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Evangelicals Not Invited to 9-11 Event
A weekend of religious-themed observances at Washington National Cathedral marking the tenth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks will include a Buddhist nun and an Imam, but not an evangelical Christian, leading the head of the Southern Baptist Convention to ask President Obama to reconsider attending the event.
“A Call to Compassion” will include an interfaith prayer vigil on Sept. 11th. It will feature the dean of the Cathedral, the Bishop of Washington, a rabbi, Buddhist nun and incarnate lama, a Hindu priest, the president of the Islamic Society of North America and a Muslim musician.
To see a complete lineup of the event, click here.
However, Southern Baptists, representing the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, were not invited to participate – and neither were leaders from any evangelical Christian organization.
“It’s not surprising,” said Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. “There is a tragic intolerance toward Protestants and particularly toward evangelicals and I wish the president would refuse to speak unless it was more representative.”
Richard Weinberg, the Cathedral’s director of communications, confirmed that Southern Baptists were not extended an invitation to participate.
“The goal was to have interfaith representation,” he told Fox News Radio. “The Cathedral itself is an Episcopal church and it stands to reason that our own clergy serve as Christian representatives.”
He said the Washington National Cathedral serves as the “spiritual home for the nation” and as such, he said that “diversity was first and foremost” a factor in the planning.
“We certainly aim to appeal to as many in the country as possible and feel that our events are not any one slice that could ever represent the entire country — but that we are doing our best commemorate the events as it fits with our mission,” Weinberg said.
On Sunday night the Cathedral will host President Obama as he delivers remarks in a program called, “A Concert of Hope.” At least five faith leaders will deliver prayers but those individuals have not been identified.
Weinberg said the president’s event will be a “secular service,” but said given the setting it will include an interfaith benediction.
Page said President Obama should cancel his appearance at the Cathedral.
“I think it would send a very strong and very positive signal to the left wing extremists in our country that the president ought not show up,” Page said, calling their exclusion “purposeful.”
The White House referred questions about the services to the Cathedral.
“First and foremost, the breadth of the programming aims to honor those who were most affected by the tragedy of 9-11,” Weinberg said. “We also recognize as a Cathedral that this country has been engaged in two wars abroad and many, many service members, nearly six thousand, and of course that would count much more if we counted civilian lives lost.”
“They are also a group that we want to keep in mind and lift up,” he said.
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, told Fox News Radio the lineup was better suited for the United Nations than the United States.
“Three quarters of the American people identify as Christian and nearly a third of them are evangelical Christian,” Perkins said. “And yet, there is not a single evangelical on the program.”
“There’s no doubt that this is clearly politically correct,” Perkins told Fox News Radio. “It is historically inaccurate that in times of need or mourning that Americans pray to the Hindu or Buddhist Gods or the God of Islam. America is overtly a Christian nation that prays to the Judeo-Christian God – and specifically to Jesus Christ.”
Page called political correctness the “elephant in the room.”
“It is very clear that it is that it is not politically correct to include evangelical Christians,” he said. “Obviously, tolerance is at work here. In a nation whose current God is tolerance, it is absolutely hypocritical that the major group to be excluded and be intolerant of – is evangelical Christians.”
YHWH is GOD
September 7, 2011 at 10:40 am
Catholism is not Christianity, it is Sun-worship hiding behind Christianity just google it. This just further proves to me that Jesus is the TRUTH and there is a deliberate agenda to eliminate him from our lives.
Joan
September 7, 2011 at 10:53 am
Bloomberg should have his a** kicked!!!! This is an outrage are there any muslims attending after all ground zero is where the muslims want their mosque built to gloat over their achievement of killing over 3000 of Americans!! Tell Obama to stay the hell home!!!
Joan
September 7, 2011 at 10:55 am
are you kidding me why have a comment page if what I say is not posted!! It's my opinion
Bro. Dorsey
September 7, 2011 at 11:06 am
Poor evangelicals…..someone is being intolerant of their faith…well, what goes around comes around…..this in no way makes up for the many decades of hate and lies the evangelical community pours out against the "Mormons" …how does it feel?
dagmar
September 7, 2011 at 11:39 am
It's about 9/11, not evangelicals. Scroll through the on-line memorial of all the victims. They DO look like the United Nations. That's America, whether the evangelicals like it or not.
Clorisa
September 7, 2011 at 11:40 am
I do not see a problem. As they said, Christianity is well represented. Why would they need more than one sect of Christianity there? What does that prove.
eclambrou
September 7, 2011 at 11:41 am
In checking the National Cathedral's website this morning, I was unable to access details about the event. But I'm wondering if yet another group has been left out: The Greek Orthodox Church. If anyone should be invited to an interfaith event commemorating 9/11 at the National Cathedral, it's the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America.
