Gay US bishop to offer prayer at inaugural event

[devilgrrl]

Gay US bishop to offer prayer at inaugural event
From Associated Press
January 12, 2009 10:55 AM EST

CONCORD, New Hampshire - The first openly gay Episcopal bishop will offer a prayer at the Lincoln Memorial at an inaugural event for President-elect Barack Obama.

The selection of New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson for Sunday's event follows weeks of criticism from gay-rights groups over Obama's decision to have the Rev. Rick Warren give the invocation at his Jan. 20 inauguration.

Warren backed the ban on same-sex marriage that passed in his home state of California on the November ballot.

Robinson said last month the choice of Warren was like a slap in the face. In an interview with the Concord Monitor, he said he doesn't believe Obama invited him in response to the Warren criticism but said his inclusion won't go unnoticed by the gay and lesbian community.

"It's important for any minority to see themselves represented in some way," Robinson told the newspaper for a story in Monday's editions. "Whether it be a racial minority, an ethnic minority, or in our case, a sexual minority. Just seeing someone like you up front matters."

Clark Stevens, a spokesman for the inaugural committee, said Robinson was invited because he had offered his advice to Obama during the campaign and because of his church work. When asked whether Robinson was included to calm the Warren complaints, he said Robinson is "an important figure in the religious community. We are excited that he will be involved."

The Episcopal Church is part of the Anglican Communion, a global fellowship with roots in the Church of England.

More: http://tinyurl.com/98yo2s

[MADem]

1. I don't care what his spokespeople say. Or GR. Anyone who thinks this is serendipitous is high.

The reason this guy got tapped for this new venue (who gave the "Invocation at the Lincoln Memorial" for Bush? Why, no one).

I do believe that he was invited in response to Warren.

At least he heard all those pissed off people. It's not enough, but it is a beginning.

[saracat]

2. It is in response but it is still "an event" not "The Inaugural" itself!

It doesn't have the same high profile or exposure. Its a start. but an opportunity was definitely missed during the Inauguration and handed to the Fundies instead.

[MADem]

5. It was handed to the fundies because the lefties have no where to run.

Where does the left go? To NADER?

There's less need to "impress" the left now. He's trying to suck in the people on the right side of the fence.

It's not as though there will be a massive and immediate shift to the Green or Reform Party as a consequence. What will happen is what happened, the left will complain about it to Obama.

Over time, though, if there's far too much side stepping rightward, it could cause voter supression in the same way that the evangelical vote was once suppressed, back when they felt that no one was hearing their concerns. People just say "They don't care about ME" and stay home.

[saracat]

6. I have said it multiple times, this is about expanding the GOP vote for 2012

and retaining just enough of the Democratic vote to win. End of story. Folks who think this election was about anything but "winning" are going to be disappointed. I keep questioning "what" we won. I voted for something but I am not sure what. In the end I voted against the values of Palin.

[SidDithers]

3. He should be speaking alongside Warren...

not at some other, lesser function.

Just more "separate, but equal".

Sid

[originalpckelly]

4. Well that makes up for having a bigot speak at the actual inauguration.

Totally ends this whole debacle. :eyes: