rick warren

In his inaugural invocation today, the Rev. Rick Warren was subtle about shaming gay-rights protesters but explicit about his Chrisitianity, calling on Jesus by name not once but four times, in four different languages associated with three world religions.

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.

Leaders in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community expressed their outrage Wednesday over plans by President-elect Barack Obama to have Pastor Rick Warren deliver the invocation during the inauguration on Jan. 20. Warren was a supporter of California’s Proposition 8, an initiative that rescinded marriage rights for same-sex couples. Obama’s decision has generated anger and distrust from many corners of the community.