Rick Warren speaks out
Pastor Rick Warren has released a statement concerning his participation in the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama.
The statement, sent out through Christian Newswire, reads:
“I commend President-elect Obama for his courage to willingly take enormous heat from his base by inviting someone like me, with whom he doesn’t agree on every issue, to offer the Invocation at his historic Inaugural ceremony.
“Hopefully individuals passionately expressing opinions from the left and the right will recognize that both of us have shown a commitment to model civility in America.
“The Bible admonishes us to pray for our leaders. I am honored by this opportunity to pray God’s blessing on the office of the President and its current and future inhabitant, asking the Lord to provide wisdom to America’s leaders during this critical time in our nation’s history.”
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Stay tuned. This story just keeps evolving. Oh, and you might want to watch Warren’s interview with Ann Curry at 8 p.m. tonight on NBC’s Dateline. I watched excerpts of the interview on the Today show and I think many people, particular the faith community, will be interested in hearing what Warren has to say.
Curry said it was conducted before Warren’s role in the inauguration was made public.
(AP Photo: Sen John McCain, R-Ariz., Pastor Rick Warren and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. stand together at an August forum at Warren’s Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif.)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
More on Warren and Obama
Megachurch preacher Rick Warren’s role in the upcoming presidential inauguration of Barack Obama will likely be the topic of conversation for weeks to come.
Beliefnet.com and Wall Street Journal columnist Steven Waldman offered his views on the issue on huffingtonpost.com. Waldman just conducted a video interview with Warren last week in which he shared his views on some hot button issues including gay marriage.
Go to Beliefnet.com to view Waldman’s interview of Warren: Beliefnet.com Warren interviews.
To read Waldman’s commentary about Obama’s choice of Warren to deliver the inauguration invocation, click here: Defense of Obama’s choice.
Read Rabbi Brad Hirschfield’s commentary on the issue here: Rick Warren’s Selection is Great for Faith … Hirschfield has a column “Windows and Doors” on Beliefnet.com.
(AP PHOTO: In this Aug. 16 file photo, then Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, joins Pastor Rick Warren at Warren’s Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., for a discussion on moral issues.)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Rick Warren to pray at inauguration
Megachurch pastor and author Rick Warren, whose best-selling book ”The Purpose-Driven Life” propelled him to international acclaim, will give the invocation at the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama.
Meanwhile, the Rev. Joseph Lowery, who co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., will deliver the benediction, according to the Religion News Service.
The preachers’ roles in the inauguration were announced today by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
The news about Warren’s involvement with the inauguration is causing some consternation in some quarters.
In a news release e-mailed today, People For the American Way President Kathryn Kolbert said she was disappointed that Warren was selected to deliver the invocation because of his stance against same-sex marriage, among other issues.
“I’m sure that Warren’s supporters will portray his selection as an appeal to unity by a president who is committed to reaching across traditional divides. Others may explain it as a response to Warren inviting then-Sen. Obama to speak on AIDS and candidate Obama to appear at a forum, both at his church,” Kolbert wrote.
“But the sad truth is that this decision further elevates someone who has in recent weeks actively promoted legalized discrimination and denigrated the lives and relationships of millions of Americans.”
(AP PHOTO: Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., and author of “The Purpose-Driven Life.”)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Faith at the polls
I read the other day about people who became addicted to the presidential election.
Now that it is over they are fighting withdrawal.
If there are any folks like that reading this blog, here is something for your election taste buds to savor: Beliefnet has released the results of its exit poll.
It is an interesting look at the beliefs of the people who voted for Obama/Biden ticket or McCain/Palin ticket. Read it by clicking here: Beliefnet’s exit poll.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
More faith leaders speak out on Obama
I promised I’d post more statements and comments from faith leaders and faith-based groups regarding Barack Obama’s election to the U.S. presidency.
Here are a few more that have come across the wire or sent via e-mail:
The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church congratulated Sen. Barack Obama today on his election as the 44th President of the United States and applauded his willingness to articulate a vision of change for the nation “that is based on hope for all the people, especially those who are disinherited and disenfranchised.”
The congratulatory letter was signed by the Council’s president, Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, and sent on behalf of the entire council, which includes bishops from the U.S., Africa, Europe and the Philippines.
“The United Methodist Church has a long history of publicly-expressed concern for social justice based on Christian principles. Our desire for justice extends to the natural world, the nurturing community, the social community, the economic community, the political community and the world community,” the letter stated. “We are praying that God will grant you wisdom, courage and protection in your presidential leadership. We are also praying for all the leaders of the world’s nations who will collaborate with you in the arena of common concerns that impact the global community.”
The Baptist Press reported today that Southern Baptist ethics leader Richard Land applauded the meaning of Obama’s election while acknowledging his opposition to the president-elect’s policies.
