Koran-Burning Pastor Will Go Forward

(NewsCore) - The pastor of a Gainesville, Fla., church vowed Tuesday to move forward with a plan to burn the Koran on September 11 despite condemnation from U.S. officials and world leaders who believe it could incite violence in the Middle East.

Terry Jones, pastor at the Dove World Outreach Center told myFOXorlando.com that his intentions have not been swayed despite increasing protest.

’We feel it’s maybe the right time for America to stand up,’ Jones told myFOXorlando.com. ’How long are we going to bow down? How long are we going to be controlled, by the terrorists, by radical Islam?’

’We feel it’s time for the church to stand up,’ he added.

Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, warned Monday the Koran burning could endanger U.S. troops and the safety of Americans worldwide and inflame and incite violence.

However, Jones said the group would not be swayed.

’We understand the generals concerns, we are taking those into consideration,’ Jones told myFOXorldando.com.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, in a visit to the White House Tuesday, joined Petraeus in speaking out against Jones’ decision to go forward, saying he ’strongly condemned’ such an act, and urged all people to ’demonstrate a respect for faith.’

State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley called the decision ’un-American.’

’It is un-American in the sense that it does not represent the views of the vast majority of Americans, who are respectful of religions -- of the world's great religions,’ Crowley told reporters during the daily press briefing.

The church has received not only messages condemning the planned burning, but threats have been made against Jones and the members of his church, according to myFOXorlando.com. The threats are being taken seriously by law enforcement in Gainesville.

However, if anything should happen Jones said he would not feel he or his church was to blame.

’We will not be responsible,’ Jones said. ’We are only reacting to the violence that is already there in that religion.’

Jones did receive backing from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who while admitting the plan was ’distasteful’, added that Jones’ decision was protected by his First Amendment right, the New York Post reported.

"I don't think he would like it if somebody burned a book in his religion that he thinks is holy. ... But the First Amendment protects everybody and you can't say we're going to apply the First Amendment in only those cases where we are in agreement," Bloomberg said.