Religious leaders meet in Long Beach, vow to work for peace

US religious leaders pledge to work for peace during Long Beach conference hosted by Heavenly Culture, World Peace and Restoration of Light (HWPL) and its chairman Man H. Lee. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

LONG BEACH, California – More than 100 religious leaders across North America and hundreds of university students gathered Monday, April 14 at the Grand Event Center in Long Beach, pledging to work for peace.

The 2014 Religious Leaders Peace Conference was hosted by international non-profit organization Heavenly Culture, World Peace and Restoration of Light (HWPL).

Guest panelists included Dr. Uma Mysorekar, president of the Hindu Temple Society of North America and  Matthew Ball, director of northwest public affairs for the Church of Latter-Day Saints.

The gathering is a part of HWPL’s Chairman Man H. Lee’s 9th World Tour to meet with religious and political leaders, according to the organization’s press release.

Lee, 84, has traveled to 58 countries to promote his message of peace, and has met with presidents, religious leaders and youth organizations around the world.

Last January, Lee organized the signing of the HWPL Peace Treaty with top representatives of Catholicism and Islam in Mindanao, Philippines, a region stricken by a long 40-year history of religious conflict between Catholics and Muslims.

Attendees at HWPL conference

The treaty is a pledge to cease conflict among religious groups and establish a relationship to work together for peace.

Fernando Capalla, Roman Catholic archbishop-emeritus of the Archdiocese of Davao, and Esmael Mangudadatu, governor of Maguindanao (an Islamic autonomous district in Mindanao), signed the treaty, pledging “before God and the people in attendance to work toward ending disputes between Catholics and Muslims.”

The mood of Monday’s conference was hopeful as religious leaders unanimously signed the HWPL Peace Treaty. Among those who signed were Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, director of the Islamic Society of Orange County, and Imam Shamshi Ali, former imam of the Islamic Culture Center of New York.

“[Chairman Lee] is traveling the world to make sure the message of peace is reaching out to everybody,” said Ali. “I think he is exceptional and courageous, with a young and strong spirit. Not many people are doing that.”

Lee invited leaders he has met to attend and promote HWPL’s upcoming event, the World Alliance of Religions for Peace Summit in Seoul, South Korea. The summit, taking place this autumn, is a worldwide conference to gather religious leaders for peace.

“Our deepest hopes, based on the promises recorded in the holy writings of our spiritual traditions, are set on life in a paradise of peace,” said Lee. “In order to achieve this, we must be willing to let go of the old things that only serve to divide us, and embrace the will of God for peace.”