Gene Robinson, Gay Episcopal Bishop, Will Deliver Prayer At Pre-Inaugual Event

Today's Concord (NH) Monitor reports that Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson has been invited to deliver a prayer at an inaugural kick-off event at the Lincoln Memorial on the Sunday preceding the formal inauguration ceremony for President-Elect Barack Obama. Robinson is the Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop and is a leader in the movement seeking equal rights for gays and lesbians. The invitation to Robinson was announced after continuing criticism from supporters of gay rights over the invitation to Pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at the formal inauguration ceremony. (See prior posting.) Warren has been particularly outspoken in opposition to gay marriage.