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, which once stood in the silhouette of the now-fabled Twin Towers, was destroyed on 9/11 after the South Tower came crumbling down on top of it. It was the only house of worship destroyed on Ground Zero that terrible day, and ten years later, it remains un-rebuilt.
That's because the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey has stonewalled reconstruction of that blessed and historic church (originally built in 1916), and is doing everything it can to eliminate the possibility of the church's reconstruction.
It's a story in and of itself – with moral, historic and constitutional dimensions. But no one seems to care anymore, ostensibly because the mainstream media has stopped writing and reporting about it.
In any case, if he hasn't been invited, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop should be included in the program. And President Obama should at least mention the need to rebuild St. Nicholas Church in its historic setting.
TracyJayne
September 7, 2011 at 11:46 am
Barry will fill very much at home at this event. It is what it is.
Kathy Gann-McCoy
September 7, 2011 at 11:54 am
The Most Reverend Bishop of Washington
Richard Weinberg, Dir. of communications
I am writing in response to the service being held in memory of 9-11. I am opposed and appalled at the choice of participants. Please remove my name from the list of donors and/or calendar and promotional recipients.
MJP
September 7, 2011 at 11:58 am
Lord give the great leaders of our Nation Wisdom to run it!
hazydavy
September 7, 2011 at 11:58 am
Maybe because evangelicals are crazy. Fred Phelps comes to mind. They believe the bible is a literal record of events that took place thousands of years ago. I believe in lumberjacks,but draw the line somewhere right before Paul Bunyan. Evangelicals are not noted for their critical thinking skills.
John Smith
September 7, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Considering how our country has thumbed it's collective nose at God, how long do we think we will last until He finally has had ENOUGH & thumbs His nose at us and says….bye….see how you do it on your own
Carrieann
September 7, 2011 at 12:21 pm
THIS IS UNCONSCIONABLE !!!
T SPENCER
September 7, 2011 at 12:21 pm
GOD, PLEASE HAVE MERCY UPON OUR NATION THAT WAS ONCE FOUNDED ON A CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION. FORGIVE THE DEFAMING OF OUR NATIONAL CATHEDRAL. GOD PLEASE SAVE US FROM THE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS THAT IS PARAMOUNT AT THIS TIME IN OUR COUNTRY. AMEN
terry
September 7, 2011 at 12:40 pm
Walk soft CHRISTIAN'S but carry a BIG STICK!
Jerry
September 7, 2011 at 12:50 pm
It's not surprising. There has been a growing intolerance since the 60's, towards anything having to do with Christianity. Not just an intolerance, but an outright hatred.
The left believe in a freedom FROM religion, when that religion is "Christianity". All other religions are welcome.
Gerald Smith
September 7, 2011 at 1:18 pm
Proof that liberalism invades every walk of life like a spreading cancer if it's allowed to do so.
what is the purpose
September 7, 2011 at 1:24 pm
God is tolerating these kind of actions on behalf of other gods, He is a just God, but even He will call an end to His patience. We are living in an evil world, but our God, the only true God is still in control even when the evildoers seem to be winning, He is supreme and He will win.
what is the purpose
September 7, 2011 at 1:30 pm
No, I think you're up to something underhanded and using false pretentions. Just as I thought, you did not post my first and most sincere comment.
RiMoLang
September 7, 2011 at 1:32 pm
If president Obama attends this service, I will not vote for him again. Period. This country is out of control.
hdworship
September 7, 2011 at 3:26 pm
President Obama president of all of Americans not just evangelicals. If Romney was president and no Mormon leaders were invited should he avoid coming?
what is the purpose
September 7, 2011 at 1:32 pm
I think I knew this was not an unbiased purpose, otherwise my very first comment would have been posted.
Mary
September 7, 2011 at 1:46 pm
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.
There is only one WAY to God and that is Jesus Christ.
To not honor Him is blasphemy.
I pray for mercy on America and bring us back to God ALmighty.
Read Second Chronicles Ch. 7 Verse 14
God help us to come back to you in Jesus Name.
Mary a Christain
hdworship
September 7, 2011 at 3:40 pm
We blessed God by keeping his commandments as a nation and showing mercy not having events or appeasing to politicians.
Ps 82:3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
The confederate leaders thought the God of the bible was behind them!
Sonia
September 7, 2011 at 1:46 pm
Father God, have mercy on these lost souls, for they surely do not know what they are doing.
