A pastor reflects here on the Islamic call to prayer blasting through New York City. A sign of the troubling times we live in.

No one would accept a church blasting the Apostles’ Creed over city blocks at 5 AM. No one would tolerate a synagogue projecting the Shema across neighborhoods daily through municipal permission. We know this. Noise ordinances exist for a reason. So why the carve-outs?

Supporters say it is about inclusion. But inclusion that overrides everyone else’s peace is not inclusion. It is favoritism. It signals that certain expressions are protected beyond criticism, while others are carefully monitored, litigated, or mocked.