In recent weeks, the CEO of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, Bishop John Bryson Chane, has spoken openly about his diplomatic work now that he approaches his departure on November 12, 2011. According to unnamed inside sources, in these public meetings, Chane talked of meeting separately with Sunni and Shiite Islamic groups who have a long history of hostility. His public remarks about his frequently covert work have created concern. During one of his last weeks at the Cathedral, the week of October 23, Chane visited Jordan and Lebanon as he worked to organize the second Christian-Islamic Summit. With dwindling Episcopal Church money, Chane acknowledged that funds for the trip came from \u201coutside the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chane has spoken of the problems of Middle East culture, calling it \u201cvery troubling\u201d and said that in the Middle East the \u201crule of the governance is the rule of the mob.\u201d He spoke of the two levels impacting Middle East as \u201creligiously fueled terrorism\u201d and the \u201cinvisible enemy\u201d carrying terrorism. Chane acknowledged \u201cterrorism is a huge concern in this country\u201d yet challenged the United States culture by talking of \u201cour inability to absorb Muslims.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking about the \u201cArab Spring,\u201d Chane said, \u201cIt is all about religion.\u201d With confidence, Chane stated that this movement will come to the United States and said, \u201cWhat happens there will happen here.\u201d These words about Chane\u2019s Middle East work call for a public and detailed explanation.<\/p>\n