Rabbi Haskel Lookstein participated in the National Prayer Service, an interfaith prayer service held Jan. 21 at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

Now a rabbinical council says he broke Jewish law by being a part of the service, which is was a traditional service held after the presidential inauguration.

The Religion News Service reports that the Rabbinical Council of America is saying that Lookstein, an Orthodox rabbi based in New York, broke Jewish law by participating in a prayer service held in the sanctuary of a church.

The RNS reports that Rabbi Basil Herring, the council’s executive vice president, said he does not expect Lookstein to be punished for his role in the service.

“We simply wanted to make the point that he was not going there on behalf of the rabbinical council, and that whatever he did, he did in his own capacity,” Herring told the RNS.

Lookstein was one of three rabbis who participated in the service, which helped conclude the presidential inauguration activities for Barack Obama.

Meanwhile, a RNS story reported that Lookstein told the Jewish news service JTA that “after consultation with people who are absolutely committed to halacha (Jewish law), I … decided to do it because I felt it was a civic duty to honor the new president of the United States.”

“Had I pulled out, it would have been something of an insult from the Orthodox community,” Lookstein said.

Herring told the RNS that the criticism of Lookstein was not politically motivated, and noted that the RCA praised Obama’s “qualities of mind and leadership” and called his election a “cause for joy.”

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Today, thousands across the country marked the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade,  the Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion in America.

The anniversary, coming as it did on the week of the presidential inauguration of a pro-choice president, has produced a groundswell of protests, vigils and other activities designed to promote the sanctity of human life.

Here’s just a few examples of the types of activities that are now under way or beign planned:

– Pro-life advocates in about 118 cities across 41 states, plus four Canadian provinces and Austrailia, are preparing for simultaneous 40 Days for Life campaigns from Feb. 25 through April 5. The campaign will consist of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, 40 days of constant, peaceful vigil outside abortion centers and Planned Parenthood offices and 40 days of pro-life community outreach. Incidentally, those dates coincide with the Christian season of Lent, a fact noted in a recent news release.

“Lent is a season of prayer, fasting, repentance and renewal,” Shawn Carney, spring campaign director said. “It’s a perfect match.”

– As part of the Birmingham Letter Project in Washington, D.C., a prayer vigil at Planned Parenthood was held on Wednesday, along with a March to the White House and the Supreme Court. Today a March for Life was held and Friday, the Rev. Alveda King, niece of slain civil rights leader, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., will lead a prayer and memorial service in which 1,400 flowers will be laid in front of the White House to honor the 1,400 black children that die every day from abortion. On Saturday, as part of the project (named after MLK’s famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” and coordinated by the Christian Defense Coalition) activists plan to leave pro-life messages and artwork on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House.

– Members of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign planned to give their personal abortion testimonies at the Washington, D.C. March for Life and at San Francisco’s Walk for Life West Coast on Saturday. Janet Morana, the group’s co-founder, said men and women who have suffered years of torment because of abortion will stand in front of the Supreme Court and on the streets of San Francisco to “proclaim that the time for healing has begun. To be pro-life is to be pro-woman.”

– Prolife Witness and Pro-Life Unity have joined forces to introduce Organized for Life, a new initiative aimed at taking the abortion and pro-life issues battle beyond the streets and clinics and into the homes of American families. The initiative will include outreach to discuss the abortion issue person to person, door to door, block by block and city by city.

(AP PHOTO: With one woman holding a large picture of the Virgin Mary, a group of about 200 pro-life supporters march on the grounds at the state Capitol in Hartford, Conn., today on the 36th anniversary of the controversial Roe v. Wade U.S Supreme Court decision on abortion.)

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor 

There still is, however, the National Prayer Service at the National Cathedral, where another of President Obama’s choices, the Rev. Sharon Watkins,  has made headlines in recent days.

That service is set for Wednesday, with former Oklahoman Sharon Watkins, general minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma and Canada, to deliver the sermon. She became the topic of conversation because she is the first woman to deliver the sermon at the National Prayer Service.

Here are some more details, gleaned from The Associated Press. They suggest that President Obama is keeping his promise of bring diverse voices to the table, so to speak.

In addition to Watkins, there will be Ingrid Mattson (pictured at left), the first woman president of the Islamic Society of North America, who will offer a prayer. The society is the nation’s largest Muslim group.

Also according to The Associated Press, three rabbis, representing the three major branches of American Judaism, will say prayers at the service. They are reform rabbi David Saperstein (pictured at right), conservative rabbi Jerome Epstein and orthodox rabbi Haskel Lookstein.

