Why is Billy Graham being given the honor of lying in the Capitol Rotunda?

[octoberlib]

Oh, that's right , we've become a full blown theocracy. This is a disgrace and the founders are turning over in their graves.



Evangelist Billy Graham, who died Wednesday, will lie in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda from Wednesday, Feb. 28, to Thursday, March 1, according to an announcement from House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky). Members of the public are invited to pay their respects. Ryan and McConnell will take part in a service upon the arrival of Graham’s casket.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2018/02/22/billy-graham-funeral-details-u-s-capitol-viewing-private-service-in-charlotte/?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories-2_billy-graham-1215pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.2e8ea57c63c2

[spanone]

1. because republican faux christians are in charge of our country

[Dawson Leery]

2. Because the GOP is a Theocratic Party.

[Mariana]

3. Christian privilege. nt.

[Dawson Leery]

4. +1,000,000

[Raster]

27. +2,000,000.

[Shrek]

5. We have a national holiday in honor of Reverend King

And yet the republic stands.

Recognizing religious figures doesn't mean we're a theocracy.

[Mariana]

7. Reverend King isn't honored just for being a famous preacher. nt.

Edited for clarity.

[msongs]

11. king actually did something useful for humanity nt

[DURHAM D]

6. Ummmh Illustrates so much of what is wrong with America.

[Sneederbunk]

8. Presidents Obama, Clinton and Carter all speak highly of Rev Graham.

Not just a GOP thing.

[octoberlib]

9. Graham was homophobic, anti-semitic and probably bigoted in every other way ,too.

He has no place there.

[gopiscrap]

28. exactly and his son is even worse

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

15. Billy Graham was a narrow-minded

bible-thumping bully. I have never understood why otherwise sensible Presidents ever said nice things about him. Not that they needed to say anything bad, but they supported and encouraged his behavior to those who didn't believe the same crap he believed.

[magicarpet]

10. Will the Fascist Pat Robertson and the felon Jim Baker be....

.... given the courtesy to lie in state in the capital rotunda too ?

[Solly Mack]

12. Blech

That shouldn't be.

Sick country.

[nocalflea]

13. He's had relationships with all our presidents.

Not my thing, but I recognize he has the respect of folks from both parties.

Now, if it were Pat Robertson given that honor , I'd be pissed.

I get the hyperbole but until religious laws are passed and the constitution amended we're not a theocracy.

[Orange Free State]

16. Well then Monica Lewinsky and Stormy Daniels

should also have that honor.

[nocalflea]

17. Amen.

[gopiscrap]

29. no religious figure should be given this honor

also MLK was honored not because of being a religious figure, but for being a civil rights icon

[nocalflea]

31. This is an honor bestowed by Congress.

It is Congress' right to bestow this honor on whom they see fit.

Yes, I too wish they would leave religion out of it.

Graham is being honored for the role he played in the life of the nation. It just happens that role was religious in nature.

Subtle distinction, but a distinction none the less.

Take solace . Dr. King has a place in US history. No one will remember Graham.

[Proud liberal 80]

14. Funeral invites

Invitations to the funeral were extended to President Trump and former presidents, according to his spokesman Mark DeMoss.

Wonder if invitation went out to President Obama seeing that Franklin us probably controlling everything.

[politicaljunkie41910]

18. One of the programs I was watching yesterday stated that Graham's regret was that

"he didn't do more scripture reading and less politic-ing." I said, "Yes, we all wish that too."

[loyalsister]

19. He met every president since Truman

and hundreds of law makers. He is said to have had a unique awareness of what their responsibilities meant. From what I understand, he was a kind person with some disgusting ideas. The same can be said about some of our favorite presidents.
I see his death as no great loss, but apparently he did have a unique relationship with US government officials. I don't love the idea, but I also don't have a huge problem with it.

[eleny]

20. One last chance for the pols to kiss his ass

I'm sorry to see Dems lining up for this.

I recall seeing Graham at his extravaganzas on tv when I was a kid many decades ago.

[CTyankee]

24. i remember my grandmother doing a wickedly funny imitation of Graham preaching...

she was an atheist (actually something called a theosophist). I never quite got the jist of that whole philosophy.

She hated Graham's sermon's, talking about getting "saved" in almost angry terms. She hated all that yelling, considered it rude.

[FarCenter]

21. Last non politician to lay in honor was Rosa Parks

https://www.aoc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/basic-page/lain_state_honor_2015.pdf

But if J Edgar Hoover didn't cause a lightning strike on the rotunda, we're probably safe with Graham.

[librechik]

22. It's an old habit, I guess n/t

[Initech]

23. Because fundiegelicals are convinced they own the White House now.

I hate these fucking assholes.

[PoliticAverse]

25. Because the members of the Senate and House unanimously passed the resolution...

co-sponsored by 9 Republicans and 3 Democrats to allow that to happen.

See:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/107/all-info

[pangaia]

26. Is this the face of a sane man?

[SomethingNew]

30. This an awfully long way from government establishment of religion

The founders were not, and constitution, to the dismay of many, is not anti-religion. I think you'd be pretty hard pressed to find another non-politician that has had as large an impact on the US government (an impact that a great many democrats, including presidents, saw as beneficial).