Now that the the debate over the planned Park 51 Islamic center near Manhattan’s Ground Zero has gone national, what does Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf have to say about the future of the project?

Well, Abdul Rauf, who has remained a calm voice of reason about not just Park 51 but also about the bigger picture — the role of Islam in contemporary American culture — told the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on Monday that he and other project promoters “are exploring all options” at this point. “We need to create a platform where the voice of moderate Muslims will be amplified,” he said. –KA

Associated Press via YouTube:

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