Posted on 09/05/2011 8:02:03 PM PDT by EternalVigilance
In a sad display of anti-Christian censorship, Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City has banned clergy from participating or praying at the 10th anniversary 9/11 memorial ceremony honoring the victims of terrorist attacks from September 11th, 2001.
Today I spoke with Bishop Dan Johnson, a 9/11 first-responder clergyman who ministered to the dead and dying in New York City on Sept 11th, 2001. For the last nine years, Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg invited Bishop Johnson to the annual ceremony, but this year he was told by Mayor Bloomberg's staff that he cannot attend "in his capacity as clergyman," but only in his capacity as first-responder. And he dare not pray aloud.
"It's unbelievable," says Southern Baptist leader Richard Land. "We live in a country where the overwhelming majority of people identify as Christian or have a religion, and clergy were some of the first people to respond on 9/11 to minister to victims. Why aren't they welcome today?"
"I'm stunned," said Tim Wildmon of the American Family Association. "This event affected the whole psyche and soul of the country, and you are going to have no prayer? What's a memorial service if you are going to leave God out of it completely? It seems kind of hollow."
Mayor Bloomberg warned on a radio show that the event "cannot be political" and said it would offer a "poem or quote or something that each one of the readers will read" with "no speeches whatsoever."
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A PRAYER TO ALMIGHTY GOD,
and
A PETITION TO NYC MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG:
Dear Sirs:
We the undersigned respectfully petition you to please invite clergy to pray publicly at the 9/11 memorial ceremony, and honor the religious values of the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. Clergy represent the religious freedom of America, which was attacked by enemies of religious tolerance and free speech on 9/11.
By banning clergy, especially by Christians from participation, you mollify the enemies of liberty and silence the religious expression of millions of Americans, including the faith held dear by most of the 2,996 victims of 9/11 themselves.
Please restore the right to pray publicly at the 9/11 memorial ceremony, and invite clergy to fully participate in honoring the dead, especially since clergy were among the first responders to the tragedy of that memorable day. Do not neglect America's freedom of religious expression, but remind the enemies of liberty that we stand for free speech and free worship, even in public.
We are one nation under God, and we pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Then the article SHOULD say. Clergy given personal invitations to attend the ceremony, but they will attend in their role of First Responders. Wow. How hard is that.
You’re acting like this is about this one guy. It’s not. It’s about keeping prayer and GOD out of these ceremonies.
cler·gy/ˈklərjē/
Noun: The body of all people ordained for religious duties, esp. in the Christian Church.
It's not about this one guy. They're not including clergy in this memorial. Just like the headline says.
Oh crap. Sorry. What the heck do I know anyway.....
Bloomberg thinks he can exclude God?
The fool hath said in his heart, “There is no God.”
Then Job replied to the Lord:
2 “I know that you can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.’
5 My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.”
Job 42:1-6 (NIV)
A plague of boils should suffice.
I should have kept my post. How do I delete it? Many here have actually lost loved ones over the last 10 years and deserve better than what I wrote. Please forgive me.
Hit abuse on your own post and ask the mod to delete it, and they probably will.
But, hey, don’t sweat it. These are emotional times.
Knowing Bloomberg’s brilliant cultural mind, I guess we can expect a Rod McKuen poem to be read. Or may that Soviet hack, Yevteshanko, or whatever his name was. Better yet, Maya Angelou.
They fast track the Ground Zero Mosque calling all who oppose it “bigots” and “intolerant” - even though the mosque is offensive to just about everyone.
But they won’t allow clergy because a handful of people might be offended?
How do these people keep getting elected?
Why am I unemployed?
Exactly why should mayor bloomberg be in charge of a memorial service?
Secular progressives will never beat people who believe they are fighting for their God (Allah); there is no place in the world where secularism is beating Islam.
“The NYFD should boycott this ceremony and have their own.”
__________________________________________________________________________
As I understand it, they will not have to boycott since they are not invited to attend.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2771901/posts
You can’t read.
Bloomberg’s soul belongs to his money and the Saudis.
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