Rick Perry's prayer meeting causes stir in Texas

HOUSTON - A group of Houston religious leaders have expressed concern about Gov. Rick Perry's day-long prayer meeting, saying it excludes non-Christians.

Perry has said the Saturday event at Houston's Reliant Stadium is "about coming together as a state, lifting up this nation in prayer, having a day of prayer and fasting."

But more than 50 Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders signed a statement, saying Perry's involvement in the event sends "an official endorsement of one faith over all others, thereby sending an official message of religious exclusion and preference to all Texans who do not share that faith."

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The statement urged elected leaders to not impose their beliefs on others or divide citizens along religious lines. The opposition was organized by the Anti-Defamation League.

Asked about it, Perry aides said he "looks forward to attending `The Response, a day of prayer and fasting for our nation."'

The event's organizers announced Tuesday that James Dobson, an outspoken Christian conservative, will attend. Dobson and others will lead attendees in prayer, read from scripture and offer inspirational messages, organizers said.

[adrianmarie]

No, the seperation of church and state is not in the constitution. BUT it is in the constitutional by-laws. AND it was drawn up in the Treaty of Tripoli. If you think for ONE second our founding fathers were christians you are out of your ever loving mind. They were intellectuals and deists. Look up deism. Most of you are complete idiots anyway and the concept would leave you confused and angry. Our founding fathers should be rolling in there graves right now.

[doomgloom]

I believe your are talking out of the side of your mouth. Our founding fathers were most certainly Christian. One of them happens to be my ancestor but that's beside the point. This country was based on the Christian faith. It was set up so one faith would not be forced down anyone's throat. Just because our governor wants to have a day of pray is not forcing anyone to do anything. He is simply asking those who want to to join in. I'm tired of all those who would prevent me from having my freedom of religion. I am a Christian and if I want to pray it is my business not yours or anyone else! I want my rights! I demand my rights! Now stop trying to take them away from me. I don't understand why the few in this country who do not believe are so scared they try their best to prevent Christians from having our rights. If you want to believe some other way that's fine but it doesn't give you the right to destroy my rights.

[saryak]

With 75% of Americans identifying themselves as Christians what's the big deal..sounds like the 25% are a bit upset over religious freedom....get over it!

[jaykay3141]

Sorry, but religious freedom does NOT mean "majority rules", though it does in politics. There is no "right" to impose - or call for imposing - one particular set of beliefs on anyone whose belief system is different from yours. That includes evangelicals who feel that Lutherans and Anglicans aren't "Christian enough", orthodox Jews who want all other Jews to subcribe to their view of Judaism, Muslims who want all Muslims to obey sharia law, and so on - let alone those who want the entire world to be Christian / Muslim / whatever and are willing to use force to achieve their distorted goals.

[redangel16]

Let's all get real. It's prayer for our nation..because we are sick. We are greedy, self seeking people. Prayer certainly can't hurt! Read history...many great men prayed in times that seemed dispirited. Do you think our nation didn't get down on their knees after the bombing of Pearl Harbor? lol Our people need to get real with themselves. If you don't like it....don't look! That is freedom. Anti religious people need to respect religious people...it's called freedom! That is why our nation was formed. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM from England! Read our history then *****!

[jaykay3141]

This isn't about "anti-religious" (???) people not respecting some nonexistent monolithic majority of "religious" people. It's about politicians using their particular view of their particular religion in an attempt to gain power and suppress those who don't agree with them.

From everything I've read, seen, and heard there's very little room in Gov. Perry's tent for those who aren't conservative evangelical proselytizing Christians. If he and those like him wish to meet on their own and express their views as individuals, fine. But once they cross the line into politics they're on the same slide that's led elsewhere to theocracies. All we have to do is look at medieval Europe or the modern Middle East to know how well they've worked out.

[mackmlong]

One nation under God!

