When New York City somberly marks the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks next weekend, clergy will not be among the invited guests.
No Muslim clerics, Jewish rabbis or Christian pastors. There will be no prayers of any kind at the ceremony.
That’s a big change from Sept. 11, 2001, a day in which it may be argued that God heard more prayers from folks in New York than any other day in the city’s existence.
It was a day when clerics of all stripes were an important part of everything that happened after two American Airlines jets were intentionally directed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.
They prayed for the safety of people in the towers and for first responders. They prayed over the dead and with the injured. They prayed for the city and for the country. And, without a doubt, they prayed for those responsible for the horror.