By: Sarah Underwood Photo by: RolandMartinReports.com
Last Thursday, Pastor Louie Giglio of Passion City Church in Atlanta withdrew his invitation to give the benediction at President Obama’s second inaugural ceremony.
According to NPR sources, Giglio made this decision after receiving negative public attention. The liberal blog Think Progress, a site dedicated to discussing national social issues, revealed a sermon on homosexuality that Giglio gave in the mid-1990s. The sermon was entitled, “In Search of a Standard: The Christian Response to Homosexuality.”
Giglio’s sermon included Scriptural references to different types of sin and ways Christians should handle the issue of homosexuality.
Giglio was originally chosen to give the benediction because of his efforts in leading his church and thousands of college students in the fight against human trafficking. His organization has raised millions of dollars through its annual Passion Conferences. Several Milligan students participated in Passion earlier this year.
After declining the invitation, Giglio said, “Neither I, nor our team, feel it best serves the core message and goals we are seeking to accomplish to be in a fight on an issue not of our choosing, thus I respectfully withdraw my acceptance of the President’s invitation. I will continue to pray regularly for the President, and urge the nation to do so. I will most certainly pray for him on Inauguration Day.”
CNN reports that those in charge of planning the inauguration addressed the press last week and explained Giglio would be replaced with Rev. Luis León, a pro-gay priest from St. John’s Church, located directly across from the White House.
The Obama administration faced similar issues back in 2009 when they chose Rev. Rick Warren, an evangelist known for preaching against homosexuality.
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