Religious Tensions Over Prayers Cast Shadow On President Obama's Inauguration

[cbayer]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/20/religious-tensions-inauguration-_n_2511957.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

By RACHEL ZOLL 01/19/13 12:37 PM ET EST

?6

-- There may be no clearer reflection of this moment in American religious life than the tensions surrounding prayers at President Barack Obama's inauguration.

Efforts by the Presidential Inaugural Committee to bridge the conservative-liberal divide by including an evangelical failed. Atlanta preacher Louie Giglio, known for his work to end human trafficking, withdrew from giving the benediction after the liberal group ThinkProgress found a sermon he gave in the 1990s, condemning gay relationships.

Meanwhile, the first lay person has been asked to give the invocation, at a time when the number of Americans with no formal religious ties has hit a high around 20 percent. The prayer will be delivered by Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of slain civil rights hero Medgar Evers. The ceremony Monday falls on the federal holiday honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Christian conservatives are asking what these choices say about their place in broader society. Does their absence from the inaugural podium mean they're being pushed out of public life?

more at link

[elleng]

1. 'Christian conservatives' asking WHAT?

'Tensions over prayers cast shadows over inauguration???'

SOMEONE's trying to make trouble, imo.

[msongs]

2. simple solution = ditch all the prayers of any religion at this event nt

[emulatorloo]

3. Or stop grasping at straws to slam Democrats.

[cbayer]

4. Never going to happen.

[cbayer]

5. There really was a struggle between the religious right and the progressive/liberal

religious community here, and the left won.

They didn't get an evangelical homophobe, and they aren't happy about it.

[pinto]

6. Agree. The choice of Myrlie Evers-Williams and also Richard Blanco (poet) was great.

Progressive, liberal, inclusive. In both a religious and secular context. I thought it was outstanding.

[cbayer]

7. I was happy with his final choices and also with the speech.

As someone on the radio just said - for the first time, a president talked about ME in the inauguration speech (GLBT).