New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants Sunday’s 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks to focus on the victims and their families — not on God or the heroes who rushed into the burning towers to save as many as they could.
“For many people, faith — regardless of which particular religion they subscribe to — was an important element in peoples’ ability to cope in the wake of the attacks,” observes Billy Hallowell, writing for the Blaze, a news website.
“The announcement drew particular outrage from Rudy Washington, who served as deputy mayor under former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and who organized an interfaith service at Yankee Stadium following the attacks back in 2001. He told the Wall Street Journal:
“This is America, and to have a memorial service where there’s no prayer, this appear to be insanity to me. I feel like America has lost its way.”
The Christian Post reports that New York City Councilman Fernando Cabrera presented the Mayor with 62,000 gathered by the Family Research Council asking Bloomberg to change his mind on his ban of clergy, prayer and first-responders at the ceremonies. The Family Research Council’s Senior Legal Studies Fellow Cathy Ruse told the press:
“Perhaps for Mayor Bloomberg, God and faith do not mean much, but it is exceedingly tone deaf not to recognize their importance to most Americans.”
Rudy Giuliani, mayor at the time of the attacks, chided Bloomberg that “the microphones won’t melt.” Only 12 days after the Twin Towers were destroyed, Guiliani held a memorial service called “Prayer for America.” Similar faith-based services were held, as the Post reports, by House and Senate chaplains in Washington, D.C. following the attack on the Pentagon.
And many others remain baffled and offended by Bloomberg’s ungrateful attitude toward the Almighty and insensitivity to the beliefs of the majority of Americans. The Blaze reports:
New York City-based Christian leader Pastor Rick Del Rio shared his views on the clergy ban in an exclusive interview with the Blaze. Del Rio, who arrived at Ground Zero just minutes after the second tower collapsed, was an instrumental force in the days and months following the attacks.
He co-convened the Northeast Clergy Group / Ground Zero Clergy Task Force (NEC), an interdenominational coalition of regional ministers who counseled workers at Ground Zero and assisted in relief efforts. This year, his church is hosting an alternative prayer event called Reaching Out New York City on Saturday (the day before the anniversary). Below, see the trailer for Reaching Out:
Del Rio explained his frustrations with Bloomberg‘s refusal to include clergy in this year’s 9/11 tribute:
“I think the 10th anniversary is such a milestone. We should have gone to great measures to include all those who participated. I think it’s an affront to all those who are clergy or first responders who were [down there after 9/11].
It’s ridiculous. Its almost like [Bloomberg's] trying to re-write history. These were components that were invaluable to bringing the city back together.”
posted September 10, 2011 at 7:53 am
This is Bloomberg’s show, evidently meant to showcase govt leadership. It’s to ‘risky’ to allow inclusion of spiritual faith and first responders.
posted September 10, 2011 at 8:32 am
Mayor Bloomberg,
I just can NOT believe you! First you will not allow our religious leaders to be present at the 9/11 memorial on Sunday, now no first responders!!!!! What a jerk you are! I sure wish Rudy was still mayor of NY. You are so wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted September 10, 2011 at 10:25 am
This man is an arrogant little runt. He wasn’t even the Mayor during 9/11. Quite frankly no one even knew who the guy was at the time. Now I think one of the main reasons he manipulated the Mayoral term to 3 was to satisfy his spoiled characteristic in getting what he wants, and because he wanted to be associated with the 9/11 Memorial as Mayor. He has to continuously feed that ego. Who voted for you?! You’ve done nothing for this City except implement 311. Gee, what a guy. What a leader with an obnoxious voice. Then he wonders why the Firemen detest him and the Police Dept. despise him. This guy has done nothing but line his pockets and become more wealthy behind the scenes and indirectly of course throughout his time posing as our Mayor. I guarantee you this little runt speaks considerably during the processions.
posted September 10, 2011 at 10:33 am
So Bloomberg will not allow religion to be part of the 9/11 ceremony? Maybe he needs to look at the photo of Fr. Mychal Judge being carried out of the rubble. The mayor should be ashamed of himself. Vote the bum out!!!
posted September 10, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Nothing says that folks can’t pray while they are there—it just won’t be official. There will be many remembrances that day—in churches and other houses of worship—praying can be done there. Bloomberg isn’t the only game in town.
posted September 10, 2011 at 9:31 pm
How can a person prohibit public prayers???
Mr. Bloomberg, please review your decision and keep in mind that this is a Christian nation regardless of what our president says to be politically correct…
posted September 11, 2011 at 11:01 am
The innocent 9/11 victims whom were killed, their families and loved ones, all have suffered because centuries old conflicts between the leaders of the various leaders of the Abrahamic religious sects. Perhaps the self-proclaimed religious leaders whom were offended because they were not invited to use the bully-pulpit can instead use the time to contemplate, meditate, or pray seeking solutions to religious warfare.
posted September 11, 2011 at 5:40 pm
SAD!!!! New York should be ashamed of their mayor. We need to pray today, so I will make sure I pray more to compensate for his……
posted September 17, 2011 at 5:59 am
I’m sorry…can someone explain exactly why Bloomberg needed to include any reference to any deity in his speech? He should not be showing preference to any faith at all. He kept the proceedings secular, which is what they should be. Bloomberg didn’t stop anyone from praying at the memorial at all…he simply did not make it an official act and that was correct. The 9/11 memorial isn’t about glorifying gods and deities…it’s about honoring those who were victimized by this tragedy…and you don’t need “God” to do that.
Of course, I think he should have extended thanks and support to the first responders, but perhaps he felt that he’d be dishonoring all the others who assisted on that day if he singled a particular group for thanks.