White House Letter: Politics and prayer mix in post-Katrina sermon

[Why Syzygy]

On Friday, there was Jakes with President George W. Bush at a prayer service for the victims of Hurricane Katrina at the Washington National Cathedral, preaching the sermon at the invitation of the White House.

In his rich, rolling baritone, Jakes, one of the country's most influential and mesmerizing preachers, intoned that Katrina "has made us think and look and reach beyond the breach and dare to discuss the unmentionable issues that confront us."

Then he added, as he seemed at times to look straight at Bush: "It is not so important what we say; it is important what we do. Defining moments of history cannot be defined by rhetoric and words or anger, or soliciting people to respond in a tempestuous way. But real leadership is defined by what we do. The Good Samaritan teaches us that it will cost money to help people, and sometimes we have to love them enough to pay the bill."

Supporters of Jakes said afterward that his performance was an agile fusing of religion and tough racial politics, and that his pointed words showed that he was not there as a blind supporter of Bush. Others said that after the government's slow response to so many of Katrina's poor, black victims, Jakes should not have been there at all.

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http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/18/news/letter.php#