ST. LOUIS — The president of a conservative Lutheran denomination has apologized for reprimanding a Newtown, Conn., pastor who participated in an interfaith prayer vigil in apparent violation of the church’s constitution.
The Rev. Rob Morris of Christ the King Lutheran Church offered the benediction at the Dec. 16 vigil with other religious leaders — including Jewish, Muslim, and Baha’i — for victims of the shootings at the Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Comments
Smart move. Better to confine your bigotry to your own pulpit.
This issue isn't bigotry. It's not even close. I understand the church's position. They have certain belief doctrines that they don't want to be diluted by ecumenicalism. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is not the only church to ban joint worship with other groups.
The issue is nobody's business who is not a member of that church. It interferes with no other religion. We have separation of church and state in this country and it's not my business or cren505's business to tell them what to believe or how their ministers should behave.
The "business" of the prayer vigil was to ask God to bring those slaughtered childrens' souls to rest. Where the heck does church doctrine have any place in this. Huh?
Obviously you know nothing about Protestantism. Unlike Catholicsim, a basic doctrine of most Protestants is that one's soul immediately ascends into heaven on death. It's done deal long before any funeral or prayer service. There is no purgatory and no reason to pray for the dead. Funerals and memorial services are for the living.
So while some Catholics might consider the service to "bring those slaughtered children's souls to rest," Protestants believe the children were already with God. Church doctrine has a lot to do with it, and you shouldn't be so quick to criticize other people's religious beliefs.