The Obama administration has decided to remove from the inauguration day proceedings an anti-gay Georgia pastor who has said gay people will go to hell. The choice of Reverend Louis Giglio to deliver the inaugural benediction created great anger within the LGBT and progressive communities, after Think Progress reported on Giglio’s 1990s anti-gay sermon.
READ: LGBT Community Furious Over Obama’s Inaugural Pastor Who Said Gays Will Go To Hell
Josh Israel at Think Progress, who reported on the sermon, today writes:
The move came after ThinkProgress reported Wednesdaythat in the 1990s, Giglio had given a lengthy sermon in which he advocated for dangerous “ex-gay” therapy for gay and lesbian people, referenced a biblical passage often interpreted to require gay people be executed, and impelled Christians to “firmly respond to the aggressive agenda” and prevent the “homosexual lifestyle” from becoming accepted in society.
Giglio’s sermon included many anti-gay passages, which Think Progress had detailed, including this one in which Giglio says “it’s clear” gay people are going to hell:
“First Corinthians, Chapter 6. In verses nine and 10, it talks about the things that prevent people from entering the Kingdom of God. It talks about all kinds of immoral behavior. And right in the midst of that passage, right in the middle of that verse it says “and those who are homosexual.” It’s clear.”
UPDATE 11:35 AM ET:
Jonathan Capehart speaking on MSNBC reports that Pastor Giglio himself chose to step down from delivering the inaugural benediction.
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And you will hear Bryan Fischer screaming about what the "Big Gay" has done in 4, 3, 2, 1.
Don't they vet these people to weed out the crazy?!?
There is no point in pandering to a dwindling minority of fundamentalist thugs. Their world is dying as intolerance and bigotry are rejected by the mainstream.
The religious right is on its way out of popularity. Thanks to Mr. Obama for helping them out the door!
The angry pastor blames the gays and can't bring himself to repudiate his older sermon:
"Due to a message of mine that has surfaced from 15-20 years ago, it is likely that my participation, and the prayer I would offer, will be dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda the focal point of the inauguration. Clearly, speaking on this issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past fifteen years."
He could have just come out and said, "Like millions of other Americans, I've evolved on the matter of sexual orientation. That sermon no longer reflects my views." I would have accepted that.
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