Yesterday the White House confirmed they covered up a sacred symbol for the name of Jesus during a speech by President Obama at Georgetown University.
The decision by the Obama White House shows a profound lack of sensitivity and respect for faith traditions and demands a public apology from the President.
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, adds,
"Now that the White House has publicly admitted covering a sacred faith symbol for the name of Jesus at Georgetown University, it is imperative that they release a public apology for their disrespect of faith expressions. For President Obama not to address the issue publicly would show utter contempt for religious expressions as well as a slap in the face to all those who cherish the name of Jesus."
The current occupant of the White House either has a profound lack of respect for Christianity, the Catholic Church and a Catholic University, or he is really not Christian. From an Evangelical standpoint, I would have to say that Obama has no problem with insulting the Christians in this country and perhaps around the world. He apologizes for America at the drop of a hat. He again shamed America with yet another apology when he spoke in Mexico yesterday. If anyone should be receiving an apology, I believe that Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney is correct; Obama owes the Christians of this country a sincere and heart felt (if that's possible) apology.
Obama's indignation to American tradition is just the tip of the Iceberg. I completely understand that we are not to judge anyone, but the Bible does tell us that to know if a person is a true Christian, we need to examine their fruit. Obama is producing only bad fruit as a Christian that he claims to be (of which I have some doubts). A true Christian would be producing good fruit.
Apologize to the Christians in America President Obama!
Comments
I totally agree that it was wrong of him to do that. He is showing that he doesn't support the people of the US by forcing their hand in the covering of a relegious symbol. The President needs to learn to show respect for the places that he visits, even those her in the United States, would be go to another country and do the same?
Hey Jake ... just WHAT is the symbol for Jesus' name? I never heard of any such thing.
A policy speech. Perhaps he found it more prudent to not be giving it from a pulpit, as ALL religious symbols were covered up, the flags as his backdrop. This is not the United States of Christ.
Inclusion for all the US under the banner of the nation? Oh, heavens no.
Please re-read Genesis. God created heaven and earth, and everything in between. You bet this is the United States Of Christ, and the entire World! Since He is so powerful, and don't think for a moment that He isn't, He deserves to own everything. That includes you!
The Real Believer:
"God created heaven and earth, and everything in between. You bet this is the United States Of Christ, and the entire World! Since He is so powerful, and don't think for a moment that He isn't, He deserves to own everything. That includes you!"
How do you feel about democracy? If you believe that God's authority is absolute and all-encompassing, then shouldn't the US government be completely beholden to the will of God and not the will of the people? Isn't a government of the people, by the people, and for the people an insult to God's authority?
Believer,
Being quite bored, I happened to pick up the Qur'an I have nearby and see that it mentions Allah created the universe, and Jesus as a prophet who Christians twisted and deified.
What now? Your retort is silly--it means that all governments under heaven are sanctioned by God (much was the belief during the Davidic dynasty), whatever evils they do or choose not to do.
I'm glad your God shines equally on the US as it did in Rwanda, China, Germany, Spain, Darfur, Russia, and all these other governments set up in God's image.
And you completely miss my sarcasm. This country was not founded to have a theocratic base. It was a republic, being accountable to law, not mob rule. But the sooner people forget that and shout "democracy," the sooner we lose our freedoms under an oligarchy.
This is ridiculous. Had they not covered it up, you'd be accusing him of trying to use Catholics as a backdrop. There were dozens of images of crosses and many many IHS's that weren't covered in the room. I suppose reporting the truth doesn't fit your anti-Obama meme. There are many things Christians should be outraged about in our society. This really isn't one of them.
He should simply not have given a policy speech at Georgetown at all. Georgetown is a hotbed of Roman Catholicism, and it is usually inappropriate for a US president to appear in such a setting.
(I find it ironic that Jake likes to cheerlead for the Catholic church; Catholicism condemns his religious beliefs as deviant and heretical. Under a Catholic government, like Europe used to have, he'd be in big trouble.)
You bet I believe in Democracy. God put our leaders positions in place to protect us and our country, and gave us the "freedom" of being wise in our choices of who gets elected into serving "we the people". There is no insult to God here, since this is His plan to begin with.
Any mess we have is our own doing. We weren't wise in our choices.
The governments that are sanctioned by God, are those that act according to His will. He does not sanction evil. All countries have the freedom to shine, but only when they ask our God (our creator of all) to shine on them.
I am never bored when I read my Bible.
I always take note of your sarcasm.
"God put our leaders positions in place to protect us and our country"
God wrote the Constitution?
In the Old Testament, God's people started complaining they wanted a king. They already knew they had one (GOD), but they wanted someone they could touch and feel (sound familier)? God granted their wish. Well, we all know how man adds to and takes away from their responsibilities whenever they please. As I said, we have freedom (for now) to choose wisely. We did when "The Constitution" was written by man, and as I also said, man has added to and taken away for their own manipulative benefits since then over the years.
The Real Believer:
In that case, wouldn't it be more accurate to say that "God allowed us to put our leaders' positions in place" instead of saying that "God put our leaders' positions in place"?
