Comments on: Gay Bishop to Deliver Opening Ceremony Prayer

By: OldCoastie

OldCoastie — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:29:14 +0000

I’m with you on this one.

Let Warren open the ceremonies and let the good Rev. Gene do the benediction.

By: mui1

mui1 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:25:16 +0000

For Bishop Robinson, inclusion is foremost in composing the prayer, and while he doesn’t know exactly what he’ll be saying, he says he will not be using a Bible:

While that is a holy and sacred text to me, it is not for many Americans. I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer. This is a prayer for the whole nation.

Robinson makes a good statement above. We are supposed to have a secular government, and it is nice to have a religious figure up there recognize that the nation has persons of different beliefs, philosophies, and religions.
Reading the posts above, I find it disturbing that it is thought there are so many persons who would viciously oppose this choice. I know that 30% of the nation is pretty intractable Bush country. But there is another 70% out there.

By: mui1

mui1 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:58:28 +0000

Ditto.
I think inviting the episcopalian bishop is a step in the right direction. For me, it’s a nice nod to a church that’s weathered controversies (gay and women bishops). It’s also good to see a denomination represented at the inauguration that isn’t Christianity ™. If anything it can serve to remind people that there are religious persons who don’t sound like a hateful bunch of charleton republicans. It makes me feel a little sorry I threw out my local inauguration party tickets, although I don’t think I was being premature in my judgement. The Obama team really showed an nasty streak with the Rick Warren pick and that streak seems bound to resurface.

By: rar3

rar3 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:47:32 +0000

Gene Robinson pisses off the right even more than Pastor Rick pisses off the left. The Episcopal Church is inching toward schism in the U.S. over issues of sexuality, and he’s the poster boy for the intolerant side. (Although some of these posts make me wonder which side that is.) Obama picking him is definitely not a crumb.

And as a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), I couldn’t be more pleased about the choice of Sharon Watkins for the National Prayer Service.

Do I wish that one of them had the invocation slot Rick Warren has? Yes. Absolutely. Without a doubt. But if there are only four high-profile slots for faith leaders, and three of them are Joseph Lowery, Gene Robinson and Sharon Watkins, progressives are better represented than ever before.

After two generations worth of inaugurations with Billy Graham (and son Franklin as a last minute stand-in) being *the* face of the faith community in inaugural activities, seeing a woman, an African American and a gay man in key roles is a refreshing change.

By: demi

demi — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:32:04 +0000

I truly wish he were.
So, when the first Better Person is elected, we’ll all be there for that.
But, in the mean time…
I understand it’s all for one and one for all, but by not accepting baby steps, you just might be diminishing the possibilities.
I hope I’m wrong.

By: Teddy Partridge

Teddy Partridge — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:14:17 +0000

Bishop Gene should be doing the main invocation at the Inaugural, not Pastor Rick™

bfd

By: spurious

spurious — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:07:08 +0000

Masterful. I hope he wears his mitre.

By: NotJust4Breakfast

NotJust4Breakfast — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:41:46 +0000

Letting the Bishop speak IS a tiny crumb, as far as Civil Rights for ALL Americans is concerned.

“Yeah, let’s have some poof in a gown give a prayer, that’ll appease the gays. Just so long as we don’t have to commit to allowing them to MARRY.” - seems to be the thinking from PEBO’s people.

It’s POSTURING, not policy. POLITICS, not leadership.

By: Alison

Alison — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:20:07 +0000

This bishop is the antichrist, as far as the loonie right is concerned. He is the one who will make them all spontaneously combust.

The IRD, which is the religious foundation of the AEI, has extensive coverage of their insane levels of hate for Robinson. David Virtue’s website, a classic in insane Anglicanism, features pages every week of intolerant screed on Robinson.

Robinson is a one man band of evil in their eyes. The undead will walk that day and cry out against Robinson.

By: revday

revday — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:51:11 +0000

Oh yea!!! Every little things helps and the Bishop is not a crumb.
Even a lesbian can appreciate that hat. Blessings for our community.