Omitting Clergy at 9/11 Ceremony Prompts Protest

[Silent3]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/nyregion/omitting-clergy-from-911-ceremony-prompts-protest.html?_r=1&ref=us

Richard D. Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, which is the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, said in an interview that the planned ceremony only proved that New York was the “epicenter of secularism,” out of step with the rest of America.

“We’re not France,” he said. “Mr. Bloomberg is pretending we’re a secular society, and we are not.”

These whiners are so accustomed to church/state separation being ignored that, when someone is brave enough to live up to our Constitutional ideals, they can't take it.

[Mz Pip]

1. I don't think anyone is stopping them

from holding their own 9/11 commemoration ceremony in a church in NYC. Why is it so important for these clergy to try to make a ceremony that is specifically for the families of the victims of 9/11 about them? This is for the families. If the clergy wants to have a prayer tribute they can do it; just not at this ceremony.

[FiveGoodMen]

2. Fuck the Clergy!

It's only fair.

[LeftyMom]

3. Religion is what motivated the attacks.

Let's not forget that.

[cleanhippie]

4. "when someone is brave enough to live up to our Constitutional ideals, they can't take it." - WIN!!!

[NMMNG]

5. “Mr. Bloomberg is pretending we’re a secular society, and we are not.”

Yes, we are.

But if Land is so hell-bent on having religion in the event, perhaps they could have a Pagan Priestess or an Imam say a few words at the ceremony.

[onager]

6. Now HERE's a 9/11 tribute!

What could possibly be worse than the glurge below?

The soundtrack - Mannheim Steamroller's "Silent Night."

:puke:

Here, let me ruin the surprise ending - this is supposed to be somebody's god talking, though I can't figure out which one.

I'm not posting the whole thing, due to potential copyright and actual gag-reflex problems. But I have thrown in some atheist editorializing...

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on Sept. 11, 2001. Neither will I...

I was in the stairwell on the 23rd floor when a women cried out to me for help. "I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!" I said "Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now."

That sounds more like a mob shakedown than a religious experience.

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered...

Uh...you mean the gay priest, Mychal Judge? This is obviously not the Mormon god talking.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, Comforting and assuring them that their Faith has saved them.

Too bad you couldn't save their actual lives, you allegedly omnipotent dick.

However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me? September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then at any moment, you know you are "ready to go."

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

And we close with...another shakedown! "Just BELIEVE in me! You'll die horribly anyway, but you'll die with that god-shaped hole in your heart filled...whether you believe in Yahweh, Allah or one of those fuzzy po-mo gods!"

Remember...I love you.

"And also remember to give my sales reps their 10% commission every Sunday!"

~God~

http://www.wrensworld.com/silentnight911.htm

[NMMNG]

7. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little

Who needs Ipecac when you have stuff like that?