BILLY GRAHAM GAVE BLESSING TO HYPOCRISY

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 29, 1993                   TAG: 9301290429
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
BILLY GRAHAM GAVE BLESSING TO HYPOCRISY
THE INAUGURAL prayer by the Rev. Billy Graham at the inauguration of President Clinton was a display of hypocrisy. He prayed to God and made reference to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Oddly, no one seemed to be concerned about the rights of atheists or other minority religious groups during this inaugural invocation.
Meanwhile, in schools across this land, any form of public prayer is outlawed. A prayer cannot be said at graduation commencement exercises, nor can a prayer be said at the beginning of sporting events.
Are we trying to impress the rest of the world that we believe in a God who will bless our nation and its undertakings, while, within our country, we do everything in our power to eradicate the influence and blessings of God over our children? Will God not recognize our nation's contradictory behavior toward him?
I am a Christian and an admirer of the Rev. Graham, but I am saddened that he would participate in this national display of hypocrisy. JOHN J. FREIFELD BLUE RIDGE

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB