Christian Tract Defaming Islam Distributed to Ohio Homes

October 12, 2001

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On October 12, 2001, The Columbus Dispatch reported that "some members of central Ohio's Somali community say they're irate about a Christian tract distributed in the Westerville area that attacks Islam. The tract, from Chick Publications in Ontario, Calif., is in cartoon form. Panels show Muslims...threatening to kill critics or vowing to topple Christianity and take over America. Other Chick publications assert ...certain Catholic practices were inspired by Satan or by pagans; and that Jews who reject Jesus will go to hell...The tracts were stamped with the name, address and phone number of Calvary Bible Baptist Church...The Rev. Herbert O. Koonce, pastor, said the church didn't distribute the material but makes it available for members to use. He defends the tracts as an educational tool." Another area leader said that "'as a Christian, I was deeply offended reading it also; it's a distortion of Islam. Now is the time where we really should be trying to bring our community together. Distributing something like this is a message of hatred.'"