Anti-Gay Pastor Removed From Inaugural Program

[kpete]

Source: Think Progress

Anti-Gay Pastor Removed From Inaugural Program
By Josh Israel on Jan 10, 2013 at 11:05 am



Louis Giglio, the anti-LGBT pastor who had been announced to perform the benediction at President Obama’s second inauguration, has been removed from the program, ABC News’s Jonathan Karl reported Thursday.

The move came after ThinkProgress reported Wednesday that in the 1990s, Giglio had given a lengthy sermon in which he advocated for dangerous “ex-gay” therapy for gay and lesbian people, referenced a biblical passage often interpreted to require gay people be executed, and impelled Christians to “firmly respond to the aggressive agenda” and prevent the “homosexual lifestyle” from becoming accepted in society.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/01/10/1429501/anti-gay-pastor-removed-from-inaugural-program/

[bullwinkle428]

1. Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, GLBT advocates, for speaking out about this

creepy bigot.

[still_one]

10. I am not thanking the President on this one. He should have never been chosen in the first place.

He dropped the ball

[appacom]

28. How the hell did he drop the ball when he didn't know about it because

he's been busy running the country while the innaugural committee - separate from the gov't is arranging all events? Get off the president's ass, whydontcha? Planning the innauguration is so far down on the president's agenda, all he's planning is showing up.

[DonViejo]

30. Do you have a link to an article documenting...

documenting the President chose this pastor? I, for one, would be interested in reading it.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

35. No they don't. They are just hellbent on trashing this president for everything and anything.

[still_one]

50. You obviously are stereotyping me with a false accusation. Have a good time with

Your mischaracterizations

There are more times I have stood up for the president then not here

I also donated a good chunk of change to his campaign, so stop the accusations. You don't agree with my view fine, but don't set me up as a straw dog for your argument

[Cha]

57. I would like that link that shows the President chose

him.

I have a link...

Addie Whisenant of the Presidential Inaugural Committee said in a statement:

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. Pastor Giglio was asked to deliver the benediction in large part for his leadership in combating human trafficking around the world. As we now work to select someone to deliver the benediction, we will ensure their beliefs reflect this administration’s vision of inclusion and acceptance for all Americans

.

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/01/10/1429501/anti-gay-pastor-removed-from-inaugural-program/

[still_one]

61. My point was this, that it was from other sources, not the White House where this was uncovered as

I understand this, and something as important as an inaugural speech you would believe it should have been caught by the administration staff first

To the other point believing it is appropriate to thank the President for not letting a bigot speak is nonsense. I would think most supporters of the President would assume that to be the case, and not something that deserves thanks

[Cha]

63. Addie Whisenant stated why gigilo was chosen and she

was not aware of his past comments. Now they are and they're working to select someone else.

I am really grateful he's done. I'll just thank the whole dawg damn Universe.

[still_one]

64. Ok, I hear you

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

59. I didn't say anything about you.

[still_one]

60. The implication was there, at least in response to the sub thread I started. Regardless, I accept

Your point it wasn't personal


Regards

[Demo_Chris]

37. Obama likely had nothing to do with picking him or removing him

We laughed when Bush said that he was the "decider," but the truth is that that's exactly what the President is. He makes the decisions for which there are no good answers. Scheduling speakers does not rise to this level. Which is not to say that he was free from responsibility for this; he is responsible for the actions of the team he has assembled, and a mistake like this one was inexcusable. I am glad to see that it has been corrected.

It is important to note:

It was ONLY corrected because the oft-insulted LEFT made a lot of noise.

This is critical. Only fools fall in love with politicians while they are in office. Fall in love with them once they leave, make kissy faces at them then, but while they are in office they have to know that we are not going to give them a pass on anything. We did that FAR too much during Obama's first term, we were so in love with the guy, and so proud of ourselves, that we let slide some really horrible shit.

We cannot afford to do that this time. It's not about trust or respect, our JOB is to ensure that this kind of thing never happens, and during President Obama's first term we did not do that. We let the corporations make all the noise while we sat around like schoolgirls drawing hearts on pictures of Barack and Michelle.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

45. They're going crazy in this thread...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022162542

[Le Taz Hot]

46. Heaven forbid that

DUers speak out against a 'phobe "holy man" tapped to pray at the inaugural. Speaking out = "going crazy." Whatever.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

48. I'm not suggesting that they can't speak out. I don't agree with the bashing of the president.

I trashed the thread and ignored those who are making it personal.

