Two high-profile memorial services for September 11 have drawn protests from faith leaders and religious organizations who have objected that an event plans de-emphasize the role that Christians played in the aftermath of the attacks.
President Obama will attend an event at the Washington National Cathedral on the evening of September 11 where he will deliver remarks at what appears to be a more secular service but is expected to include some form of benediction.
A 9/11 interfaith prayer vigil at the Cathedral earlier in the day will include Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III, Bishop of Washington John Bryson Chane, Rabbi Bruce Lustig, Washington Hebrew Congregation, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche of Tibet, Buddhist nun and incarnate lama, Dr. D.C. Rao, a representative of the Hindu and Jain faiths and Imam Mohamed Magid.
Personally I am relieved that no Orthodox clergy will be there.
Does anyone have an idea of what an “incarnate lama” is?
I don’t see any reason why Christian leaders should be invited to the non-Christian faiths service at the WNC — obviously none of those folks listed believe the Christian Gospel and I wish their service well. We’re a country of many different faiths and I’m pleased that those of other faiths are patriotic. I think this is a good call, personally. Christians can do their own events in honor of 9/11.
[b]1. WHY?[/b]
Do you mean Eastern Orthodox, or orthodox Anglicans?
Re #4&5
Cennydd13,
I was referring to Eastern Orthodox (although there are some Western Rite Orthodox). When using the word “orthodox” without capitalizing it is an adjective. When capitalized the word becomes a proper noun which is more or less universally understood to refer to the Orthodox Church or members or that church. A similar example would be “catholic” and “Catholic.”
As to WHY?; from an Orthodox perspective most (though not all) of the higher clergy of TEO have implicitly or explicitly abandoned various articles of faith which we would argue are non-negotiables for Christians. By attending these ecumenical feel good get-togethers we are in effect lending credibility to the claims of TEO and other similar groups that they have not ceased to be Christian in all but name. There are other issues as well that are tied to church canons. But those are internal issues only relevant to we Orthodox.
“According to Richard Weinberg, the National Cathedral’s director of communications, the choice of participants emphasized diversity in order to “appeal to as many in the country as possible.â€
No big loss. There some concerns abut want message this sends : intolerance of Evangelicals in OK, yet this could be a blessing where evangelicals would have to go back to Church and be free to proclaim the gospel that a watered down, non offesive dietism.