More Religious Leaders Than Ever Before Take Part in President Trump's Inauguration: Record Breaking

News Staff : Jan 20, 2017
CBN News

"Some inaugurations have had just one [faith leader], others have had two or three covering different religions, but this is a record." — Jim Bendat

(Washington, DC) — [CBN News] Hollywood A-listers may be bypassing President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, but several religious leaders are participating by praying for his administration and reading Scripture for the ceremony. (Photo Credit: CBN News)

Jim Bendat, an author and historian of inaugural ceremonies, said six religious leaders will take part — the most ever for any president. 

A rabbi, a cardinal, and four Protestant preachers will have roles. Each will have a minute to a minute and a half to pray or read the Bible.

"Some inaugurations have had just one, others have had two or three covering different religions, but this is a record," Bendat told The New York Times. 

Those who are scheduled to take part in Trump's inauguration include:

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York since 2009;

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, the president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference;

Rev. Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham and the president and chief executive of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse;

Pastor Paula White, a TV-evangelist and Florida pastor;

Rabbi Marvin Hier, the founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organization which is named after the Holocaust survivor and 20th-century Nazi hunter;

and Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, the leader of Great Faith Ministries International and Impact Television Network.

"There are 364 days a year for politics, for the two sides to pile on each other," Hier told the Times. 

"Three hundred sixty-four days of that is enough. Once every four years, the president of United States deserves a pass from both sides from political bickering; otherwise, we weaken our democracy."

CBN News