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Categories: Equality / Civil Rights, Civil Liberties / Privacy, Peace & Social Justice, Effective & Ethical Government, Media Accountability, Religion
Categories: Equality / Civil Rights, Civil Liberties / Privacy, Peace & Social Justice, Effective & Ethical Government, Media Accountability, Religion
This didn't make the MSP, but was reported in Al Jazerah
Protest hits US senate Hindu prayer
The opening prayer was the first read by a Hindu in the US senate
US police have arrested three people for staging a noisy protest from the public gallery of the US senate as a Hindu clergyman stood at the chamber's podium to offer the day's opening prayer.
The two women and a man began shouting "this is an abomination" as Rajan Zed, director of interfaith relations at a Hindu temple, read the prayer.
The male protester told an Associated Press reporter "we are Christians and patriots" before police handcuffed them and led them away.
Police identified the three as Ante Nedlko Pavkovic, Katherine Lynn Pavkovic and Christan Renee Sugar. Their ages and hometowns were not available.
They were charged with unlawful disruption of congress.
As Zed started to recite his prayer, one protestor was heard chanting "Lord Jesus forgive us Father for allowing a prayer which is an abomination in your sight. You are the one, true living God".
"I think it speaks well of our country that someone representing the faith of about a billion people comes here and can speak in communication with our heavenly Father regarding peace" Harry Reid, US Senate Majority Leader
The senate's daily opening prayer is normally offered by the chamber's Christian chaplain but leaders from various faiths are sometimes invited to offer their prayers.
The conservative American Family Association had been asking members to protest via email and letters to senators because Zed, the first Hindu to offer the senate prayer, would be "seeking the invocation of a non-monotheistic god".
Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader who invited Indian-born Zed from Nevada, defended his choice.
"I think it speaks well of our country that someone representing the faith of about a billion people comes here and can speak in communication with our heavenly Father regarding peace," said Reid, a sharp critic of the president's Iraq policies.
Barry Lynn, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said the protest "shows the intolerance of many religious right activists" who only want more of their own religion in the public sphere.
"I don't think the senate should open with prayers, but if it's going to happen, the invocations ought to reflect the diversity of the American people," Lynn said in a statement.
[So I guess more religion in public life is OK, but only if it is "ours." And a non-monotheist at that!]
Protest hits US senate Hindu prayer
The opening prayer was the first read by a Hindu in the US senate
US police have arrested three people for staging a noisy protest from the public gallery of the US senate as a Hindu clergyman stood at the chamber's podium to offer the day's opening prayer.
The two women and a man began shouting "this is an abomination" as Rajan Zed, director of interfaith relations at a Hindu temple, read the prayer.
The male protester told an Associated Press reporter "we are Christians and patriots" before police handcuffed them and led them away.
Police identified the three as Ante Nedlko Pavkovic, Katherine Lynn Pavkovic and Christan Renee Sugar. Their ages and hometowns were not available.
They were charged with unlawful disruption of congress.
As Zed started to recite his prayer, one protestor was heard chanting "Lord Jesus forgive us Father for allowing a prayer which is an abomination in your sight. You are the one, true living God".
"I think it speaks well of our country that someone representing the faith of about a billion people comes here and can speak in communication with our heavenly Father regarding peace" Harry Reid, US Senate Majority Leader
The senate's daily opening prayer is normally offered by the chamber's Christian chaplain but leaders from various faiths are sometimes invited to offer their prayers.
The conservative American Family Association had been asking members to protest via email and letters to senators because Zed, the first Hindu to offer the senate prayer, would be "seeking the invocation of a non-monotheistic god".
Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader who invited Indian-born Zed from Nevada, defended his choice.
"I think it speaks well of our country that someone representing the faith of about a billion people comes here and can speak in communication with our heavenly Father regarding peace," said Reid, a sharp critic of the president's Iraq policies.
Barry Lynn, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said the protest "shows the intolerance of many religious right activists" who only want more of their own religion in the public sphere.
"I don't think the senate should open with prayers, but if it's going to happen, the invocations ought to reflect the diversity of the American people," Lynn said in a statement.
[So I guess more religion in public life is OK, but only if it is "ours." And a non-monotheist at that!]
CNN (Video): Link
MSNBC/AP: Link
WaPo: Link
Reuters: Link
What a bizarre story, too. And it's not like it's unprecedented, I know they've had native Americans and others who aren't Christians lead the prayers. Why a Hindu gets the ire of the Dobsonites and not any of the rest of us heathens I'll never know.
Of course I'm in agreement with Barry Lynn-- Why the heck we need to turn the Congress into a church service every morning is really beyond me.