“There are tens of millions of Americans who did not vote for President-elect Obama, as well as those who did, who are very, very pleased that an African American has been elected president of the United States,” said Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. “The fact that this could happen in a country with as tragic a racial past as America’s says something noble and fine about the American experiment and the glorious ‘opportunity democracy’ it has spawned. After much struggle, we as a nation have chosen to live up to the promises of our founding documents: We believe ‘that all men are created equal.’
“For the millions of us who came of age during the civil rights era and were inspired by Dr. [Martin Luther] King, it is very gratifying to watch our nation elect a person of color to the highest political office in the land, even so one for whom we may not have voted because of serious policy differences,” Land told Baptist Press.
Alexia Kelley, executive director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, issued the following statement today:
“The election of Barack Obama represents a historic moment for our nation. Across the often bitter divides of race and class, Americans united behind a shared vision for the common good. We hope that President-elect Obama will live up to his promise to build a new kind of politics that brings Democrats and Republicans together to confront the urgent challenges we face here and around the world. As faithful citizens, we will challenge his Administration to bring a responsible end to the
Jane Hansen Hoyt, president of Aglow International, a worldwide women’s ministry based in Seattle, issued this statement:
“We congratulate Barack Obama, the new president-elect of the United States and commit to pray for him and his family, as we have done on behalf of our leaders for decades. As a worldwide women’s ministry with thousands of members across the U.S., we are praying for two crucial issues he will face that, we believe, will have an effect on our nation for generations: Support for the nation of Israel, and the appointment of U.S. Supreme Court justices. May he make those decisions with wisdom and a desire to seek righteousness.”
Meanwhile, Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, issued a statement today on the U.S. election results and the priorities for the next president.
“Initial results show that 54% of the Catholic vote went to President-elect Barack Obama. This shows that the majority of Catholics voted their conscience when deciding who should be the next president, and ignored the single-issue dictates of a few bishops who declared that it was unacceptable to vote for him because of his prochoice position.
“The next administration will have to work hard to repair the damage done during the last eight years. Undoubtedly, concerns about America’s economic security and military engagements overseas will garner a great deal of attention. However, the next administration and Congress must also work for advances in reproductive health care in the U.S. and abroad.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Anti-abortion project aimed at Obama
“The Birmingham Letter Project,” an anti-abortion initiative, is to be launched in Washington, D.C., Jan. 21-24, 2009 — the week of the inauguration for president-elect Barack Obama.
The project by the Christian Defense Coalition, was announced today in a Christian Newswire news release.
The statement said the focus of the project will be “to mobilize a public, prayerful and prophetic witness for life to challenge the radical pro-abortion policies of President-elect Barack Obama.”
The project will use the principles taught by Martin Luther King in his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” and the teachings of Scripture to unleash and empower the pro-life community to publicly stand against the horrific violence of abortion, the statement said.
“Sadly, America has elected the most pro-abortion President in America history. It is clear that Mr. Obama will continue the tragic violence against our nation’s women and children which has resulted in over 50,000,000 abortions,” the Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, said in the prepared statement.
“We are taking to heart the admonition of Dr. King when he said from a Birmingham jail, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,’ and will passionately devote ourselves toward bringing this war on America’s children to an end.”
Mahoney said the project will bring anti-abortion advocates to Washingto as Obama is sworn in “to boldly stand as public and prophetic witness for life.
“As the pro- life community, we will not go silently into the night and allow the violence to continue. Instead, we are issuing this national call for the pro-life community to come to the streets of our nation’s capital and be a prayerful voice for those who have no voice.”
The project’s Web site is www.thebirminghamletterproject.com.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Faith leaders comment on Obama
Religious leaders and representatives of faith-based organizations are weighing in on the election of Sen. Barack Obama as the nation’s 44th president.
The National Council of Churches has responded today with a letter to the new president elect:
Dear Mr. President Elect,
Blessings on you, and congratulations. Now that the electorate has made its decision, we at the National Council of Churches urge all Americans to come together to uphold you with our hands, our hearts and our prayers.
Only rarely in our history has a president-elect faced immediate challenges of such fierce magnitude. The leaders of this Council pledge to you our unstinting support in the difficult days to come. All of us are dependent on God’s loving mercy, and we will regularly pray for you and others elected to high leadership. May your wisdom and discernment serve you well, and may your health never wane.
To read the complete letter, click here: Letter
The Rev. Billy Graham, who is nearing his 90th birthday on Friday, also has a statement, shared through a news release sent today:
“President Elect Barack Obama faces many challenges, and I urge everyone to join me in pledging our support and prayers as he begins the difficult task ahead.”
Meanwhile, The Associated Press is reporting that the Vatican said today that it hopes that Barack Obama will work to promote peace and justice in the world.
