The Presidential Inauguration Committee says it wouldn't have invited Atlanta-area pastor Louie Giglio to speak at this year's event had it known about his views against homosexuality. That's amazing, says Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council.
"The president's team is shocked that an evangelical pastor would teach from scripture about homosexuality," Perkins says in disbelief. "That's amazing to me that they would be shocked that a Bible-preaching man would have a biblical view of sexuality."
Janice Crouse of Concerned Women for America tells OneNewsNow it is apparent there was also pressure from the Obama administration -- but she wonders why Giglio accepted the invitation in the first place. "Because in essence, he was providing cover at the inauguration of a president who has really very actively put into place policies and personnel that repudiate all the basic American principles that are in our Constitution," she remarks. She cites religious freedom as just one.
FRC's Perkins adds that it is shocking how intolerant the administration is in forcing acceptance of homosexuality, while disregarding Giglio's work to combat human trafficking.
"This isn't the inauguration of another four years," he laments. "I'm afraid this is the inauguration of a new era of religious intolerance in America."
Crouse concurs, saying the situation is a milestone in that it is an issue America has not faced before: that a person would be kicked out of a presidential inauguration for standing on biblical values.
"We've passed over into territory and a culture where you cannot be a Christian and support biblical values that have been part of the church's doctrine over 2,000 years and across cultures and across time has been a part of biblical faith," says Crouse.
FRC's Perkins adds that it is shocking how intolerant the administration is in forcing acceptance of homosexuality, while disregarding Giglio's work to combat human trafficking.
"This isn't the inauguration of another four years," he laments. "I'm afraid this is the inauguration of a new era of religious intolerance in America."
Crouse concurs, saying the situation is a milestone in that it is an issue America has not faced before: that a person would be kicked out of a presidential inauguration for standing on biblical values.
"We've passed over into territory and a culture where you cannot be a Christian and support biblical values that have been part of the church's doctrine over 2,000 years and across cultures and across time has been a part of biblical faith," says Crouse.