And traditionally the Roman Catholic archbishop of Washington — in this case the Most Rev. Donald Wuerl –  leads a prayer, the AP said.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor   

To participate in the meeting, which is to occur all day today, click here: Virtual Inaugural Prayer Meeting.

After logging in you will be transported to one of the rooms in the White House. Rev. Moore asks that participants use this time for prayer for America.

Prayer Force One, a bus ministry but also an Internet ministry, also has a prayer guide for folks who can’t participate in the united virtual prayer effort, but who want to be involved in some way.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor   

A congratulatory telegram was sent to President Barack Obama from Pope Benedict.

The Religion News Service reports that the pople sent the telegram urging Obama to “promote understanding, cooperation and peace among the nations.”

The pope said he hoped that Obama’s leadership would foster the “building of a truly just and free society, marked by respect for the dignity, equality and rights of each of its members, especially the poor, the outcast and those who have no voice.”

“I pray that you will be confirmed in your resolve to promote understanding, cooperation and peace among the nations, so that all may share in the banquet of life which God wills to set for the whole human family,” Benedict wrote.

The RNS reports that according to Vatican protocol, the pope sends greetings to all new heads of state when they take office.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Stephen Mansfield, author of the book “The Faith of Barack Obama,” predicted as much.

Here are some examples from Obama’s inauguration speech:

1. “We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

There are several allusions to Scripture in this passage of Obama’s text. One that stands out is a specific reference to  1 Corinthians 13:11: When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

Also: Obama’s text indicates a belief that there is a “God-given promise” of equality and freedom for everyone. 

2. “For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every End of this Earth; …” 

Obama acknowledges that America is a country that includes both people of faith and those who do not ascribe to faith beliefs.

3. “This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.”

A reference to a sense of God-given purpose for America.

4. “America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardships, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children’s children that wehen we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

“Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.”

Obama concluded with clear references to God’s grace and blessings.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Well for the curious, Rev. Rick did just that.

Some people may remember that evangelist Franklin Graham ignited a firestorm when he invoked the name of Jesus in his invocation at the 2001 inauguration of George W. Bush.

Franklin G., son of renowned evangelist Billy Graham, was filling in for his father who was ill at the time.

Franklin Graham refused to retract his words after criticism became public. He later wrote a book about the reasons why Jesus’ name incites and draws ire.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor 

—-

I promised McCallie that I would try to find some information about the prayer offered by V. Gene Robinson (pictured at right), the Episcopal Church USA’s first openly gay bishop, who was asked to offer a prayer at the inauguration kick-off concert on Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial.

The Religion News Service sent out excerpts of his prayer, which I share here:

Robinson prayed that Americans may be “blessed” with anger at discrimination and with “freedom from mere tolerance.” Robinson also prayed that God would help Obama “to remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.”

“Please, God, keep him safe,” Robinson prayed for Obama. “We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we’re asking far too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe.

“Hold him in the palm of your hand — that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.“’

Meanwhile, who doesn’t remember the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama’s former preacher at Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ? Obama ended up denouncing some of Wright’s imflammatory comments and ultimately severed ties with Wright during his candidacy for president.

Well Wright was in Washington D.C.  where he preached at a chapel service at the historically black college Howard University.

According to the Religion News Service, Wright told those gathered at the service that he sees Obama’s inauguration as a sign of God’s providence and the fruit of “the faith of Rosa Parks and the blood of Martin Luther King Jr.”

“The Lord stepped into a scrawny black kid’s ability,” Wright, who is now pastor emeritus of Trinity, said in his sermon. “The Lord stepped into his story and gave him a new attitude. The scrawny kid with the big ears said. `Yes we can. I got a new attitude.“’

Both Robinson and Wright have been controversial for various reasons and yet they have had their say in D.C.  

Stay tuned for commentary on Rick Warren and his invocation prayer …

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor   

If you’ve been watching TV this morning, then you know that Obama’s big day has already begun with much fanfare.

See what Lucado has to say about offering prayers for the new president: “How to Pray for Obama.”

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

I recently interviewed Houghton, who will be performing in concert 7 p.m. Feb. 4 at the SpiritBank Event Center in Tulsa on the “Hello Love” tour with Chris Tomlin.

Houghton was excited about performing at the inaugural ball and said he planned to sing his song “The Power of One” from his upcoming album of the same name. The compilation is set for release on March 24.

Houghton is best known for his songs like “Friend of God” and “Say So.” He is the worship leader at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston.

Others performing at the Heroes Ball include Gospel recording artists Donnie McClurkin and Bebe and CeCe Winans.

Look for my story on Houghton in a future edition of The Oklahoman. And for ticket information to the Tulsa concert, click here: Hello Love.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor