NJN News; NJN Special Report: The Inauguration of Governor Christine Todd Whitman for her second term. ; Inaugural Interfaith Prayer Service 1610

This is in NJ a news special report. The inauguration of Governor Christine Todd Whitman. Hello I'm re Dinoire welcome to NJ NS coverage of the inauguration of Governor Christine Todd Whitman Christie Whitman will be sworn into a second term in office later today at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in New York. But first the governor will take part in an interfaith prayer service at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart a few miles away. I'm joined now by Father Jeff Lee who is with the Office of acumen ism and interreligious affairs with the Diocese of Trenton fatherly. Thanks for joining us. It's great to be here Marie. Thank you. The inaugural committee tried to include a broad base of the major religions in this state. Can you tell us something

about the clergy represented here this morning. We know Mary one quick glance at the inaugural program for the interfaith prayer service would reveal the level of broad based participation not only amongst the Christian traditions within the state but also our Jewish brothers and sisters as well as representation from the Islamic community. That's right. That's interesting. Looks like the procession right now if you can see that. Now this is an interfaith prayer service and it's not a mass. Can you tell us what the difference is the interfaith character of the purser's is that each tradition represented will bring a prayer offering. To the service that it will not be characteristically Christian or non-Christian or Jewish or Islamic but representative of each of these traditions coming together. To represent the constituency of the people of New Jersey which leads me to my next question what do you think is the real significance of having all of this representation.

I think that it's important and the governor has made it important that there be a prayer and acknowledgment of God of a sovereignty and asking God's presence and blessing on our governor and all of our leaders in the state that they will continue to serve and represent all people in our state now and inauguration. Father is a political fight. But here we have this major part of the day. There are three major events today. One of them. What do you think you think religion should have an important role want today like this. Well Maria I think that it is important because our our laws and our legislation is is influenced by ethical traditions and that each of these major religious strands has an ethical tradition that helps us close. The legal codes that we formally as a people that our legislatures are codified and that our governor signed into law.

Well kind of the blessings and prayers when you hope to hear today. I would hope to hear prayers of great hope and expectation love and service commitment to serve all people with an open mind and to be as inclusive as possible. Now we know that there was some controversy surrounding Archbishop McCarrick this decision to allow Governor Whitman to use the cathedral for this from anti-abortion demonstrators. Do you have any you have any opinion about that about the Archbishop's decision to go with that to let you know it won't. Have this service this morning. The archbishop was placed in a very awkward position and I think that he has addressed it very well in his role not only as the archbishop of Newark but as the Metropolitan of New Jersey and the president of the New Jersey Catholic Conference on respecting the pro-life movement. And encouraging demonstration. However looking at the broader vision of how the church and the

state must work together in support of the common good. And I think Archbishop McCarrick has sought to continue to provide that unity while not betraying the Catholic Church's stance in the pro-life movement but also recognizing that church all churches and government must work together for the common good. And in a press release Archbishop McCarrick said it's at Sacred Heart because of its size so that more people could be welcomed in prayer. That's significant. Do you think that that kind of static. I understand that we're going to go to that selling out thank you Father Lee we appreciate that background of the Celica where the inaugural interfaith prayer service is in progress historic day for Noah and for our state. I'm happy to welcome so many of our sisters and brothers from the different faith communities of our state to this holy place for the celebration of this traditional interfaith prayer service. We

come together this morning to join in fervent prayer. That God will grant his blessings to this God and state to its leaders and to its people. We pray that he will continue to give us his grace and His love so that we may walk together with courage and confidence into the wonders of what some of us call this third millennium of our salvation. We greet our governor. Christine Todd Whitman. And assure her of our prayers as she begins her second term. There are those who have felt that it was not proper to hold an interfaith service in this cathedral. Because as we all know there are serious differences. On the issues of life and especially the question of partial birth abortion between some of us and our governor. I acknowledge these differences here in this very place. Where the Holy Father Pope John Paul the second spoke so clearly and forcefully on the gospel of life as he prayed. Evening Prayer with President Clinton. And

when Mother Teresa of Calcutta spoke so movingly of America's need to protect the lives of little children in their mothers wombs. I can plead for no less. We all appreciate the governor's enormous responsibilities as she leads our state in the next four years. We promise her our prayers together with our support on all those issues where we share a common vision. Just as we will continue to defend the rights of those whose rights need protection the poor the sick the aged and the unborn. Governor you have a truly challenging task. May God give you wisdom in light. Courage and compassion in your service of leadership to the people of New Jersey. Today is the state join us in celebration of still another new beginning. We begged the Lord of all beginnings to walk with our governor and with all the leaders of our state on this journey and to bring us all to the

understanding of His truth. And the wonder of his peace. You are all welcome in this house of God. In the room. The oh.

