BATTLE OF THE PRAYERS

Peter Carey asks, was it Robinson, Warren or Lowery? What do you think? A commenter writes - and I would agree with him (I heard all three) -

Lowery takes the cake for me. Robinson is classically prophetic and that is good, but Lowery upheld great theology, humor, blessing, scripture and cultural references, and calls to accountability while staying positive and celebrating. Robinson leaves me feeling negative. And don't get me started on Warren.

ROBINSON ERASED FROM HBO INAUGURAL PROGRAM

UPDATE... via THE LEAD: Obama makes it right
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I'm not remotely interested in all the parties, feel-good television, MSM analysis of this weeks inauguration. But I had a feeling deep down that something like this would happen.

There was that ruckus about right-wing conservative homophobe evangelist Rick Warren's invitation to say the invocation at Tuesday's presidential inauguration. So, the Obama folks invited Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire - the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church - to "do" the opening prayer at the Obama celebfest on Sunday. HBO carried it on TV, but Robinson's part was nixed, never shown live or on the later rebroadcast.
THE LEAD has what you missed:

It is hard to know what is more surprising: that HBO passed over the invocation in both the live and rebroadcast versions or that it was posted on YouTube by Sarah Pulliam of Christianity Today.

The blog, AFTERELTON got on HBO's ass to find out what really happened: a developing story; HBO says it's not responsible for the slight, but clearly a better explanation is needed.

But given that most Americans could not attend the concert, instead having to watch it on television, the decision to not broadcast the prayer is being seen by many in the GLBT community as a slight.

The exclusion of Robinson, even if unintentional, does not reflect well on the Obama administration's ability thus far to think through these sorts of nuances.

think through these sorts of nuances

You'd think with all their super marketing & planning from the campaign to victory to this week they would not have botched it, but they did indeed: purpose driven?

Meanwhile, the massacre has been paused. As people in Washington celebrate, Gazans are sorting through the rubble in search of their family members.

WILL THE REAL RICK WARREN PLEASE STAND UP?

From THE LEAD

Will the real Rick Warren please stand up?

Who is Rick Warren? What is his purpose?

In this internet age it's hard to tailor your message to your audience. Everyone has ears. And even if you don't intend for a message to be public your audience may find it convenient to make it public. (And who's to say you didn't mean it be public rather than belatedly regretting your words?)

Who is the real Rick Warren? [yes, there's more]

BISHOP GENE ROBINSON INVITED TO TAKE PART IN INAUGURAL EVENT

The Bishop of New Hampshire, the Rt Rev'd V. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, has been invited to take part in the first main event of the inauguration - at the Lincoln Memorial - on 18 January. Personally - if clergy are to be invited to any of this party - I would have preferred Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori replace Rick Warren. She's a woman, a progressive and speaks with a strong prophetic voice for people on the fringes, which I think the new president should hear. I suspect that the invitation for Mr Warren has caused such a ruckus, that the inaugural events planners have thrown the LBGT Obama voters a bone and have included Bishop Robinson so they will quit whining and continue to vote for Democrats. See further explanatory stories in the Independent and Episcopal News Services. There are many links to other reports here.