The Rev. Federico Lombardi, chief spokesman for the Vatican and for Pope Benedict XVI told The Associated Press that the Vatican hoped Obama would “work for the cause of rights and justice, finding suitable ways to promote peace in the world, fostering people’s development and dignity while respecting essential human and spiritual values.”
Other statements come from leaders that are not as conciliatory:
The Rev. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, released the following statement regarding the Presidential election:
“Americans have made a grave mistake in electing Barack Obama to the presidency. He said during the campaign that he does not know when a human being starts to have human rights. How can one govern from that starting point of ignorance? Governing is about protecting human rights; to do it successfully, you have to know where they come from, and when they begin. The President-elect has already failed that test miserably.”I’ll post more comments and statements as they arrive.Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
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Quiz: Candidates’ faith beliefs
Folks who have already voted can go to Beliefnet.com and take the Web site’s exit poll.
Also, the Web site features an interesting quiz that allows you to test your knowledge of the presidential (and vice presidential) candidates’ faith beliefs and some of the news surrounding their religious views.
Take the quiz by clicking here: Quiz
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Faith and the election
If you aren’t overwhelmed by all the election commentary, campaigning, rumors and more rumors, here are some interesting insights from Steven Waldman, editor-in-chief of Beliefnet.com and author of the book “Founding Faith: The Birth of Religious Freedom in America.
Here are Waldman’s Top Ten Faith Factors to be watching for on Tuesday.
For those of you who may be interested in what else he has to say, he will be blogging the election live at www.Beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman.
Ten Faith Factors for Election Night1.How Many Obamagelicals Are There? – It might seem farfetched that a socialist-terror-lovin’-pro-abortion candidate like Obama could win any evangelical Christians but he’s been courting them fervently since he began his presidential run. The key the 40% of evangelicals who call themselves “moderate” or “liberal.” Point of reference: John Kerry won 21% of white evangelicals, Gore 18%. Bill Clinton in 1996 won 26%.
2. Will Palin Turn Out the “Religious Right”? — By picking Sarah Palin, John McCain gambled that she’d be able to rev up the evangelical “base.” Even as her popularity has fallen generally, evangelicals still love her (some even believing she was sent to battle the anti-Christ.) Assuming most conservative evangelicals vote for McCain, the second question is: how many will show up? Point of reference: white evangelicals accounted for 23% of the electorate in 2004.
3. Do Midwestern Evangelicals Split With Their Brethren? — Recent polls have showed Obama trailing badly among evangelicals in
5. Can Obama Finally Bowl a Strike With Skeptical White Catholics? – During the primaries, Obama did poorly with white Catholics, often working class ethnics or their offspring. Remember his feeble attempt to curry favor through bowling? They tend to be culturally conservative and haven’t voted for a Democrat since 1996. On the other hand, they’re especially concerned about the economy this year, and Joe Biden has been trying to bond with them as a fellow “cultural Catholics.” Point of reference: In 2004, Bush won 56% of white Catholics, Kerry 43%.
6. Will Whitebread Protestants Back the Black Guy? – Recent polls show Democrats gaining with a group that had leaned Republican for most of the past few decades – Mainline Protestants. It appears that while Sarah Palin energized evangelicals, she may have alienated some Mainliners. In 2004, they went for President George W. Bush 54%-46%.
7. Will Latino Protestants Vote Their Values or the Pocketbook? – One positive trend for Obama will likely be the shift of Latinos from the Republican side, where they resided in 2004, to the Democrats. The hidden religious story: most of the shift is driven by Latino Protestants. Many are evangelical and liked Bush’s Christian faith and his conservative positions on social issues (gay marriage, abortion) but have shifted to Obama because of the economy and concerns about immigration.
8. How Will the Kinda-Sorta Religious Vote? – In recent elections, the most religious you were, the more likely you were to vote Republican. This is known as the God Gap, which will still certainly exist. But watch for two things: among weekly churchoers how big is McCain’s margin? Bush won that group 61%-39% Second, Kerry last time beat Bush among more occasional churchgoers 53%-47%. Will Obama increase that margin?
9. Will Jews Schlep to Republican Side? – This only really matters in
Will that go up or down? If it becomes an even more dominant force within the party, how will that shape either the way McCain governs if he wins or, if he loses, how the Republicans re-invent themselves.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
On TV: What the candidates believe
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, the PBS news magazine, will feature a report called “2008 Campaign: Privacy and Media Ethics” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday on OETA Channel 13 (Cox Channel 14).
Bob Abernethy will moderate a discussion on the ethics of covering a candidate’s personal and religious life featuring PBS Ombudsman Michael Getler, Kelly McBride with the Poynter Institute and Tom Rosenstiel from the Project for Excellence in Journalism.
On the same program, Kim Lawton will take a look at the religious beliefs of John McCain, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