God. Hand. Was. Or.

Was. Oh. God. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Let us pray.

Father and I God we give you thanks for this day and all of its blessings. Especially do we thank you for this a new beginning to this day which you have made with new mercies and new opportunities to serve and honor you. We ask your presence in all we say and do that it may be pleasing in your sight. Bless now your servant Christine Todd Whitman is she even news her stewardship over the affairs of this state. We beseech you to grant on to her the wisdom to seek your will. The courage to do that which is righteous sensitivity to the needs of the people she has been chosen to serve. Remind her that she is of us. And bless us to help her. As she faces the great challenges ahead. Bless her family. Her companion her children and bond them closer together that they may

draw upon each other. And Lord we ask your blessings upon the people of this great state. Urban suburban and rural. Every race and every color. That makes up this our garden state. Bless us. That we will not only be one family with many faces but that nurtured. And led by US spirit we will be a new people for a New Jersey filled with potential and promise abounding in hope. And one with our Creator to do your will. Now granted and yes. Fresh faith and courage for the living and the facing of these days. Amen. Reading from the Koran

in the name of the law. Most gracious most merciful. Praise be to God. That cherish. The sustainer of the warders mosque the gracious most merciful master of the Day of Judgment. The do we worship and the wine and we seek. Show us the straight path. The way of the law on whom you have a poor would you would agree. Who is not warthe and who got not us today. A lot a lot of. Us not. If we forget or fall in. A lot a lot of. Leg up on us. Didn't.

Like that which we did not use which you did not lay on those before us. Our law. Lay not on us. Better than a good eight and then we have the strength to bear blot out our sins and to get on. Forgiveness has never see on us. But a lot of protect. Against us and victory of the believe that is and then. You are watching NJ as an organization coverage. This is a live shot of the interfaith prayer service at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in New York I'm reading

Noir. I'm joined by Father Jeff Lee of the Trenton diocese. Father Jeff. We just heard from the shed really on the Islamic Center of junction in Middlesex County. Can you give us a comment about the significance of the reading. He just he just read for us. The mom presented us with a wonderful reading from the Islamic tradition that intertwines themes that we find in the in the solemn tradition of the Old Testament the Hebrew Scriptures which is present both in Judaism and Christianity. The themes of the as well as Reverend Jackson before him focused on hope courage wisdom and how God is the sustainer of these virtues in every human person. It is God who is calling us from darkness into light to choose good over evil. And for each of these traditions Judaism. Islam and Christianity we each hold that there is one

God that we are monotheistic in our beliefs and that is what joins these people here today as they offer tokens of prayer and praise for our governor and for the people of our state. Meet the Sikh told them story. Told me. A.

For a. Was

a was a. As And I as a honeymoon may eyeing as

I turn my eyes to the mountains where will help come from my help will come from the eternal the maker of heaven and earth. God will not let your foot. Give way. Your guardian does not slumber. Behold the guardian of Israel neither slumber nor sleeps the eternal is your keeper the eternal is your shield. At your side always. The eternal will guard. Your coming and your going. From this time forth. And forever amen. To be I mean we.

Know it. True. And. Time to do. It. Now.

And though I speak. With the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity I am become as sounding brass or red tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy.

And understand all mysteries and all knowledge. And though I have ol faith. So that I could remove mountains and have not charity I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor. And though I give my body to be burned. And have not charity it profited me nothing. Charity. Suffer with long. Is kind charity. Envious not Vonta if not itself is not puffed up. Death not behave itself unseemly seeking or not her wrong is not easily provoked thinketh no evil. Of the joists are

not in iniquity. But be joyful in the true. Bare earth all things believeth all things hope with all things. And during With all things charity never failing earth. But whether there be prophecies. They shall fail whether there be tongues they shall cease. Whether there be knowledge it shall vanish away. For we know when part and we prophesied in part. But when that which is perfect this come. Then that which is in part. Shall be done away. When I was a child. I spake as a child. I understood. As a child. I

thought. As a child. But when I became a man. I put away. Childish things. For now we see through a glass darkly. But then. Face to face. Now I know when Potch. But then shall I know even as also I am known. And now. Abideth faith hope. Charity these three. But the greatest of these. Is charity. I. Father Jeff we just heard a reading from Reverend Father James a Lupi of St. Nicholas Greek

