Obama Decides to Christen Rick Warren the New Billy Graham
17 December 2008 3:50 pm by Taylor Marsh
BY TAYLOR MARSH
Well, this
tears it.
CNN labeled Warren “America’s pastor” a while back. That he was also
the guest preacher for the Clinton Global Initiative is equally appalling. But
this latest move brings back the first big cringe worthy moment I got from Barack
Obama back in 2006, which was when he lectured Democrats on faith. It looks like we’re set
to tangle
on this issue again.
President-elect Barack Obama’s swearing-in ceremony will feature big names
like minister Rick Warren and legendary singer Aretha Franklin, the Congressional
Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies announced Wednesday.Warren, the prominent evangelical and founder of the Saddleback Church in
Lake Forest, California, will deliver the ceremony’s invocation. [...]
Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery will deliver
the benediction.
 |
| Katharine Jefferts Schori |
I’ve been having a private war with many organized religions for years, mainly
over their disallowing women to lead. It’s one reason I’m an Episcopalian. It’s
time men quit running the churches, leaving women in minor roles. If the Catholic
church had female priests it’s doubtful their pedophilia disgrace would have
been left to explode. Picking just one example Obama could have chosen, I’m not saying Obama had to choose a woman like Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. But having met her and heard her preach, I can tell you unequivocally that she’d at least send a message that wasn’t misogynistic and homophobic. Of course, she’s not Obama’s buddy either, so she’s out. (I’m also unaware if she plays basketball.)
That I’m not surprised he picked Warren tells you where I think Obama is heading and he’s not even been inaugurated yet. He’s made few happy with this
one, however. It’s like Obama decided purposefully to give liberals the finger. It’s not gone unnoticed by other Obama supporters either.
“Ugh,” says Andrew Sullivan, feeling the same as I do, that Obama giving a nod to “Christianists” is a horrific omen.
Todd Beeton: “Spit
in the Eye.”
Oh
Puke!, just about says it all.
Firedoglake: Prop 8 Homophobe
Rick Warren to Deliver Inaugural Benediction.
Feministing:
Obama picks anti-gay, anti-choice pastor for inauguration ceremony.
Steve
Benen… and many, many
more.
Nothing like the new Democratic president sucking up to this anti women’s civil
rights, anti gay rights, conservative Rick Warren. The contempt Obama’s choice
says for all things liberal is stunning.
I don’t care that Warren isn’t a policy adviser. It’s like Obama is now going
for the Mr. America title. That’s more important than standing up
with representative faith that is part of Democratic ideals, which includes a strong lead on
civil rights, but also healing the sick through humane scientific advancement like stem cell research.
Billy Graham became the presidents’ preacher decades ago. I guess now that
Warren has been invited in to spiritually christen the new Democratic administration,
after voting for McCain, something he basically admitted on his wingnut radio tour, we’ve officially got a new preacher king. Just ignore the right-wing politics he pushes.