Please continue to speak out.

[Cha]

56. Do you ever thank him for anything?

[obamanut2012]

22. Thank the LGBY advocates of all orientations

Not the President or his Administration.

I should have known this would happen after Dolan.

[DURHAM D]

2. Well good.

I guess all the emails to the WH got their attention. Now figure out who "vetted" him to begin with and fire her/him as well.

[Demo_Chris]

38. Yep, hopefully they have been shown the door already

[Cha]

58. This is who it was..

Addie Whisenant of the Presidential Inaugural Committee said in a statement:

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. Pastor Giglio was asked to deliver the benediction in large part for his leadership in combating human trafficking around the world. As we now work to select someone to deliver the benediction, we will ensure their beliefs reflect this administration’s vision of inclusion and acceptance for all Americans.

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/01/10/1429501/anti-gay-pastor-removed-from-inaugural-program/

[Scuba]

3. Good.

[RKP5637]

4. WOW!!! This "IS" progress. No bigot should be giving benedictions at inaugurations.

[TDale313]

5. Thank you, Mr President.

This is really good news indeed.

[babylonsister]

6. I hear DU heads exploding...

Good job, Mr. President!

[Bluenorthwest]

24. Actual headline of the story: BREAKING: Anti-Gay Pastor Withdraws From Inaugural Program

Giglio says those gays would have drowned out his message with that agenda they have not to be libeled by clerics out to make a buck:
"the e prayer I would offer, will be dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda the focal point of the inauguration."

Pure class. Blames the very people he slandered rather than taking accountability for his own hate speech.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

7. Fantastic news!

There is NO place for bigots like him on our national stage. There are plenty of pro-LGBT clergy of all faiths willing and able to take his place.

[TlalocW]

8. Why even bother with a religious figure

He can't run for re-election. Vast majority of his supporters won't care. There's nothing he can do to gain favor from the vast majority of his non-supporters. Have a couple speakers, get a good poet this time, get inaugurated, give your speech, put up some giant speakers, throw a bunch of beach balls into the crowd, and blast some Springsteen while making the Supreme Court (through executive order) fire Obama shirts into the crowd with those t-shirt cannons they have at NBA games. Done in an hour or so.

TlalocW

[Iggo]

9. Good.

[KoKo]

11. Here is Giglio's withdrawal statement:

A spokeswoman for Giglio sent ThinkProgress his statement:

January 10, 2014 [sic]

I am honored to be invited by the President to give the benediction at the upcoming inaugural on January 21. Though the President and I do not agree on every issue, we have fashioned a friendship around common goals and ideals, most notably, ending slavery in all its forms.

Due to a message of mine that has surfaced from 15-20 years ago, it 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. Clearly, speaking on this issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past fifteen years. Instead, my aim has been to call people to ultimate significance as we make much of Jesus Christ.

Neither I, nor our team, feel it best serves the core message and goals we are seeking to accomplish to be in a fight on an issue not of our choosing, thus I respectfully withdraw my acceptance of the President’s invitation. I will continue to pray regularly for the President, and urge the nation to do so. I will most certainly pray for him on Inauguration Day.

Our nation is deeply divided and hurting, and more than ever need God’s grace and mercy in our time of need.

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/01/10/1429501/anti-gay-pastor-removed-from-inaugural-program/

[Newsjock]

12. Notable that he did not, um, 'refudiate' his earlier statement

And the year typo is fun, too.

[PerceptionManagement]

19. So wait, was he was a hateful religious bigot 14-19 years ago or 16-21?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

44. This was a sermon from approximately 18 years ago

To my knowledge (and when he was first announced, I Googled quite a bit on him) he has made no statements of this kind since then. So I don't know what to think about the guy. Has he renounced his previous statements, or is he just PR-savvy enough to know that he shouldn't say such things into a live microphone.

[Bluenorthwest]

16. Jesus responds: I told you all not to pray in pubic, and yet you claim you do so for me?

nt

[We People]

49. You forgot the "L" in "public"

Sorry, couldn't resist that one!

[Demo_Chris]

39. Fuck this guy.

[formercia]

13. I would prefer a reading of the Constitution

rather than a benediction. The Constitution is real, well, it once was. A benediction for something that doesn't exist, based on primitive and Tribal Superstition, is a bit regressive in my Book.

