Coral Gables April 18 dinner topic: ‘Freedom of Expression, Respect to be Sacred’

The relationship between free expression and religion will be discussed at an interfaith dialogue April 18 at Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ.

The free event, which includes dinner, is dubbed the “Table of Abraham: Freedom of Expression and Respect to Sacred.” It is hosted by the South Florida branch of the Atlantic Institute, a nonprofit civic organization whose goal is to facilitate cross-cultural and interfaith dialogue.

Speakers at the Table of Abraham are Father Patrick H. O’Neill, director of ecumenism and interfaith with the Archdiocese of Miami; Rabbi Tom Heyn of Temple Israel of Greater Miami; and Khaled A. Beydoun, an assistant professor of law at Barry University, who will represent the Islamic view.

The three will give their takes on the topic and then engage in a collective discussion.

“As you know, it’s been a hot topic the last couple of months, especially with what happened in Paris,” said Mustafa Yucekaya, the executive director of the South Florida branch of the Atlantic Institute.

Yucekaya is referring to the January shooting at a satirical Paris newspaper, Charlie Hebdo, when gunmen killed 12 people, including members of the newspaper staff and two police officers.

The attack on the newspaper, which has a history of mocking religion, has sparked conversations regarding the relationship between free speech and religion.

Those on the panel say they are looking forward to an open and honest discussion on the topic, which will help build bonds between faith traditions.

“We are [of] different faiths and come from different communities, but we share commonality in wanting to safe guard religious expression,” Beydoun said.

This story was originally published April 8, 2015 at 5:20 PM with the headline "Coral Gables April 18 dinner topic: ‘Freedom of Expression, Respect to be Sacred’."