If youre a big supporter in the separation of church and state, you might want to skip President Barack Obamas final State of the Union address on Tuesday night.Both Republicans and Democrats not to mention the White House itself invite guests to attend the annual address, and its not just as a favor to those invited.Special guests typically serve as symbols ofissues of the day, and this year, faith is at the heart of some of the most contested ones. Thats why many of the guests in the House gallery will represent various religious backgrounds and the issues they bring with them.Heres who you can expect to see in the audience, and why theyre so significant.
Kim Davis, county clerk from Rowan County, Kentucky
After same-s*x marriage became legal in all 50 states as a result of lastyear"shistoricSupreme Court ruling, Davis made news when she refused to issue marriage licenses to gay couples because she said it violated her religious beliefs. Her protest was at the center of a national debate on gay rights versusfreedom of religion, and that fightis certainly not over. The Family Research Council, a social conservative, antigayactivist group, has arranged for Davis and her lawyer to attend the address, though its unclear which lawmaker is responsible for providing the seats. In a directcontrast to her presence, though, will be Jim Obergefell, the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that nationalized gay marriage. Hes a guest of the president.
Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis was jailed for disobeying a judge"s order to issue marriage licenses to gay couples, which she violated her religious conscience. Photo: Ty Wright/Getty Images
Dr. Mohammed Qureshi, Muslim doctor whose mosque was shot in a hate crime
Qureshi is the presidentof Baitul Aman Mosque in Meriden, Connecticut, which was shot at shortly after the Nov. 13Paris terrorist attacks. A local resident named Ted HackeyJr.fired several rounds of bullets from his semi-automatic rifle in his yard -- aiming some in the direction of the mosque next door. His Facebook page featured hateful rants like All Muslims must die! Qureshi, who is a guest of Rep.Joe Courtney, D-Conn., said he wished he had introduced himself to the mosque neighbor. If he had known us, he wouldnt have had that hate.
Catholic nuns Sister Loraine Marie Maguire and Sister Constance Veit
Maguire and Veit have been invited by the House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis.,to represent the Little Sisters of the Poor, a Catholic religious order that has fought a long legal battle against the Affordable Care Acts contraceptive mandate. In a class-action lawsuit, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty has argued on behalf of the nunsthat religious exemptions in the ACA are not enough,because simply signing the coverage over to a third-party insurance provider makes them complicit in offering birth control. Maguire and Veit will sit in the Speakers Box during the speech.
Religion and faith featured prominently for lawmakers choosing guests for Tuesdays State of the Union speech. Pictured: Nuns from the Little Sisters of the Poor gather in New York, Sept. 24, 2015. Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
Asima Silva, founder of Meet aMuslim Day
After a spike in backlash against Muslim-Americans following the Paris and San Bernardino terrorist attacks, many activists have mobilized to increase awareness about Islam among their fellow Americans. Asima Silva is one of those activists. She founded EnjoinGood.org, an organization dedicated to help Muslims be more active in their communities through service. She also organized Meet A Muslim Day in Worcester, Massachusetts, in an attempt to build bridges between Muslim-Americans and their fellow citizens. Silva is a guest ofRep. James McGovern,D-Mass.
President Barack Obama delivers his 2015 State of the Union speech before Congress, the Supreme Court and other top officials in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol. Photo: lex Wong/Getty Images
Various Muslim-Americans
Reps. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, a Muslim, andDebbie Wasserman-Schultz of Florida, a Jew, both Democrats, have urged their colleagues to invite Muslims to the speech in as a sign of opposition to anti-Muslim bigotry. According to an aide of Wasserman-Schultz, 20 members of Congress have pledged to bring Muslim guests to the event. Among them is Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., who is bringing Abdirahman Kahin, a prominent Muslim from the Twin Cities and a local restaurant owner. Other Muslims in attendance will include an imam from New Jersey and representatives from the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/sotu-guests-muslims-nuns-kim-davis-underscore-role-religion-state-union-2016-2261735
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