Harvey
September 7, 2011 at 3:23 pm
I'm Pentecostal like Sarah Palin so should I be mad because my faith is not represented?
Mary M.
September 7, 2011 at 2:15 pm
We who pray to the God of the Holy Bible need to remember that He describes Himself as a jealous God.
Floyd
September 7, 2011 at 2:25 pm
The Christian faith IS represented! Here's an idea… let's extend invitations to ALL protestant denominations, just so no one will get their widdle feewings hurt!
David
September 7, 2011 at 2:44 pm
I think the Tea*******/Evangelicals are whining too much. The Evangelicals are a nasty bunch of folks and I don’t blame anyone for not wanting to be subjected to their hateful, radical nonsense.
This memorial is supposed to be a somber and respectful event and no one wants to see the evangelical agenda machine opened up and vomiting its hate upon the memorial service.
Let the people grieve in peace.
No one would invite the KKK, or NAMBLA, why should they invite the evangelicals?
./facepalm
September 7, 2011 at 3:15 pm
The ignorance is rampant on here. The Evangelical church is a PROTESTANT church. Most major religions are represented at the event. Evangelicals need to stop whinning. If they dont like it, then hold your own big tent revival meeting to honor the 9/11 victims.
Harvey
September 7, 2011 at 3:18 pm
What about Mormons, Catholics, Jehovah Witness, Apostolics, Church of God in Christ, Methodist and other who believe like evangelicals that believe they have the truth revelation of God? Don't they also have a legitimate beef about not being invited? This is supposed to be about what happened on 9/11 not a religious event. There is people that feel they are Christians that are represented at the events. Evangelicals should have planned a separate event to pray for the nation. We are entering in a dangerous faze of our history when our religious leaders are looking for spiritual guidance from politicians. God establish the constitution to prevent this from happening so we would have the freedom to worship and have not controlled be a President or politicians. George Bush was an evangelical so what happened? The home land was attacked for the first time, two wars, Katrina and the collapse of the economy.
Harvey
September 7, 2011 at 3:20 pm
I believe that God was warning us not to go down that rode of picking Presidents and politicians based on how spiritual they appear, but we have not learned. Recently, 270 evangelical leaders meet with Rick Perry to anoint him the next King and Pope! The church leaders should be focused on spreading the gospel and helping the needy in these poor economic times. You know the Antichrist will deceive the world because he will appear to be an evangelical!
angelband
September 7, 2011 at 3:31 pm
I am a believer in Jesus Christ and Him only. To know that we in this country have gone astray and are not as a nation following God. For the most part, the True Church is still working and in His Hands. I see what is happening in this nation and am aware of what I see. I am much aware of what prayer among God's people can do and wish they would bind together to pray to God for His will to be done. Certainly the seven Churches in Revelation 2-3 shows us much of what we are.
Kate
September 7, 2011 at 5:02 pm
The Episcopal Church is about "big tent". Evangelical "christians" are about EXCLUSION.
LordBulify
September 7, 2011 at 5:55 pm
This is some Karma for the Southern Baptist who would not invite one Latter Day Saint to anything they sponsor or attended!! I do not agree with the no invite but as I said I find it to be a case of Karma… Sorry
LordBulify
September 7, 2011 at 6:03 pm
I call this Karma for the Southern Baptist who would not invite one MORMON (Latter Day Saints) to anything they sponsor! I do not agree that they should not be able take part in the 911 event but, it is Karma for a group who has for long time expressed their dislike/distaste for the MORMONS… I have to laugh about this and the Karma…
Tammy
September 7, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Jesus replied:
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.
and the second is like it:
'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
James 3:2 says, We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. … and
James 3:9-10 tells us that, With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.
My brothers, this should not be.
We are called to love even our enemies and pray for them.
Holy Spirit, Help us to see with spiritual eyes and hear with spiritual ears that we would know how to stand and how to pray. Have mercy upon us, Oh God. Give us Your strength and Your Spirit that we would obey You, Father. We ask for this in Jesus' precious and Holy Name.
aprilnovember
September 7, 2011 at 7:09 pm
This country was founded by Christians. Obama said, "We are not a Christian Nation." There's your answer. How stupid were the Christians who would vote for this bum. Hitler was a drifter, who the media in Germany turned into something he never was. Obama is a cocaine user, and bum, who the media here did the same thing to. What do you expect? The stain this man will leave on this country will be just like the stain Hitler left on Germany, and they carry it until today. And don't anyone start with the "Are you comparing Hitler to Obama garbage?" Yes, I am. Both dangerous sociopaths.