If so, he must also have allowed Chairman Mao's rise to power and the continuing strength of the Chinese Communist Party, right?So, your statement that "this is the United States Of Christ, and the entire World," would have to apply to China as well.
So is the People's Republic of China also the People's Republic of Christ? And if so, does that really mean anything in practical terms?
(I'm not mocking you or arguing, here. I really do want to hear your answers. I don't agree with this line of thought, but I still find it interesting.)
Hello Jake...I'm the Norfolk Catholic Examiner. I read your article and am concerned about the message our "Christian" president is sending out.
Of course as he views the Constitution as being "limited" so too does he and his followers take liberties with the Doctrine of seperation of church and state, an idea which is not in the constitution. The constitution guarentees the freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.
I've posted an article on this and I linked back to your story. It is called Obama and the Community Organizer.
Peace and Good,
Joe
Jake please elaborate on the symbol that was covered up.bearing in mind
Exodus 20:4 (Amplified Bible)
4You shall not make yourself any graven image [to worship it] or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
Gman:
The symbol that was covered up was three letters. There were/are "I.H.S. (Latin), Iesus Hominum Salvator, Jesus saviour of men". Mainly used in Catholic churches, but I have seen the initials in Lutheran churches and others in the past.
The symbol that was covered up was a small golden cross and the letters "IHS". If they had not been covered up, they would have floated right over Obama's head. That may be appropriate imagery for a pastor (which is doubtlessly why they are placed there), but it is inappropriate for the president of the US. It's inappropriate not only because our government is a secular, it's inappropriate because it also would suggest an endorsement by the church of what the president says Both from the point of government and from the point of the church, covering up the symbol was the right thing to do.
JF- In that case, wouldn't it be more accurate to say that "God allowed us to put our leaders' positions in place" instead of saying that "God put our leaders' positions in place"?
I say- God knows all, sees all, and hears all. He allows both good and not so good to take place in order to make His allready known to Him master plan work. Okay, I agree that He allowed us to put our leaders positions in place, which is the same difference since He has the final say in the first place. That includes all countries, planets, people, and so on.
The Real Believer:
"Okay, I agree that He allowed us to put our leaders positions in place, which is the same difference since He has the final say in the first place."
I don't see how that can be the same thing... Does God allow us to establish our own governments and our own systems of rule, or does God, who has the final say, intervene to shape them?
I guess this comes down to questions of free will vs. predestination. Are world leaders (and, in a democracy, voters) allowed to excercise their free will? If so, how will God's plan come to fruition? If God can know, ahead of time, what choices people will make, then in what sense are those choices really choices?
If God knows that I will choose to commit a murder in 48 hours (Just to be clear, I have no intention of doing that!), then it isn't really possible for me to decide not to, is it?
JF-God Is God. He can do whatever, whenever He so chooses. He created Adam & Eve in pure and Holy form. God warned them not to eat of the forbidden fruit. They disobeyed; Thus the original sin. Thus "mans will" came into play. From that point on we were all touched by that original sin. The only way we could recover our holiness is to come to the Lord (Jesus Christ)and ask for forgiveness with a pure heart, repent and live according to God's Word (His Holy Bible). God already knows exactly who will come to Him (predestined). Yes, God does allow us to establish our own governments and our own systems of rule according to His teachings, and sometimes intervenes to shape them? Whatever His choice is, and when. But, world leaders (and, in a democracy, voters) are always allowed to excercise their free will? The one thing that I want to make clear to you is this "God is always first, and all knowing (meaning that we seek His wisdom first) in order to make the correct decision. We have the choice(free will) as to whether to listen and then act accordingly. When we are God's children, we will gladly follow His instructions. If we do not, we have acted in our own will. I can tell you from experience that this "free will" of mine always creates a mess. So, I go back to My God, and seek His advise again.
You Americans sure have your heads on the wrong way.
Ever heard separation of church and state? Your country is founded on this principle. It's what's kept it from spinning into a wild theocracy much like the founders were looking to escape.
What is with the American hub-hub over the president being a Christian or not anyway? That's pretty damn shallow of you all to think that your president should have to agree with your chosen set of ancient myths.
Those that "cherish Jesus" need to be slapped...
I don't want my government to advertise your religion. Get over it.
To: The Real Believer
Stopping a war and apologizing to the world for crimes of the past 8 years seems pretty christian to me...
Wikipedia:
""IHS" is sometimes interpreted as meaning Iesus Hominum Salvator ("Jesus, Savior of men" in Latin) or connected with In Hoc Signo. Some uses have even been created for the English language, where "IHS" is interpreted as an abbreviation of "I Have Suffered" or "In His Service". Such interpretations are known as backronyms."
This man is a dictator and a Moslem, period! He is not able to understand the Christian way of life or the standards that Christians live by. I personally am not a Christian, but a Spiritualist, but still believe that Jesus was an important person and needs to be acknowledged as such, and not to be covered over as a unimportant person. Obama should have had respect for this establishment and what it stands for. This is just another example of how he is and what he stands for or doesn't stand for. Hitler rises again! People you had better get ready!
So what if Obama isn't Christian? Does being Christian automatically mean a president will be good? The answer is NO. Just plain NO.
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