Thanks to the refusal of the US Secret Service to accommodate Sikhs to carry Kirpaan, the World Sikh Council -- America Region -- has decided not to attend the inter-religious meeting with Pope Benedict XVI April 17 in Washington, DC

The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs worked with WSC-AR's Interfaith Committee to engage the US Secret Service in providing adequate security arrangements for the event without curtailing the practice of the Sikh religion at such important gatherings.

Nonetheless, the Secret Service has not agreed to permit Sikhs with Kirpaan, one of the five articles of faith required of all formally initiated Sikhs, to attend the meeting.

WSC-AR expressed its deep disappointment that the Secret Service was not able to accommodate the Sikh faith and called upon it to respect the religious rights and freedoms of the Sikh community.

"We have to respect the sanctity of the Kirpaan, especially in such inter-religious gatherings. We cannot undermine the rights and freedoms of religion in the name of security. 

Pope John Paul II met Sikhs in the Vatican, wearing their Kirpaans,' said Dr Anahat Kaur, secretary general of  the organisation.

In 2004, Kuldeep Singh, then chairperson of WSC-AR, was forced to decline an invitation to the White House when he was similarly asked by staffers to compromise observance of his faith.  The National Council of Churches in the US supported the position taken by WSC-AR.