Source: Austin American Stateman
AUSTIN, U.S.A., November 28, 2002: This year’s 18th Ecumenical Thanksgiving Gathering sponsored by the Austin Area Inter-religious Ministries was held at the Barsana Dham Hindu temple. Attended by over 1,000 leaders from the Catholic, Episcopal, Protestant denominations, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Hindu faiths, the gathering demonstrated America’s religious freedom. Respecting Hindu tradition, everybody attending the ceremony took off their shoes before entering the temple. Rev. Greg McDonnell, president of the Ministries boards said, “This is as close a look as you’re going to get at heaven on Earth.” This comment was made after the reverend surveyed the multiracial audience wearing the attire of their religious tradition.