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Controversy Surrounds Today's National Day of Prayer

By Howard M. Friedman

Today is National Day of Prayer, and the the White House's decision not to host a formal event marking the occasion continues to generate controversy. As reported previously, the President will issue a Proclamation marking the day, but will not be involved beyond that. The National Day of Prayer Task Force holds its event, led by Beth Moore and Shirley Dobson, at 9:00 a.m. in the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill. Liberty Counsel has announced that:

following the National Day of Prayer Service, members of Congress and leaders of faith-based groups will hold a bipartisan press conference to affirm America's Christian heritage, as outlined in America?s Spiritual Heritage Resolution (H.Res. 397), and to address President Obama's recent statement, made while visiting Turkey, that "we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation...."

H. Res. 397 is in committee and has not as of this time been voted on by the House. Yesterday's Washington Times quotes several critics of President Obama. Shirley Dobson, chairwoman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, said: "At this time in our country's history, we would hope our president would recognize more fully the importance of prayer." Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America, added: "For those of us who have our doubts about Obama's faith, no, we did not expect him to have the service. But as president, he should put his own lack of faith aside and live up to the office."

Meanwhile the same Washington Times article reports that neither President Obama nor other top administration officials will attend the 6th annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast scheduled for Friday. Joe Cella, a spokesman for the Catholic event, said that while the President would have been welcome to attend, he would not have been permitted to speak because of a 2004 statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (full text) calling on Catholic groups to avoid honoring politicians who oppose Catholic teachings on human life. At Mirror of Justice blog, Rob Vischer questions whether this was the result the Bishops intended by their 2004 directive. Keynote speaker at the Catholic breakfast will be U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on May 07, 2009 (boomark / email).