inauguration

Separation of church and state advocates lost their injunction to stop prayer and references to God at the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. The Minnesota Atheists were among several groups that brought the injunction as part of a lawsuit seeking to end religious references at the inauguration. The case was heard in U.S. District Court [...]

The state’s largest group dedicated to separation of church and state has joined a lawsuit to stop religious services at the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. The lawsuit, now joined by Minnesota Atheists, is being initiated by Michael Newdow, a separation of church and state advocate.

At issue are the scheduled events involving the Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery, a prominent civil-rights pastor, and the Rev. Rick Warren, whose statements about same-sex marriage and abortion have created an uproar among progressives.

The fallout from the decision by President-elect Barack Obama to select evangelical preacher Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration continues as Warren explains his incendiary statement, Obama explains his decision, the pundits weigh in on what Warren means to the Obama team and LGBT leaders continue to cry foul.