[mrzornow]

Gov Rick Perry is doing what he can to help America in this time of need. Who better to go to than Our Maker and Creator, God Himself, in prayer. Those of you who dont believe in God or Jesus, go practice whatever religion or non-religion you follow, and leave us Christians alone today. You dont have to be there, or watch the program, dont even have to pray. Just leave us Christians alone today and allow us to pray. God know we need it in our nation. Or maybe you like the way the economy is going, the violence in our nation, the record breaking heat and storms that have been plaguing our country. We support Gov Rick Perry in this prayer rally today. Gov Perry and all you followers today, we support you and we pray with you. Lets Pray in then Name of Jesus Christ, just as the Bible tells us too.

[mrzornow]

Okay Christians in our country, it is time to come together today and pray with our Gov Rick Perry. We need to all pray with Him for all the problems we are having in our country, and for Texas which is under this severe drought. We are the body of Christ, the Church, the Bride, "We are the saints, we are the children, we been redeemede, we been forgiven, we are the sons and daughters of our God." Words from Third day, Children of God. Lets do this. United we stand in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I know if we all come together, God will hear us. "If my people call by my name, if they humble themselves and pray, turn from sin and their wicked ways, I will hear then and heal their land and show my power and glory again".

[yeeoflittlefaith]

Christianity is a death cult, designed to offer false hope to weak minds.

[mackmlong]

:)

[redangel16]

Giggle* And you call yourself an American? lol Check our history! Our country was founded on the prayers of men who gave it all for the price of YOUR freedom! lol Would you give anything for that pursuit? Probably not.....no guts, no glory! What Godless country have you immigrated from? lol

[NotPartyControlled]

Separation of church and state? I suppose when it's convenient for campaigns and fund raising. If the president can attend a race forum then the candidates can hold prayer meetings.

[carolynr1111]

Hey...folks...did you look at the DOW TODAY....We need all the prayers we can pray for. Sorry if the atheists on the boards don't like it...I'll go with the praying...because so far...Obama hasn't worked.

[Lindag10]

I don't get it. You're praying for prayers? What is that supposed to do for you?

[jahmartin-2009]

Suddenly our Governor Good Hair has found religion. Texans know this is just a recent occurance, mind you. Normally he just worships Big Oil.

[agnesdeo]

Hey, why don't you stop believing of the lefts/liberal myths about Governor Perry and take the time to read in his first book, On My Honor, published in February 2008, Perry expressed his views on the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause. "Let's be clear: I don't believe government, which taxes people regardless of their faith, should espouse a specific faith. I also don't think we should allow a small minority of atheists to sanitize our civil dialogue on religious references."
Also, Prez. Obama's very liberal religious/socialistic beliefs have affect his national agenda and bills that he has seen passed during his reign as president.

[Lindag10]

You should attend Perry's meeting since you like him so much. I hear it's shaping up to be a real dud as less than 8,000 have signed up to attend. Maybe he should have chosen a smaller venue so as to improve appearances.

[GunsmadeUSA]

Perry said a prayer "so what". My view do I believe in God ?Maybe Higher power ?yes I am glad that Perry think thier is a god.The commandment not so bad. Almost 50% of the new jobs in the USA Texas. The place that does not believe in O-butt-head's(Obama) crap.
I.E.Lets see California is like Obama jobs leaving to go overseas or Texas.
High food prices Obama inflation from wiring money to the banks.The news station had to sue to find this out. Left news station do not say anything.
Health care is responsible people taking care of themselves. Affordable Healthcare is the goverment making it efficient,not like dems throw money at it . My family because of this strew-up is paying $10,000.00 more for less. Dems in WI. what do they do?

The left and money grubs should just go back to smoking thier dope and let the Real American make it strong again. Because The stonger the left get gets the worst the USA gets.

[ghendric]

It is pretty much common knowledge to anyone paying attention that whenever the Federal Reserve prints more money that inflation is created and/or increased. The Federal Reserve doles out $16 trillion to banks in the US and foreign banks. This was just recently discovered during an audit of the Fed. It's this kind of crap that distorts the economy and makes it fail. Read the book, "The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve" to find out how they operate secretly without oversight. They alone control the economy because they control the money. Neither Congress nor the President control the economy. All they do is create more debt of which the Federal Reserve is more than happy to oblige in creating. They and their central banking buddies in other countries have sucked the wealth out of the US and the rest of the world. Centralized banking is a Progressive ideal that hasn't proven over and over again to be a failure.. they MUST go..