Orthodox Church of New York. It was Corinthians 13 I believe and this is a reading we traditionally hear weddings right. We hear Corinthians 13 at weddings because it talks about the virtues of human life and about relationship faith hope and love translated in Fathers of scriptures as charity. And the greatest of these virtues is charity that selfless service that we render to one another that a husband and wife render to one another in support of their relationship in their family life. So true the governor is espousing her leadership as a servant a servant of the people of New Jersey who have empowered her and called her here today to be their governor to be their leader to proclaim justice to all the people and to serve all the people of New Jersey whether they be Christian Muslim Jewish etcetera. Now we're told this is one of the the two remains that Governor Whitman picked out herself especially for this service. The other reading we heard a few moments ago Rabbi Barry freed then

one 21 Psalm 121. Very significant for the event because someone 21 recognized and paid tribute to the sovereignty of God reigning over all that we are and all that we do as the eternal one from beginning to end. Were. Was there the the

the. Sure. The.

I don't know. The load. You. Are.

As the governor's pastor I find that I get asked a lot of questions. The most typical of which is does she actually come to church. And I'm happy to be able to say that she does quite regularly when she does come to church do the state troopers come with her. And explain that they do though I cannot claim that they are there because they choose to be there. Nevertheless we do our best to help them feel right at home in our church. One Sunday our head deacon saw one of the plainclothes troopers standing in the back and assumed that he was one of the morning's ushers. The trooper was quite happy to go along with the assignment. And we found out that day that the collection rises about 50 percent when the usher carries a firearm.

But another of the most frequently asked questions is Do you ever preach sermons that are intended just for the governor. If you have some issue or concern on your mind do you ever aim the sermon right at her. I have to say that I never have. I'm sure that if I ever did such a thing it would happen to be the Sunday she was not there. I will admit that when I'm preaching I hope that along with the rest of the car geisha and she is listening but in the last four years I have never stepped up to the pulpit with a sermon that was intended for the governor more than for anyone else. That is until today. After all this is a worship service in which I knew the probability of her attendance was pretty high. And not only that for the first time in four years I actually have her in the very first pew.

So this morning I am going to preach this homily to you Christi. Though I do hope of course that along with her the rest of you will listen in as well. I'd like to begin with a story which is found in the Gospel according to St. Mark. Let us listen for God's Word to us. As soon as Jesus and His disciples left the synagogue in Capernaum they entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Now Simon's mother in law was in bed with a fever and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. And the fever left her. And she began to serve them. That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. The whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons though he did not permit them to speak for they knew him. And then in the morning when it was still very dark. Jesus got up and went

out to a deserted place and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him and when they found him they said to him. Everyone is searching for you. Jesus answered. Let us go on to the neighboring towns that I may proclaim the message there also. For that is what I came to do. This is the word of our Lord. Thanks be to God. Having watched you serve as governor for the last four years there is one aspect of your job Christie that seems to me to be the greatest burden. Making tough decisions when everyone has their own agenda and opinion about what you should do each one knowing of course that they are right. I suppose that is the challenge that all government officials and all people in positions of leadership for that matter have to face.

But as the leader of our state I know that the weight of these decisions is felt by no one as much as it is by you. Sure some decisions are not difficult at all. It's simply a matter of choosing between something that you know is good and something you know will be bad. But we know that very few choices in government are that easy to make. They're often difficult because you have to choose or prioritize not between good and bad things but discern good from better. I know that the most important decisions have supporters who have strong vested interests. And where you come down and among those proponents along with the people who have genuine personal or societal concern there are mixed in those whose motivations have more to do with their own political or financial gain. Many of the decisions have a moral dimension which pit one group and their deeply held beliefs against another who feel just as strongly about their side of the issue. And

it seems to me that while being in such a position of leadership provides you great opportunity to do good and enact meaningful change to bring relief and comfort and healing to people's lives along with the job also comes the possibility of letting people down and causing people to be angry. Not to mention the possibility of being misunderstood. No one knew more about this aspect of leadership than Jesus himself. In fact according to Mark's gospel it was something he had to face his very first day on the job. On that day he visited a town called Capernaum where he went to the synagogue to worship. And afterwards Jesus and His disciples went to Peter's house for lunch where Jesus was told that Peter's mother in law was ill with a serious fever. When Christ came to greet her However the fever seemed to vanish as he took her hand.

Now it didn't take long for the news of healing to get around town and by the time the sun went down there was a line of people that went around the block waiting to see Jesus. It says that it was as if the whole city was gathered around the door and there he greeted all who were ill those plagued with afflictions and in need of help bringing healing and comfort to their lives. Well you can just imagine the scene the next day as the sun came up the light revealed the TV crews all camped out around Peter's house and j n CNN even Al Roker was there. There were newspaper reporters AP photographers and more than a few people that were simply curious mixed in with all those who'd come genuinely seeking help. And of those there were many people in need of healing people who needed to be freed from oppressions and afflictions. People in need of a word of hope they were all there

was only one problem. Jesus was nowhere to be found. This of course sent the disciples into a bit of a panic as they began an all out search for their man of the hour. This text says that they literally went out and hunted for him as one would trap an animal. In other words everyone wanted a piece of him. How ironic it must have appeared to the disciples when they finally came upon Jesus alone out in the middle of nowhere far away from all the action and all those looking for him. Down on his knees in prayer. They knew enough to think that they probably should not disturb him but given all the people waiting and that in their minds precious time was wasting away. They went ahead and interrupted him anyway. Jesus we're glad we found you and you will be too when you hear the news. You know all those people who came to see you last night. Well the word has gotten around town in this morning everyone and I mean everyone is here to see

you now. We've been working through the night on a little plan. We figure we could form two lines on either side of the house to maximize your work inside. And you know with the news coverage I bet this could even open up some doors for you on the national scene. We're glad that you've had this time to yourself. But you're obviously ready to get back to all those people who are waiting for you right now. And Jesus looked up to them and said Come on let's go to the next town and proclaim the message there for that is what I came to do. What do you do when everyone wants a piece of you. What do you do when the needs are truly great and everyone wants something from you all at the same time. What do you do when it seems the line outside your door extends farther than your eye can see. What Jesus did was to get up very early in the morning find a

deserted place and get on his knees to pray. But he did not do this to turn his back on all the need or is to seek simply to get away from it all. The reason Jesus did what he did is because that he knew that his direction in life came from somewhere beyond himself from someone beyond himself. Jesus did what he did because he knew that cultivating the relationship with the one he knew as father was the most valuable activity he could do to get a clear sense of direction. The only way he knew what to do next was to go and listen for the voice of God. What the disciples may have seen was their leaders simply taking a break to get away from it all. But what Jesus was engaged in was going deeper into it all by opening himself up to the voice that is beyond him. Jesus was moving beyond what was mere ideology or political expedience to true leadership

leadership that is grounded in one's ultimate concern. In the end the voice he listened to was not simply the voice of the people or the voice of his disciples but he listened for an answer to the voice of God. That is what he came to do. Christi I would imagine that some days it must seem that the whole state is lined up at your door looking to you for something. And I would think that when you have to face such tough decisions in which everyone has their own opinion about what you should do it must be difficult at times to know from whom you should take your cues. I have watched you listen to the people of this state and I would imagine that many of them have had the same experience that I have had. When we are with you. We know that you are truly listening. I've also seen you listen to your colleagues the people you have selected as advisors and cabinet members

colleagues in your own party as well as other parties as well. And I have sensed you listening to your own conscience to the voice inside you which has been shaped over the years by your own family your own experience and your own beliefs. But what I want to remind you this morning is that when you face these seemingly impossible decisions these painful decisions when you have to choose between good things when the issues are complex and loaded in people's welfare is at stake when everyone has a different opinion about about it and the feelings run very deep. What I want to remind you is that there is another voice for you to listen to another voice beyond you beyond us all the voice of the one who loves you and has called you as his own. Just how will you hear that voice.

I cannot tell you for sure. You may hear it through the voices of others through the voice within you. You may hear that voice by simply shutting your office doors and folding your hands at your desk. But more important than how you hear it is the one you are listening for. The same one who spoke to Christ early that morning in the deserted place of prayer. But I should warn you when we are listening for that voice we can sometimes be surprised by what we hear. What Jesus must have heard that morning certainly came as a great surprise to all those who were looking for him. His decision to move on to the next town leaving all those with the real needs in component behind must have been quite controversial. Must have disappointed many and even left some people enraged. And what you will hear may surprise you. It may surprise the people of this state. It may make you the woman of the hour and it may take you.

