As we observed the anniversary of the terrorist attack on America on Sept. 11, 2001, and as Muslim Americans conclude the month of Ramadan, there is a need for Christians to pause and evaluate what 9/11 means to our national identity. Events like 9/11 can be confusing because of the number of contradictory voices we hear. It is important that we return to our best voices. As Catholic Christians, our best voices speak to us from the Scriptures and the Magisterium of the church. The tragedy of 9/11 was an act of terrorism, which is a form of political speech, about ideas of hatred, a manipulative voice in a larger discourse. Consequently, the success or failure of terrorism is really measured by the number of people who come to believe its message. Unfortunately, some responses have suggested that the attacks of 9/11 actually define and reveal the essence of what Muslims believe about the God of Abraham. Our experience of dialogue has shown us otherwise. The better voices of reason and truth sometimes appear to be overwhelmed by the voices of ignorance and fear. Where do we find better voices? As Catholics we turn to the Second Vatican Council and its declaration Nostra Aetate (“In our time”). The Council Fathers examine our relationship with Islam and its followers: “The church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in himself; merciful and allpowerful, the Creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even his inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, his virgin mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead. Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.” The fathers recognize that the relationship between Muslims and Christians has been a difficult one. While speaking about past hostilities the fathers teach a principle which directly applies to us in the difficult days since 9/11: “Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems, this sacred synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom.” Our reasons for accepting this teaching lie in the very nature of Christianity and in its most radical and unique claim, that God is love: “We cannot truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat in a brotherly way any man, created as he is in the image of God. Man’s relation to God the Father and his relation to men his brothers are so linked together that Scripture says: ‘He who does not love does not know God’ (1 Jn 4:8).” How are we, as Christians, to apply these principles when it comes to 9/11? As Christians in America, how are we to think about this yearly anniversary? We have another way of responding and remembering — praying. Examples are the Assisi Day of Prayer and the Day of Pardon led by Pope John Paul II, who recalled the times in the past when we listened to the worst of voices, and ignored our deeply held principles. As Catholics, let us be the ones in our nation who recall the better voices. Let us remember those innocent people who were the victims of hatred and aggression. Let us call for justice for those who target the innocent with violence. But let us also call for respect for the many Muslims who deplore violence and love this nation with the souls of patriots. Let us also call for respect for Muslims, who, like Jews and Christians, call Abraham their father in faith. Above all, let us commit ourselves to know individual Muslims personally that, like Jesus, we may call the other “friend.”