Washington - Pastor Attacked For Anti-Gay Speech Pulls Out Of Inauguration |
|
| |
Text Size
|
|
Washington - The pastor selected to deliver the benediction at President Barack Obama’s inauguration withdrew from the ceremony on Thursday after being attacked for making anti-gay comments.
Rev. Louie Giglio, an Atlanta minister, called homosexuality a sin in a mid-1990s sermon and warned against the gay rights movement, the liberal website ThinkProgress reported on Wednesday.
“That movement is not a benevolent movement,” Giglio said in the speech entitled, “In Search of a Standard - Christian Response to Homosexuality.”
Giglio said the “healing power of Jesus” was “the only way out of a homosexual lifestyle,” according to ThinkProgress.
In a statement provided by the presidential inaugural committee, Giglio said he was withdrawing from the January 21 event to avoid distracting from the inauguration.
“t is likely that my participation, and the prayer I would offer, will be dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda the focal point of the inauguration,” Giglio said.
Giglio was named to the role on Tuesday. In a statement announcing his selection, Obama said Giglio’s career reflected “the ideals the Vice President and I continue to pursue for all Americans—justice, equality, and opportunity.”
In a statement on Thursday, a spokeswoman for the Presidential Inaugural Committee said: “We were not aware of Pastor Giglio’s past comments at the time of his selection and they don’t reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of our country at this Inaugural.”
Giglio had been chosen in large part due his work on human trafficking, the spokeswoman, Addie Whisenant, said.
On Wednesday, White House press secretary Jay Carney was asked whether the White House objected to Giglio’s statements. He referred questions to the inaugural committee.
Obama faced similar criticism for asking Rev. Rick Warren, a leading evangelical preacher and opponent of same-sex marriage, to deliver the invocation at the 2009 inauguration.
Gay activists have welcomed Obama’s decision to include Richard Blanco, an openly gay writer, to be the 2013 inaugural poet.
That choice, blogger John Aravosis wrote on Wednesday, “doesn’t mean we can overlook the other guy who hates our living guts, and spews bigotry against us.”
More of today's headlines
“Washington - President Barack Obama nominated White House chief of staff Jack Lew to be treasury secretary Thursday, declaring his complete trust in an aide with three...”
Washington - Obama Nominates Jack Lew To Succeed Geithner At Treasury
Washington - U.S. Lawyer: Images Of A Dead Bin Laden Still Dangerous
Total7
Read Comments (7) — Post Yours »
1
Jan 10, 2013 at 03:15 PM Benabenja Says:Report as Inappropriate
That was another good reason to select him! They choose the opposite in the end! The statement of the spokeswoman of the PIC is nauseating: "Giglio’s past comments... don’t reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of our country ". What diversity? Are the gays an assett for this country?! NO!!! The oppsite! Not to celebrate!
2
Jan 10, 2013 at 03:40 PM ShmuelG Says:Report as Inappropriate
So, he only called it, gasp, "sin," he didn't even call it "abomination." And for that he is no longer allowed in polite society. Welcome to Obama's America, neither your religion nor your morality are no longer welcome here.
3
Jan 10, 2013 at 04:12 PM Reb Yid Says:Report as Inappropriate
Obama himself opposed same sex marriage. Before he approved of it. Just like he was in favor of income redistribution, until it became politically expedient to oppose it, for now. And he sat in that anti-Semite Wright's pew also, until he decided to repudiate him.
4
Jan 10, 2013 at 05:31 PM DanielBarbaz Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ That was another good reason to select him! They choose the opposite in the end! The statement of the spokeswoman of the PIC is nauseating: "Giglio’s past comments... don’t reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of our country ". What diversity? Are the gays an assett for this country?! NO!!! The oppsite! Not to celebrate! ”
How does one's sexual orientation determine whether that person is or is not an asset to this country?
5
Jan 10, 2013 at 09:04 PM ModernLakewoodGuy Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ How does one's sexual orientation determine whether that person is or is not an asset to this country? ”
remember, you only believe gay people are animals because of one sentence in a book written during the bronze age when people thought the world was flat. Those who do not follow the torah word for word would disagree with you. Are you prepared to kill someone for disrespecting his parents or breaking shabbos? Are you ready to own slaves? Are you willing to KILL your own child to please g-d? After all, these are all written in the torah, so if you follow one, you must follow all.
6
Jan 10, 2013 at 10:07 PM ModernLakewoodGuy Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ So, he only called it, gasp, "sin," he didn't even call it "abomination." And for that he is no longer allowed in polite society. Welcome to Obama's America, neither your religion nor your morality are no longer welcome here. ”
They said the same thing in the 50's about black people
7
Jan 11, 2013 at 01:53 PM ShmuelG Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ They said the same thing in the 50's about black people ”
They did? Who? If you've heard someone calling black people "sin" then you've been places I don't want to go...