How many times did he leave "Our Creator" out of the Declaration of Independence?" At least four.
hdworship
September 7, 2011 at 7:55 pm
This country was founded by rapist and murderers who said they were Christians! Do you think those people that stole the native Americans land and enslaved Africans are in heaven? What about all those supposedly Christian that instituted Jim Crow against blacks? Christian is a person that lives the Gospel not that lives by rhetoric! George Bush was a cocaine use and an alcoholic did you vote for him? Bush surely left a greater stain on our country! He did not head the warnings of an attack by planes on 9/11, two wars, leaving Americans stranded during Katrina and the collapse of the economy!
Mary
September 8, 2011 at 12:52 am
I thought the majority ruled. Why are Christians these days excluded from everything. We need to stand up and object to what these non
Christians are trying to do: silence anything about Jesus Christ. But
that is ok. we Christians know who is in control and just may be why we are having so many disasters in our country. God is calling our nation to repentence.
NIKA
September 8, 2011 at 4:09 am
THINK ABOUT THIS, WHY WOULD SATAN INVITE JESUS ANYWAY???
SweetPea
September 8, 2011 at 1:14 pm
As for me, I am calling my Congressman to let them know how I feel about this injustice?
How about you?
Lou
September 8, 2011 at 1:41 pm
It's a shame that we have to exclude certain Christian groups, the Evangelicals, but welcome the Muslims, who were the cause of our attack on 9-11. Our President, appears to defer the request not to attend, but I am sure he is happy to see his Muslim brothers invited.
Citizen
September 8, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Just a thought. The National Cathedral towers were damaged in the storm. Such events are usually called "acts of God".
Guest
September 8, 2011 at 4:26 pm
If we, as Christians, had shown love toward others as Jesus did instead of hate, we wouldn't be where are now — unwelcome. We are now seeing that hatred pushes people away from the Cross, not draw them to it. I truly hope we learn something from this, and stop the hate once and for all, so people will have a reason to love us instead of revile us.
John
September 8, 2011 at 7:58 pm
Guess the Natl Cathedral must not have gotten the message after their churc spires were destroyed by the recent earthquake. Going against God's word by ordaining openly gay clergy as the Episcopalians have done will do that. I expect the next time a dissaster visits that the Natl Cathedral will be gone. I pray for your country. You can't be God's wrath and judgement from coming forever. And it's heading our way.
Airborne Ranger
September 9, 2011 at 9:54 am
First of all this country (USA) was founded by Christians,not by false religions such as Buddist,Hindu, or lama-lama who pray to a dead god.
The master mind that thought this idea should study American history and read the consitutaion. What about freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Solider's fought and died to preserve our freedoms and this master mind moron is defcating on their graves.His he really an American or a impostor?
God Bless America,
Untied States Airborne Ranger
Steven in CA
September 12, 2011 at 2:41 pm
I think it's quite telling that Tony Perkins says that most Americans pary to the "Judeo-Christian God", but then states that this is "specifically to Jesus Christ.” Uh, last time I checked, Jews don't pray to Jesus Christ, so maybe what Perkins means is that Jews don't count,that a Jewish rabbi shouldn't have been invited to the service, and that ALLthe prayers should have been to the "Christian God".
jimeroo
September 12, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Jesus Christ said to one person when asked if that person could go home and bury his dead relative, Jesus said ''Let the dead bury the dead''…What does that tell us True Christians?…..There is no need for Christians to get so worked up over stuff like this….We are in this world, but we are not of this world…I don`t 0bama will lay claim to being a B.A. Christian….so lets just allow this to go, and hope and pray that this does not get so out of control, that it becomes a greater event in our history, than the 4th of July…..In this insane mad world, P.C. is totally out of control….B.A. Christians lets prepare to meet with our Savior, as He returns to Bring us out of this evil world…..Jim
Rob C
September 14, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Wow, I can't even read any more of this. It's a Christian church & Christians arre represented. ONE BODY, cathlic Church. This has turned a memorial into a political event, not the church that wanted to do something special for those that where lost or the familes that have lost. Shame on you.
Jimmie
September 7, 2011 at 4:56 pm
There is a time for 'being quiet'…I agree…but there is a time to be counted and 'stand up'…that does not mean so doing for the sake of being seen but to represent Jesus Christ…I am afraid too often we retreat and resort to being quiet…our salvation is personal but it IS NOT private…and that is why it is important to be heard and in a way that brings glory to Him…,
Val
September 7, 2011 at 10:41 pm
I totally agree with you, Dave Price. We don't have to fight that political battle, at least in that particular way. Let's take the logs out of our eyes and walk the walk in love, doing the Word and by direction of the Holy Spirit . Then watch God manifest….and He Will.