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VA Pastor Told to Remove Jesus' Name at Memorial Service or Else be Banned
Pundit Press ^ | 5/31/11 | Aurelius

Posted on 05/31/2011 9:59:18 AM PDT by rightistight

Pastor Scott Rainey planned to deliver a prayer at a Memorial Day ceremony yesterday. There was only one problem: that prayer mentioned Jesus.

To the vast majority of Americans, saying the name Jesus during a prayer would not only be all right, but almost required. However, the Dept. of Veterans Affairs and the Houston National Cemetery, and cemetery director Arleen Ocasio, found the name offensive and moved quickly.

“Our national cemeteries are places for all veterans of all beliefs,” Ocasio wrote in a letter to Mr. Rainey. “We cannot be exclusive at a ceremony meant to be inclusive for all our nation’s veterans.” She added that he had to remove the name of Jesus, "or he would not be allowed to pray."

She wrote in reference to the last line of Rainey's prayer: “in the name of Jesus Christ, the risen Lord.”

Rainey was shocked by the letter and Ocasio's demands. “I have never said a prayer in my life where I didn’t end it by saying ‘in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, amen,’” he stated.

(Excerpt) Read more at punditpress.blogspot.com ...


TOPICS: Politics
KEYWORDS: politicallycorrect
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1 posted on 05/31/2011 9:59:20 AM PDT by rightistight
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To: rightistight

The time is not far that we’ll have to simply ignore our own government in order to hold memorial services.

‘Twould be a slight thought that perhaps we should ban government employees from these services. Military - yes.
Civilian government - NO, H*LL no.


2 posted on 05/31/2011 10:03:15 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: rightistight

PC at work. It will kill all of us.


3 posted on 05/31/2011 10:03:22 AM PDT by mathluv ( Conservative first and foremost, republican second - GO SARAHCUDA!!!!)
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To: Da Coyote

Whoops, I’ve pulled a Stupid Obama-ism. I choose to ban government types from our ceremonies, not any of our military.

And, specific bans to the cretin-in-chief, the smegma-lipped cheese bag joke of a president.


4 posted on 05/31/2011 10:04:33 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: rightistight
The person who issued this edict is a bigoted fascist. What part of "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" does this bigoted fascist not understand?

I have a strong feeling that if there was a non-Christian rite taking place, no such edict would have been issued.

5 posted on 05/31/2011 10:05:47 AM PDT by pnh102 (Regarding liberalism, always attribute to malice what you think can be explained by stupidity. - Me)
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To: rightistight

The world hates the name of Jesus


6 posted on 05/31/2011 10:08:20 AM PDT by RnMomof7
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To: rightistight

There was a time when I might have agreed with the pastor, but my Jewish friends are obviously influencing me. I’m more aware of how exclusive Christian prayers seem to Jews, and I’ve seen a lot of stars in Arlington. Not all of those white headstones have crosses on them.


7 posted on 05/31/2011 10:08:29 AM PDT by Melas (Sent via Galaxy Tab)
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To: Da Coyote
The time is not far that we’ll have to simply ignore our own government in order to hold memorial services.

As Christians we suffer no moral loss for ignoring government rules which go against the Law of God.

I can't help but notice the "oh if you don't like it don't participate" axiom of the left never seems to apply to us.

8 posted on 05/31/2011 10:09:02 AM PDT by pnh102 (Regarding liberalism, always attribute to malice what you think can be explained by stupidity. - Me)
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To: rightistight

Wait...was not Jesus Jewish?! And was he not a prophet of Islam? By my count, that covers 3 religions. So what’s the problem!?


9 posted on 05/31/2011 10:10:29 AM PDT by mkboyce
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To: rightistight

Wait...was not Jesus Jewish?! And was he not a prophet of Islam? By my count, that covers 3 religions. So what’s the problem!?


10 posted on 05/31/2011 10:10:32 AM PDT by mkboyce
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To: rightistight

The Pastor, then, has been instructed to make a choice : be found acceptable in the eyes of the Creator, or be found acceptable in the eyes of sinful men. It's not really a choice at all, is it. Especially so for a man bearing the title "Pastor". The Good Lord will give Arleen Ocasio His own talking-to when the time is right. From now until then, either ignore her or tell her to go lay by her dish.


11 posted on 05/31/2011 10:10:59 AM PDT by so_real ( "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.")
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To: rightistight

“Our national cemeteries are places for all veterans of all beliefs,” Ocasio wrote in a letter to Mr. Rainey. “We cannot be exclusive at a ceremony meant to be inclusive for all our nation’s veterans.” She added that he had to remove the name of Jesus, “or he would not be allowed to pray.”

Do it anyway. Do not deny Him before man.


12 posted on 05/31/2011 10:11:30 AM PDT by Grunthor (Make the lefts' collective brain cell implode; Cain/Bolton 2012.)
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To: rightistight

He should be happy to be banned.

To be a Christian is to be persecuted.


13 posted on 05/31/2011 10:13:58 AM PDT by PGR88 (I'm so open-minded my brains fell out)
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To: rightistight

There is POWER in that name!


14 posted on 05/31/2011 10:14:04 AM PDT by right way right
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To: Melas
There was a time when I might have agreed with the pastor, but my Jewish friends are obviously influencing me. I’m more aware of how exclusive Christian prayers seem to Jews, and I’ve seen a lot of stars in Arlington. Not all of those white headstones have crosses on them.

Then there should not have been a prayer at all. A Christian pastor should never be asked to pray to any deity other than the one he believes in. If they want to accommodate all faiths, they should invite a rabbi, imam, etc. The idea that the pastor should pray to "God", and that the "God" is supposed to represent the Triune Christian God, Yahweh, Allah, Vishnu, et al, is ludicrous.

15 posted on 05/31/2011 10:15:47 AM PDT by Sans-Culotte ( Pray for Obama- Psalm 109:8)
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To: Melas

Yeah, but America is a Christian nation. If Jews don’t like that FACT, they can move to Israel. My guess is many of them enjoy the liberties that only a Christian people would allow, based on the beliefs of Christian founders.


16 posted on 05/31/2011 10:15:48 AM PDT by demshateGod (The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.)
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To: right way right

INDEED!


17 posted on 05/31/2011 10:16:00 AM PDT by ConservativeChris
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: rightistight

Matthew 10:33 (New International Version)

33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.


19 posted on 05/31/2011 10:24:29 AM PDT by SVTCobra03 (You can never have enough friends, horsepower or ammunition.)
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To: Melas

We had a Rabbi do the Invocation at our ceremony yesterday. He prayed in Hebrew. I bet there were six people including this Knight of Columbus who knew what the words meant. I would not call on him to be banned.


20 posted on 05/31/2011 10:25:56 AM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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