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Rev. Rick Warren's Invocation
Rev. Rick Warren's Invocation | Jerry's Place
When I first heard that President-elect Obama invited Rev. Warren to give the invocation for the Inauguration, I was saddened. There are so many other pastors to whom he could have turned, Rev. Jim Wallis, Rev. Jesse Jackson, a Catholic bishop, or a Rabbi. Why the pastor who rigged the debate between the two nominees for President? Why the pastor who supported California Prop 8 and verbally beats up on some folks he disagrees with? At least, the pastor giving the benediction, Rev. Joseph Lowrey, is going to get the last word.
Then I saw an article about Rev. Warren which explains some good things about the man. I was much impressed with how he gives 90% of his income to help the poor. Somehow he looks like he is doing very well on the 10% that's left but, still, he has few peers in the generosity department.
I sent the article to my liberal friends and got a response which reflected how I originally felt but quite a bit more angry.
So I tried to figure out why the choice of Rev. Warren might make sense.
The main reason, of course, is what the President-elect said, that Rev. Warren had invited him to speak at Saddleback Church early in his campaign, knowing they disagreed. Sen. Obama reaches out . . . . And he is willing to take the heat from constituents who disagree with him.
My friend said he really shot himself in the foot. Of course, the promises Sen. Obama has made about changing law and policy in ways supportive of the GLBT community are yet to be actualized, but we will be surprised if he does not follow through.
Then I realized that by giving the invocation on Jan, 20, Rev. Warren may not be as effective in furthering the anti-GLBT agenda he has led. Further, even all this negative publicity and controversy puts the subject on the front pages. As they say in the entertainment business, even negative publicity is better than no publicity.
But more moving to me is that Sen. Obama may be forgiving Rev. Warren for the stunts related to the Saddleback debate.
So how will the modern day Billy Graham respond? Will he even look at the forgiveness angle? Will he presume he deserves the attention? Will he actually begin listening to those he has condemned?
Cynics don't like to take a chance on giving an inch to their enemies, certain they will take a mile. Jesus was willing . . . and got crucified. But He changed things.
Who knows? Sen. Obama, a "sermon-soaked pew squatter" for twenty years, may actually be trying to do the Word, and not just be a hearer only.
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Two bonehead preacher plays? Say it isn't so. Could my President-elect have feet of clay? Or at least flip-flops of clay?
I can see the theory that selecting someone like a Rick Warren would symbolize reaching across the religious divide to knit up the frazzled fabric of the nation, or whatever. But Jeez, Louise. Rick Warren hisself? Jesus wept.
First off, I don't want my politicians, even Barack Obama, screwing with religious issues. Not his goddamn business. It's my business, your business. Separation of church and state. All that piffle. I'm a little pissed off that there's a religious ceremony of any kind associated with the swearing in of any public official, especially the President.
But I'm flexible. If they want that in the dog and pony show, so be it. But, please, exercise a little common sense and discretion. I'm ranting, I know. Next to selection of all the neo-cons in the cabinet, this is small beer. So I'll quit. Time for that double bourbon anyway. Think I'll make it a triple. Toodles.
Proust!
You're wrong.
Rick Warren was the one who told George Bush to absolutely scratch any ideas of a war with Iran. Rick Warren was the one who urged Christians to vote with their heart, and not with their habit. I know that this website never allows comments that differ from you or Mr. Swanson, but I'm stating the facts; whether it's convenient for you or not.
Do you know anything about Rick Warren? Have you read any of his books? I think that you're ignorant of his character, and you're labeling him, just like how Neocons label us progressives.
Do some research on Rick Warren or anyone else before you start attacking them. I think Obama made the right choice. This country NEEDS TO BE RECONCILED. Rick Warren will bridge the gap between Christians who are dead set on being Republicans and other Americans who vote without prejudice.
Mark my words; Obama will end prejudice in America.
I stopped reading your website during the election, because you were promoting Green party candidates. And as of today, I will stop reading your website all together.
We'll see if this comment gets published. I'll post it elsewhere also.
Alexis
You are talking about his public face, plus rumors his flunkies are spreading to make him sound more reasonable. The real Rick Warren is so extreme even Pat Robertson would seem moderate by comparison. Don't be fooled by two faced, Orange County fundamentalists.
Based upon the complete callousness with which Obama has treated the various religious communities, I have to conclude the same, he really is NOT religious at all, NEVER was and HAS NO INTENTION of really understanding the various communities. Otherwise, as some have said, he would have asked a religious representative from a HISTORICALLY MODERATE religion, such as Buddhist.
The extent that Obama "uses" the religious communities is starting to really stink. He seems unaware, nor does he CARE, apparently, that he has contributed to and expanded a very nasty rift between religious groups. He has done harm here, for sheer political gain, and that STINKS.
I see no reason to push religion and politics together, but if he fees the need to legitimately draw people in, he must be ECUMENICAL about it. Not political. It shows an almost complete lack of world/religious education or concern.
The brokeback, homophobic, pie-hole has been successfully smeared, of his own doing. Take comfort in that.
But who is your next religious victim, Obama? If I were a religious leader I would keep away from you at this point. And I think you have enough on your plate keeping your POLITICAL campaign issues straight without stabbing THOSE people in the back. The RELIGIOUS community can do WITHOUT your kind of help until you understand them better.
(Why did Axelrod look so nervous this a.m.?)
John J.Coghlan
I posted this comment before, and I would like to post it again and add something to it.
Rev. Rick Warren and the radical christian right are no more anti women, and homophobes than the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Jews, or the Muslims. As despicable as some of their opinions and beliefs are, they have the right to have them. Having a person with different opinions standing next to Rev. Rick Warren is not the solution to the problem.
Any religious leader you have speak at a public event is going to offend somebody. That is because we all have different religious beliefs. Our founding fathers created separation of church and state as a means to ensure that all individuals religious, or non religious beliefs be respected. Saying prayers at a public government event is not any different than saying prayers in public schools. If you stood a Jewish leader next to Rick Warren, you would have left out the Muslims. If you put a representative of all the religions, you wouldn't have an Inauguration, you would have a revival meeting. Best the religious leaders do their preaching in their own houses of worship. Individuals attending the event, or watching it on television, can say all the prayers they want. Obama is going to need them.
I think the mistake in selecting a speaker has become obvious to Obama by now. It would be politically, and socially bad for him to withdraw the invitation. So may be we should just let it rest. There are many more important issues facing our new president, and I think we should give him our full support. Preventing our economy from falling into another Great Depression is more important than who speaks at a social event. Restoring the Constitution, law and order, and our democracy is what Obama should be most concerned about. Prosecuting people who have committed murder, tortures, and war crimes is more important than social etiquette.
I don't think the selection of a sexist, homophobic bigot to speak at the Inauguration, should be completely overlooked. Without boos or disrespectful disruptions to the Inauguration, people in attendance could simply stand and turn their backs to Rev. Rick Warren when he speaks. I think that would send a strong message, that good people do not stand for hate, bigotry,and discrimination against different religious groups, lesbians, gays, women,or anybody else. In the future it would be best to honor our separation of church and state, and have non religious speakers at public government functions.
If Obama keeps acting out with this kind of misogynistic, heterosexist, and anti atheist bigotry, I'm voting Green in 2012.