Inaugural Invocation

I'm divided about this. Certainly I wish that someone more gay-friendly would be given the pulpit for this event, but I fear that we're so theologically divided as a nation that choosing only pro-gay clergy for the event would effectively make evangelicals feel cut off. There may be no middle ground in our nation right now, and anyone who satisfies the progressives may well offend the conservatives and destroy the very bridges we're all hoping we can build.

If the inauguration committee feels that Obama can gain the most traction by showing evangelicals that he respects them, someone like Warren might be the only possible compromise.

And doesn't THAT suck?

Obama's choice of Reverend Warren to deliver the invocation is a painful blast for human rights! Faith and religion should necessarily include ALL PEOPLE in our human family. This concept is reflected at the core of all religious movments.

Although I do not belong to any Christian sect, I belive in the princpal--HE WHO CASTS THE FIRST STONE....

Reverend Warren certainly has cast a few stones in his career--this in direct opposition to Jesus' teachings.

Would some one in your ranks please reconsider this choice!!!!

The Gay and Lesbian Community Needs Some Help during the Rick Warren-Obama Inauguration Situation

The saddest part of the controversy regarding Obama's pick of Warren as "inauguration invocator" has been the way the controversy has been framed by the mass media. The political dust-up has been portrayed as "the gay and lesbian community v. Rick Warren." The idea that the gay and lesbian community should be the only ones outraged by Obama's decision is ludicrous. Every American with a conscience, regardless of sexual orientation, should be outraged with Obama for this decision. Rick Warren is a fundamentalist Christian and biblical literalist. Does anyone know what that means exactly?

It means that Rick warren believes that women should be subjugated to men as is laid out in 1 Corinthians 11:3. It means that he believes public schools shouldn’t teach our children that the earth is more than "thousands of years old" as is told in the book of Genesis. It means he agrees with the statement that men are "holy to god" and not women, as Luke 2:23 tells us. It means he adheres to the belief that the "natural use" of women is for sexual objectification as is stated in Romans 1:27. It means he embraces and preaches the belief that those who do not love Jesus will be damned as is indicated in 1 Corinthians 16:22. Approximately one third of the bible is so x-rated that children can't even read it. It's wrought with everything from genocide to slavery.

Warren perpetuates a millennia-old dogma that should be relegated to the history books, not made part of the modern American record. There is a 30 to 50 million strong evangelical community in this country that is growing by leaps and bounds every year that adheres to this type of warped philosophy. Obama's decision to give their leader a center stage position at the inauguration is not an act of tolerance or goodwill. Rather, it's a decision that says: "It's OK to believe what you believe, even if I don't." No, Mr. Obama, in fact, it's not OK to believe what Warren believes!

Warren's beliefs are immoral, divisive, and downright disgusting in many cases. And it's a crying shame that the gay and lesbian community is alone in stating that. It's time that all Americans, especially conservative females like Laura Ingraham, Ann Coulter, and Bay Buchanan denounce this man's beliefs. Or perhaps they believe they should remain silent, as is taught in 1 Timothy 2:11-12.

Best Regards
Craig M. Flaherty