The decision to not invite the clergy to ceremonies at Ground Zero on 9/11/11 had frosted many an American. Mayor Bloomberg has defended this position and has stressed that there is a separation of church and state. He has cited limited space and controversy over who would get invited as reasons to invite no clergy.
Michael Brown, director of FEMA on 9/11/01, who.was involved with clean up efforts at the government level, just reminded us that we have don’t have freedom from religion. We have freedom of religion.
I am not so sure “Brownie” is correct. The Supreme Court has ruled time and time again that people in America are free from religion. Perhaps the best illustration of someone being free FROM religion is the Madalyn Murray O’Hair case, Murray vs. Curlett, that banned school prayer. In America, we are pretty much free to be no religion whatsoever if that is our choice.
Regardless, should the clergy automatically be included in 9/11 remembrances? Which clergy? Only Christians and Jews? How about Muslims? Hindus and Buddhists? How many members of the clergy are even in NYC? Should clergy from surrounding areas be included also? At what point would clergy start taking the spots of family members and first responders?
The clergy has never been included in city 9/11 observances. Why is it becoming an issue now? Who are the observances and remembrances really for?
“At what point would clergy start taking the spots of family members and first responders?”
Actually, there appears to be some controversy about first responders too if you can believe facebook and CNN.
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-08-16/us/new.york.911.memorial_1_john-feal-responders-ground-zero?_s=PM:US
It would seem that some bright PR person could have turned this into good PR for politicians. Since the mayor can’t really uninvite the President or President Bush, the WH could have issued a statement similar to this (made up since it didn’t happen)–
“The President has been informed that due to space constraints first responders will not be invited to the NY commemoration. President Obama has invited President Bush and any other political leader to the White House that day in order to broadcast his and their remarks to large TVs set up at the three major sites. President Bush has graciously accepted President Obama’s invitation. In this way, it is hoped that with the reduction in the amount of space for political leaders and even less space taken by Secret Service personnel will permit Mayor Bloomberg to invite the brave first responders who were on the rolls on September 11, 2001.”
If that came about, President Obama could not be criticized for not attending since it would include presumably President Bush and any other political leader. President Bush and the other leaders would not have much choice since it would appear that they would be standing in the way of inviting first responders.
I think it was just a missed opportunity for a win-win for both politicians and first responders.
To me, it really doesn’t matter. Faith and presence are possible without any respect to time, place, pomp or circumstance. Remember and observe, whether you’re traveling or or working or shopping for groceries or sitting in a house of worship. Pause, and pay your respects.
I remember how scared everyone was after 9/11 and how our church in Old Town opened their doors to anyone who wanted to come in and worship or just be in community with others or just hold onto something solid like a wooden church pew. I like that several clergy have gotten together to do a service at the Harris Pavilion on Sunday, and I like how that invitation has been circulating through church e-news and e-mails of people of faith and people of government.
The problem is a practical one and the approach taken, while inviting criticism, is not unreasonable. The practical issue is that in a pluralistic society such as ours, if you’re going to put one religion on the program (or the dais or whatever), you pretty much have to put them all there. “All” in this country is (blessedly) a goodly lot. In a related vein, there is controversy about the ceremony in Washington, originally (pre-earthquake) scheduled for the National Cathedral, and Episcopalian facility. The organizers caught unremitting flack from other Christian denominations about which of them were and were not invited to lead the service. Muslims, Jews, and others were invited, but evangelicals felt slighted.
I’m sure, as Cindy observes, that the New York observances, no one will be constrained from paying close attention to their inner spiritual inspirations.
New Yorkers voted for him…..if they don’t like this, nothing much they can do about it…..like I said….they voted for him!
I don’t think the New Yorkers are who is complaining. @pokie
Maybe it’s just me, but does G-d need a conduit to be at all the Memorial services tomorrow? I am not a believer that G-d needs the clergy of any faith to be present.
People find their own comfort no matter where they are physically. At night, when it is clear, and I swear I can see into the next universe, I feel very close to G-d….I don ‘t need a rabbi, or a temple, to ensure my moment of spirituality is noticed by G-d.
I am not sure what the deal is with the clergy. I think it was the omission that torqued people. I still think it is a logistics problem.
After the mosque issues, it might have just been aproblem no one wanted to deal with. Or…I could just be full of it. It wouldn’t be the first time. I ignored it for a long time also but the grousing still continues.
@Elena, I wonder if Steve and Andy will know who I am talking about when I mention ‘Father Speedo?’