Interfaith gathering to kick off DNC
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 8, 2008 at 1:15 p.m.
Updated August 8, 2008 at 1:15 p.m.
Calling Democrats "people of faith," the Democratic National Committee today announced a huge interfaith gathering to kick off the convention in Denver on August 24.
Its the first time the Democrats have brought together so many people of different faiths at one of their national conventions — and heralded musicians will share in the gala, officials said.
The gathering will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, August 24, at the Wells Fargo Theater, inside the Colorado Convention Center.
Sharing the dais will be an evangelical bishop; a leader of an Islamic society, a Catholic nun and a Jewish rabbi.
Rabbi Tsvi Weinreb, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, will keynote the event.
Also speaking will be Bishop Charles E. Blake, presiding prelate of the Church of God in Christ; Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America; and social activist Sister Helen Prejean, who was featured in the award-winning movie Dead Man Walking.
Music will be by Grammy-award-winning gospel artist Richard Smallwood & Vision and the Spiritual Project of Denver.
"Democrats have been, are and will continue to be people of faith — and this interfaith gathering is proof of that," said Leah D. Daughtry, CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee.
"As Convention CEO and a pastor myself, I am incredibly proud that these esteemed leaders from the faith community will be with us to celebrate this historic occasion and honor the diverse faith traditions inside the Democratic Party."
Local clergy will include Imam Abdur-Rahim Ali of the Northeast Denver Islamic Center; Rabbi Steven Foster from Congregation Emmanuel; human rights leader Reverend Lucia Guzman ; and Buddhist participant Kathryn Ida.
In the press release announcing the event, the Democrats made it clear that while they're ecstatic about the diversity of religions participating in the gathering, they are not endorsing any one particular religious group.
The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Go to www.demconvention.com/interfaith, email InterFaith@demconvention.com or call 720-362-2520.
Community groups and faith-based organizations that want to reserve blocks of tickets should fax their request on their organizational letterhead to 202-572-7817. Starting August 15, reserved tickets can be picked up at DNCC offices, with additional information to come upon confirmation.
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August 8, 2008
2:23 p.m.
Suggest removal
michaelleesmith writes:
"the Democrats made it clear that while they're ecstatic about the diversity of religions participating in the gathering, they are not endorsing any one particular religious group."
But they are endorsing religion over non-religion. There are far more non-religious people in the US than there are Moslems and Jews put together.
This event is exclusionary. It is pandering. And it arguably violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution.
Democrats should be ashamed and embarrassed.
August 8, 2008
2:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
rickg19611 writes:
Reverend Wright, Obama's personal "spiritual" advisor will be there to lead the Democrats in rousing rendition of "God D@mn America".
August 8, 2008
2:57 p.m.
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NotUrFriend writes:
Demacrats:
I am disgusted that you would invite a group directly indicted in dozens of seperate terrorist relating cases, including an ongoing trail against an Islamic Charity organization in Texas, where they would not be bullied into submitting to the high profile pressure being applied across the board by Islamic groups in the USA and Canada (and outside too).
Let's not go into the fact that a multitude of intellegant, commonsense laws that have been passed have met monstrous opposition from this group. Despite the fact they are merely laws directly relating to prior cases where they could have been applied. This group is not pro USA, at all. Reading between the lines will tell you that.
What are the Demacrats trying to say? They support a group directly assisting the destruction of the USA? No wonder I wont vote Obama.
I like the guy but dislike his lack of courage at challenging corrupt groups who at heart want America destroyed. They've opening stated this before!
I.
August 8, 2008
3:04 p.m.
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freedomfighter1 writes:
NotUrFriend
There are extremeist in every religion. Should we not allow the Christians to participate because I know some of them have bombed buildings and two weeks ago one shot up a church. Obama is trying to pull people together and end the seperation and misunderstandings. If you believe in war then Obama is not for you, but if you want to see peace-Vote Obama 08.
August 8, 2008
3:13 p.m.
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michaelleesmith writes:
Froward-
Why would I be up in arms over an atheist being there? That is exactly my point - atheists are not invited.
