We’d like a moment of your time
At most, a single minute—
We’ve noticed, the memorial
Has got no clergy in it.

There are both friends and family,
And those who joined the search,
But missing from the program here?
The Southern Baptist Church!

New York is such a melting pot—
It always has been thus—
The program can’t fit everyone;
I’m sure there’s room for us

Some churches might not want a spot
Like Methodists, or Jews—
If you asked the local Muslims, why
I’m sure that they’d refuse

The Mormons probably want to,
But they’re really just a cult
And I really think they ought to be
Turned down, as a result.

When you look with cold-eyed reason
It is obvious to see
There’s no reason for inviting
Any clergymen but me

I’ve considered all the angles, and
I really think it’s best…

And it’s simply un-American,
Denying my request!

A bit more after the jump:

Today’s New York Times features an article on the protest, by what appears to be a very vocal minority, of the absence of clergy at the upcoming 9/11 ceremony. The ceremony will follow the format of each of the anniversary ceremonies of the past decade, with the reading of names and moments of silence. In no past ceremonies have clergy been involved; this is and has been the desire of the surviving families, first responders, and long-term workers at the site.

This year, the Southern Baptist Church has its knickers in a twist, because they have just noticed. The Times article notes that SBC representatives claim this proves that New York is out of step with the rest of America. I note that they have claimed this before. If I were New York City, I wouldn’t want these people around after the sorts of things they have said in the past.

It’s not just the SBC, though; Mayor Bloomberg has been sent a letter by rep. Randy Forbes (R, VA), co-chair of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, with a plea for the inclusion of prayer at the ceremony. Yeah, a Congressional Prayer Caucus. I think we have just found the least useful caucus. Even if they get everything they want, nothing happens. Perhaps we should lobby them to make “silent prayer” the official national type of prayer. At least it would be easier to ignore.

It will not surprise you that fanning the flames of the manufactroversy is Fox News, and Gretchen Carlson’s personal ignorance. I’ll let you go to the Times article for her quote, because it is so much better in context.

The good news is, the comment section of the NYTimes seems, thus far, to be thoughtful, rational, and by and large opposed to the SBC climbing atop of the bodies of their loved ones to grab the national spotlight.