“As people of the Book, we are joined to Islam and Judaism in a special way. As an organization that has sought to put that Book into people’s hands for 201 years, we cannot stand idly by while the sacred text of a sister religion is burned as our beloved Bibles once were.”

In what’s being described as a “counter action” to “an act of hatred against Muslims,” the Massachusetts Bible Society said it would give away two Qurans for every one burned at a church in Florida.

But late Thursday (Sept. 9), the Rev. Terry Jones, pastor of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., indicated he might cancel plans to burn 200 copies of the Muslim holy book on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The “They Burn One, We Give Two” drive marks the first time in the Society’s 201-year history that funds have been raised to distribute a non-Christian sacred text, according to Executive Director Anne Robertson.

The MBS says it can distribute two Qurans for every $25 it raises. Even if this weekend’s scheduled burning is canceled, the MBS will still give away as many Qurans as donors have sponsored, Robertson said. She added that if the Quran giveaway is successful, then the MBS would likely consider making it a permanent, ongoing program…

She said neither she nor her staff consulted the MBS board of trustees on the Quran giveaway idea because they needed to act quickly before Saturday’s Quran-burning event.

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