Good riddance to another asshole. The Whitehouse should do a more thorough Background Check, especially on people who claim to speak for an imaginary being.

[obamanut2012]

23. I think that is a great idea

Or the Declaration of Indepedence.

[Maeve]

14. Good. Glad to hear it. eom

[Bluenorthwest]

15. According to Giglio, he dropped out because gay people's 'agenda' would drown out his message

of hate and ignorance. So the esteemed pastor says HE withdrew, not that the President withdrew the offer.

[yardwork]

21. Whatever it takes.

[krispos42]

17. I'd like to nominate Pastor Frank Hall of the Westport UU Church

He's awesome.

[ancianita]

18. Replace him with Father Michael Pfleger from Saint Sabina's on Chicago's South Side.

[michigandem58]

25. PBO has rightly condemned Pfleger, won't happen.

n/t

[ancianita]

32. "Rightly" doesn't seem right. He's a Catholic social activist and community organizer, like PBO was.

I think he's worth giving public view to be a voice for immigrants and minorities of this country. Symbolicly better than the original choice.

[ancianita]

34. Additional info on Pfleger...which would give a 'rounding out' of the public imaginary on PBO:

"...On March 28, 2008, Pfleger invited Jeremiah Wright, former pastor of Barack Obama, the current president of the United States, to deliver a blessing at Saint Sabina during a visit by poet Maya Angelou.

Wright had been criticized by political pundits for several controversial sermons, but Pfleger came to Wright's defense. "I wanted him to come here so he could see that people really stand with him and support him while he's under all this attack. America, unfortunately, has been really cheated of knowing the real Dr. Wright," said Pfleger....

In a statement on Saint Sabina's website, Pfleger wrote, "Dr. Wright is one of the great biblical scholars of our country and the best of preachers in the prophetic tradition. Dr. Wright has been shamefully demonized by 30 second sound bites that have tried to re-define him into someone other than who he is." wikipedia

[Lydia Leftcoast]

36. I think it would be GREAT to have Wright give the invocation

A real middle finger to all the right-wingers who took Wright's "God damn America" sermon out of context.

(For those of you who have not seen the full video of that sermon, he is not saying "God damn America" in general, but for not living up to its own professed ideals, and he is reacting to the starry-eyed "God bless America" sentiments.)

[ancianita]

42. I wouldn't object to his giving it. Better yet, have them both give the invocation together.

A good unity image.

[yardwork]

20. Wow. I am surprised.

[oldhippydude]

26. just a passing thought

Hagel's views are as recent...

[yardwork]

29. Yes they are. /nt

[dlwickham]

27. bet that's going to piss off some people

who need pissing off

[Solly Mack]

31. Kudos to Think Progress.

[CalFresh]

33. Show some guts and end the benediction altogether.

[PasadenaTrudy]

40. Yeah, no shit n/t

[forestpath]

55. +1 times a zillion!

[Demo_Chris]

41. I prefer NO prayer at all

But this is probably not the time for that battle.

[idwiyo]

43. Good that he is gone. He shouldn't have been selected to start with.

[Le Taz Hot]

47. I criticized the President

when I saw this man was going to pray at the inaugural. I'll now give kudos to same for removing him. Shame on the research team who either a) didn't catch this during the vetting process or b) didn't care that he was a 'phobe and thought they could pull off another Rick Warren and people wouldn't notice.

[tularetom]

52. Of the two possibilities you put forth I'd guess (a) is the correct choice

Nothing should be attributed to some evil conspiracy when it can be explained by simple incompetence.

IMO the research team just slapped this thing together without delving into the guy's background and then went out for drinks.

I'm glad the protests had an effect but he should never have been selected in the first place.

[PoliticAverse]

51. Good. n/t

[AverageJoe90]

53. Thank you so much, Mr. President.

I'm not LGBT myself, but this decision to drop Rev. Giglio from the inaugural program is indeed highly welcome, because it shows that the White House won't tolerate prejudice like what has been expressed by Giglio in past years. I'm sure that any fellow Dem who IS an LGBT person would appreciate this greatly.

[forestpath]

54. The article says he withdrew his acceptance. It doesn't say he was removed. And

I will always find it disturbing that he was ever asked, or frankly that President Obama has anything to do with him in the first place.

[Ken Burch]

62. Glad to hear it. Still don't know why they wanted this guy there in the first place, though.

Are they saying they didn't KNOW he believed these things?