NY Mayor Bloomberg Bans All Clergy and Prayer From 9/11 Ceremony

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has rightly come under withering criticism for banning all clergy and all prayer at this year’s 9/11 commemoration ceremony. It is inexcusable for the mayor to ban prayer at a solemn event of this magnitude, a tragedy that deeply affected all Americans. The faith of millions of Americans in God sustained them on that day and the days that followed, and churches were packed the Sunday following 9/11 with people looking to their pastors for spiritual comfort and guidance.


So why would Mayor Bloomberg stick his thumb in the eye of every believing American? His ban contravenes all of American history, in which political leaders have persistently turned to prayer in moments of crisis, beginning with the first session of the Continental Congress that gave us the Declaration of Independence. His ban on prayer is both misguided and politically stupid. Why would he do it?

Hey, here are Three Queens..

MANHATTAN — Fireworks went off as the Big Apple welcomed the "Three Queens" into the city's harbor with pomp and circumstance Downtown on Thursday night.


The fireworks began at 6:45 p.m. as the three Cunard Line cruise ships, the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mary II and the Queen Victoria came together for the first time underneath the Statue of Liberty.

New Yorkers gathered to watch as the newest ship to join the fleet, the Queen Elizabeth, met with the other two luxury cruise lines. It was only the second time in Cunard's 171-year history that its entire fleet has met in New York at one time, NY1 reported.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed a proclamation declaring Thursday "Cunard Royal Rendezvous Day," the Times reported. The Empire State Building was also lit up in red in honor of the Cunard Line's reunion, according to the company's website.

Although the Queen Elizabeth is the baby of the group, the majestic Queen Mary II cruise ship continued to awe spectators as they gathered in crowds to watch the show.

The event started at 6 p.m. when the Queen Mary 2 departed from Brooklyn Cruise Terminal while the Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth sailed out of their berths on the Hudson River, NY1 reported.

After the event, all three ships began voyages out to sea.