August 8, 2008
3:15 p.m.
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NotUrFriend writes:
Freedomfighter,
Let's break that down a bit. Go study the Qur'an and what it dictates, and how that dictaction is currently being practically applied in America (and the world) in general. You wont find any sermans, pastors, priests, Pope(s) or anything of that sort using the actually religion with endorsement across the board. Maybe get a clue and study this a bit more. I have read it twice. Considered conversion back when I was young, wreckless, and rather stupid. Did learn alot that!
I.
August 8, 2008
3:17 p.m.
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P_Denver writes:
michaelleesmith
Democrats should be ashamed and embarrassed on general principles.
August 8, 2008
3:23 p.m.
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NotUrFriend writes:
Freedom,
Now, let me correctly state, that YOU are correct when you say there are extremist in every religion. 99 % of the they aren't using the actual text of religion to accompany this astrocities, rather, using they're own twisted, evil interpretation of it. That does not mean that you dont have a few nutz out there, because you do. Even you athiests have a few crazy nutz. The big differance is rather its based on the actually text or the particular person. Come on? over 2000 terrorists attacks since 9/11 all using the great founder of Islam as the model they are following? thats over 10,000 dead bodies!
Come on Freedom, I challenge you to show me any other belief here that can surpass that impressive number.
I.
August 8, 2008
3:40 p.m.
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michaelleesmith writes:
We've protested already. And it looks like we've been ignored:
http://secular.org/news/DNC_Daughtry0...
August 8, 2008
3:57 p.m.
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freedomfighter1 writes:
NotUrFriend
No need to attack me. You called me an athiest, yet I am an agnostic.
"The big differance is rather its based on the actually text or the particular person."
I am truely sorry but I am having a hard time following some of what you are saying. Are you saying that the Koran says to kill or they misunderstood it? Are you saying that Christians don't misinterprupt the bible? Or just not as much as the muslims?
August 8, 2008
4:01 p.m.
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freedomfighter1 writes:
"Come on? over 2000 terrorists attacks since 9/11 all using the great founder of Islam as the model they are following?"
Didn't christians use their religion to support their use of slaves. I am sure that the preachers altered the bible a little to support the destruction of the Native Americans.
August 8, 2008
4:36 p.m.
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NotUrFriend writes:
Freedom,
Call me crazy, but it was that same belief that destroyed the slave trade, with many causalties suffered on its own. Why not do this instead? Check the only religion out there (hint: its founder is named Mohammad) that still openly supports slavery. By the way, the governments all enforce Sharia Law, which creatives the legal (religious) foundation for this industry.
Feel the luv brother,
I.
August 8, 2008
4:40 p.m.
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NotUrFriend writes:
Freedom,
The Qur'an explicitly endorces the never ending struggle to conquer, through physical (war) means the planet earth and enforce only one religious belief system (Islam) and one form of governing law (Sharia). So no, the terrorists aren't 'misunderstanding' the faith, they're applying it in the truest form.
Does this help clarify?
I.
August 22, 2008
6:44 p.m.
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neophyter writes:
Why is religion(s) being the focus of the Democratic Convention? I'm an agnostic and they're frightening me with all that religious talk... prayer meetings, etc.
No Obama for me.
It seems a tiny bit hypocritical that BO voted against the Live Birth Bill and is okay with letting babies who are born alive die alone with no medical attention, yet wants religion at "his" selection/convention. Maybe they're going to pray for all those live babies that they left to die.
August 23, 2008
10:14 a.m.
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kasiksil writes:
Religions served their purpose in our human history in providing us with a structured society. Then, men saw that they could create positions of power within that structure. It did not start with the Abrahamic religions, but they seemed to have perfected the corruption. None of you are without guilt, the Catholics and the Crusades, missionaries who tortured and killed natives all over the world who would not convert, born-again's blowing up women's clinics and snippering M.D.'s, and Islamic extremists, blowing everyone up, even those within their own faith, just a different sect. I'm tired of listening to all you fighting about whose right, when none of you are.