countries, which read in part:

“Demonstrations, some violent, have already taken place in several countries, including Afghanistan and Indonesia, in response to media reports of the church’s plans. The potential for further protests and demonstrations, some of which may turn violent, remains high.”

President Obama weighed in on his ABC interview Thursday morning. “It is a destructive act he would be engaging in and it would be a recruitment bonanza for terrorists,” said the president.

According to a report from Germany by journalist Phil Black, Pastor Terry Jones began his career 26 years ago in that country. He built up an impressive congregation at the Christian Community Church of Cologne and did well—until a few years ago. Jones became more demanding of loyalty, more dominate and forceful, and refused to answer financial concerns about how money was being spent. He drove a lot of the congregation away and was finally confronted in 2008. He split with the church, rather than humble himself, by keeping his ego in check.

During the Thursday press conference, Jones said he would be flying to New York to discuss the relocation of the controversial mosque and community center with Imam. It is still uncertain if plans to move the mosque will be for certain or just a subject of discussion. But news that Donald Trump has made an offer to buy the old Burlington Northern building where the mosque was planned, may have something to do with it, if there is, indeed, a reversal in plans to build the mosque.

As of late Thursday, the mosque developers were telling reporters that no plans to move the mosque have been made. The controversy continues.

Regardless, Rev. Terry Jones backed down from his threat to burn the holy books, under intense pressure from outside sources, including two visits from FBI agents to his church. It is unlikely Jones and his followers expected the glare of the global spotlight to blaze down upon them and their planned event, but the ignorance that prompted it should be condemned by all Americans, no matter what their faith.

Hopefully, Jones’ 15 minutes of fame will be forgotten as fast as it evolved.

Updated report on Jones' reconsidering his burn the Quran event

***Jean Williams 2010     Mosque in lower Manhatten