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.”
——
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
Some clergy still concerned about immigration law
When the first anniversary of
But Pruett, pastor of St. Peter Catholic Church in Guymon, said the law still engenders widespread fear among immigrants in his
He said the anxiety level is such that Hispanic immigrants are continuing to leave Guymon in droves.
“With the possibility of being discovered, there is fear,” Pruett said.
House Bill 1804, authored by Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, became law on Nov. 1, 2007. The law makes it a felony to knowingly transport illegal immigrants, creates barriers to hiring illegal immigrants and requires proof of citizenship to receive certain governmental benefits or a driver’s license.
Terrill could not be reached for comment for this posting.
Meanwhile, a
Still, the Rev. Perla Martinez-Goody, an associate pastor at San Mateo Fellowship, a Hispanic ministry of First United Methodist Church of Pauls Valley, said many immigrants have left her city, pulling their children out of school and heading back to their native lands or other states.
She said the exodus due to fear is almost as bad as deportation.
“It’s sad to watch them dismantle their homes.”
The Rev. Leonel Blanco, pastor of Santa Maria Virgen Mision Church in south
Recently the Episcopal priest said members who chose to leave the state are greatly missed because many of them had been with the ministry for a long time and were heavily involved in the church.
Blanco, originally from
The clergy members said they see the immigration reform law as punitive and uncharitable to hardworking people trying to make a better life for their families.
“I see the faces behind the word ‘immigration’ — women, children, men, husbands, wives, sons and daughters. People seem to forget that,” Martinez-Goody said.
Pruett and Martinez-Goody said they hold out hope the law will be repealed and another solution more in keeping with biblical principles of compassion will be found.
“The immigration system needs an overhaul from top to bottom,” Pruett said. “Hopefully whoever gets in the White House will have the courage to do that.”
Martinez-Goody said: “I still pray that the Lord will touch the hearts of the politicians.”
Blanco said more than ever, he is encouraging Hispanic Americans to vote to make sure their voices are heard on such issues as immigration reform.
“That’s the only way our voices are going to be heard,” he said.
BACKGROUND
Last year, clergy opposition against House Bill 1804 gained momentum as the bill was set to become law.
– A council of priests with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City presented Gov. Brad Henry’s office with a signed “Pledge of Resistance,” expressing their opposition to the immigration reform law, a few days before it went into effect. The pledge, also signed by Archbishop Eusebius J. Beltran, was crafted by an
– The Catholic Diocese of Tulsa hosted a special Mass the day before the bill became law to pray for Hispanic families concerned about its implementation.
– The Oklahoma Conference of Churches, representing 16 Christian faiths, issued a statement of opposition to the law on the day it went into effect. Conference leaders said the law was unjust.
– About 350 people attended an Interfaith Vigil for Undocumented Persons at an Oklahoma City Catholic church on the day the bill became law.
– The Baptist General Convention of
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
Atheists make requests of president-elect
The Secular Coalition for America and Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers unveiled a new proposal on religious accomodation at a pre-Veterans Day briefing today at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
The new policy recommendations regarding religious discrimination and accomodation in the U.S. Armed Forces were presented in a memo for President-elect Barack Obama as he considers staffing and policies regarding the military.
According to the coalition and association, atheists and others with no religious affiliation make up 21 percent of the U.S. Armed Forces, and yet they suffer harassment, discrimination and proselytizing in a military increasingly dominated by a powerful minority of evangelical Christians.
Other military personnel who do not hold a born-again Christian belief are similarly marginalized, the groups said.
While some existing regulations support the free exercise of religion, they are silent on accommodating the hundreds of thousands of atheists, agnostics, humanists and other nontheists currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces who have no religion to exercise, the groups said in a news release.
“Commanders, chaplains, and other officials simply interpret nontheists out of the protected religious categories,” said Jason Torpy, president of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers.
“What we are asking is that nontheistic service personnel be extended the same institutional protections and support that traditional faith groups enjoy. That is why we ask for a new directive that explicitly identifies nontheistic personnel as protected.”
The policy recommendations released today focus special attention on the chaplain corps in the U.S. military.
“Not only do chaplains often fail to intervene when subordinates are harassed, denied promotions, proselytized or threatened, they often are the worst offenders,” Lori Lipman Brown, the secular coalition’s director, said.
Brownsaid one of the groups’ goals with the new proposals is to make chaplains accountable for the religious climate on military bases, on ships and anywhere members of the U.S. Armed Forces are serving.
The policy recommendations memo addressed to President-elect Obama is entitled “Secular Coalition Urges Changes To Religious Accommodation Practices In The Military,” and is signed by Lori Lipman Brown. It contains an “Action Plan to Protect Religious Liberty and Freedom of Conscience” consisting of four detailed sections which are summarized below:
1. Vetting New Appointments and Promotions to ensure that appointees are committed “to fostering a secular military that protects the religious liberty and freedom of conscience of our soldiers.”
2. A Directive from your New Secretary of Defense that would “demonstrate your administration’s commitment to implement the change we need” and require all branches to update their regulations with regard to promoting religion over non-religion, proselytizing, discrimination and the role and training of chaplains.
3. Conduct a Survey of Military Personnel “in order to determine the pervasiveness of the problems of religious discrimination and proselytizing.”
4. Establish a Commission for Religious Accommodation charged with, among other things: creating effective channels for reporting failures to accommodate religious and nonreligious service members’ beliefs; investigating such failures and ensuring corrective actions are taken; reporting annually to Congress on complaints; recommending improvements in training and regulations; and ensuring diversity among the chaplain corps that represents the diversity of the military.
The Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers is a member of the Secular Coalition for America.
The complete policy memo can be viewed in PDF form at www.secular.org.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Palin a target because of her faith?
Some people are concerned that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is being unfairly scrutinized by the media now that the presidential election is over.
Janice Shaw Crouse, director and senior fellow of Concerned Women for America’s Beverly LaHaye Institute, said Palin, who was Sen. John McCain’s running mate for the Republicans, is being targeted by the media because she is a conservative Christian woman.
“Some reporters are delving into media archives to find any instance of misspeaking or comments that can be misconstrued to show her supposed ‘ignorance,’ ‘inexperience,’ or ‘unsuitability for public office,’” Crouse said today in a statement released through Christian Newswire.
“It is amazing the lengths to which some people will go to destroy anyone who stands for moral principles, especially those who are pro-life or pro-marriage. Sarah Palin was thrust into the media spotlight and into political stardom overnight. She is a natural politician who exudes authenticity and a touch for the common person. She is a role model for young women and an example of a wife and mother who chose the right priorities and excelled at politics as well. Granted, she is not used to ‘gotcha journalism,’ and the rest of us are tired of ‘gotcha journalism.’”
Crouse said Palin is being targeted by the media because she is a conservative Christian woman.
“It is entirely predictable, but unconscionable, that the media would consider her fair game for personal destruction,” Crouse said.
Crouse said the media destroyed their credibility during the presidential campaign and are “earning their own destruction.”
(AP PHOTO: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin greets supporters after returning to Anchorage, Alaska, on Wednesday. Palin returned after 70 days on the campaign trail as Sen. John McCain’s, R-Ariz., running-mate in the presidential election.)
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
.
