#USA #MI – On June 12, 2026, the Archibishop of Detroit Edward Weisenburger attended the grand opening of the Imam Al-Hasanain Mosque and the new campus of the Islamic Institute of America (IIOA), where he delivered remarks that drew sharp criticism from faithful Catholics.
Hundreds of community members, religious leaders, and public officials gathered for the ceremony at the $16–20 million facility on Beech Daly and Cherry Hill in Dearborn Heights. Attendees included Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, Iraqi Consul General Mohammed Hassan Saeed Mohammed, Imam Fadhel Al-Sahlani (representative of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani), and Imam Mohammad Mardini.
In his speech, Archbishop Weisenburger described the mosque as “a truly wonderful and sacred place” and said he felt a “profound divine presence” upon entering the site. “There is nowhere that I feel greater honor, fraternity, and kindness,” he told the gathering. He added that the new institution would bring “all of humanity into deeper communion with our one God” and praised it as a space that would strengthen interfaith relationships.
The archbishop also stated that churches, mosques, and synagogues are sacred spaces “where God reaches out to humanity,” echoing themes of religious fraternity.
The Islamic Institute of America, founded in 2015 by Imam Sayed Hassan Al-Qazwini, serves over 1,000 families of diverse ethnic backgrounds. The new campus replaced a smaller previous location and features expanded prayer halls and parking to accommodate growing attendance in metro Detroit’s large Arab American community.
The event, which included a ribbon-cutting and interfaith elements, highlighted local religious diversity. The mosque stands between two churches, reflecting longstanding coexistence in the area.
However, Weisenburger’s comments quickly drew backlash online from faithful Christians. Critics accused him of promoting indifferentism and heresy, arguing that Catholics and Muslims do not worship the same God and that equating mosques with churches undermines core Catholic doctrine.
Faithful Catholics highlighted the speech as scandalous, with some calling for stronger doctrinal clarity. A variety of voices, including references to Fr. Calvin Robinson in broader discussions, condemned what they saw as religious pluralism that conflicts with teachings such as “no salvation outside the Church.”
Supporters of the archbishop pointed to longstanding Catholic teachings on interreligious dialogue, including documents from the Second Vatican Council such as Nostra Aetate, which emphasize respect for other faiths. However, many linked the remarks to an overstep in interfaith dialogue measures and questioned the motives and purpose of the visit as it relates to the Church.
Image: Archbishop of Detroit, Edward Weissenburger, as seen at the opening ceremony.