It may make you disappoint them or even enraged them. What you hear may be just what you expected to hear. Or it may take you to an unexpected place. But have all the voices that flood your ears the most important word you can hear is God's word to you Kristie. That I believe is why we are here this morning. That is why on the day of your inauguration we begin in a house of worship. Why we begin with a service of prayer. That is the why on this day when you are sworn into office we are all literally or figuratively getting on our knees to seek the one who is greater than we are and open our hearts to hearing the surprising voice of God. Now I know well all of us in the service all

of us in this room and even those outside these walls may not agree on everything. And it may even seem at times that we can hardly agree on anything. But everyone who is here this day who is here primarily for the purpose of worship and prayer all of us can agree on one thing that our greatest prayer for you as our governor is that you would listen for the voice of God as you lead us in this state. Our hope is that you would do whatever it takes to step away from the crowd outside your door and listen for that voice so that as you lead our state you would seek first to be led by God. We may have all have our own opinions on things and we may all want to get a piece of you so we can tell you what to do since of course each one of us is right. But if we're honest the voice we most want you to hear as you lead

is the same voice. We all want and need to hear for what is true for you as governor is true for each of us whether we are leaders in our communities our businesses our schools our churches or mosques or synagogues our families or as we simply seek to lead our own lives. That above all the other voices telling us what to do and who to be and who we are. The voice of God is the one we most need to hear. This day begins four more years of tough decisions. We know that listening for God's voice is no more an exact science than is governing the state. And let me assure you that we do not expect that by listening for God's voice your will is necessarily going to be the god's will for the state. Which by the way is

the reason we only made you governor not queen. But we will pray for you nonetheless Kristie. We will pray for you. We will pray that you will listen for and hear God's voice for that. More than anything else. That is what we have come to do since I knew. You. Oh no.

Who. Said. Let us pray.

Lord of Creation as we depart from the scheduling of your devoted servants we ask your blessing on the people present here in this Cathedral Basilica of St.. Sacred Heart. Lord. Renewing us a deep gratitude for all the blessings you saw graciously be stalled. For the greatest spitted of dedication exemplified. By all those here this morning. For the privilege of the stewardship and its meticulous quality of drawing us closer to you and to each other as we serve. For the devotion to justice and truth that leads so many to lay a bead in your service for the good of all. For the gift of fate by which all things are possible

and old people. Brothers and Sisters for the gifts of creativity and commitment which help us. Soar to new heights of human achievement. Finally. We ask you Lord to bestow a special blessing on Governor Christie Todd Whitman who we honor today in this inaugural interfaith prayer service. We ask that. You guide and inspired the good Governor Whitman as she continues her exemplary service to this garden a state of New Jersey to its citizens and to the country of which we are all soul proudly a part. For all of these

blessings and afford to bounty. Decency and freedom we enjoy in this great nation of America. May your name be praised from generation to generation. Amen. Thank you. I am.

This is NJ and inauguration coverage you're watching the interfaith prayer service at the Cathedral

Basilica of the Sacred Heart in New York as it comes to a close. I'm Mary Dinoire with Father Jeff Lee of the Trenton diocese. Father Jeff the centerpiece of this hour plus service was the homily by the governor's own minister Reverend David Miles. Very personal message this homily. What are some of your thoughts. Very personal and building on the scriptures all Psalm One twenty one and the proclamation of First Corinthians 13. The pastor sought to integrate those themes of acknowledging God. Of faith hope and charity in the greatest of them being charity with Jesus is public ministry of healing and teaching and leading. Not always going where the people want him to go but where he feels called to go. The pastor develops three themes discerning good from better. Relationship with God for future direction and building on what we hold in common as a source of inclusive body and gathering people together rather than dividing. The idea of the inclusive fitty the overwhelming message here was expressed in a lot of ways by

by how many different religions are represented we heard so many different voices and different accents today by each of the religious traditions represented in the church as well as those who demonstrated outside the church based on their convictions. Of course we did have a moment there where one of these protesters actually came into the cathedral but. Not not a problem obviously went went right along with everything and everything seemed to go very smoothly. That ends the interfaith prayer service. And now Governor Whitman will head to the Performing Arts Center where she will take the oath of office for her second term. And Jan will continue its coverage of the inauguration with the swearing in ceremony at noon today and on NJ and news at 6:00 7:30 and 11:00 tonight. I'm Marie Dinoire. Thanks for joining us.