Thursday, May 07, 2009

Obama Cuts Prayer Day Service


President Obama is distancing himself from the National Day of Prayer by nixing a formal early morning service and not attending a large Catholic prayer breakfast the following morning.

All Mr. Obama will do for the National Day of Prayer, which is Thursday, is sign a proclamation honoring the day, which originated in 1952 when Congress set aside the first Thursday in May for the event.

For the past eight years, President George W. Bush invited selected Christian and Jewish leaders to the White House East Room, where he typically would give a short speech and several leaders offered prayers.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that the president simply is reverting to pre-Bush administration practice.

"Prayer is something the president does every day," he said. "We're doing a proclamation, which I know that many administrations in the past have done."

Pressed by reporters as to the lack of a formal ceremony, Mr. Gibbs said the proclamation was Mr. Obama's choice.

"That's the way the president will publicly observe National Prayer Day -- privately he'll pray as he does every day," he said.

Shirley Dobson, chairwoman of the National Day of Prayer Committee, said the group was "disappointed in the lack of participation by the Obama administration."

"At this time in our country's history, we would hope our president would recognize more fully the importance of prayer," said Mrs. Dobson, who occupied a prominent seat in the front row for the ceremonies during the Bush administration.



8 comments:

Dontmissyoursunsetlady said...

This makes me sad, not mad, but sad. May I have your address please, you can e-mail it to me. I'd like to send a thank you.

Dee said...

The Lord tells us you will know a christian by his fruit.. Obama is not Christian! So sad for our poor country. Thank you for your lovely compliment about my doodles. I will get with you soon about recieving a doodle. I am leaving Sat. morning to visit the grandkids and will be home at the end of the week. Dee

Sugar Boogers & Tantrums said...

Hubby told me about this and we are totally disgusted by alot of things he is doing. Things that don't make sense and divide this country.

I miss you. Haven't heard from you in a while. Is everything ok? Have a Happy Mommy's Day!!

Becky said...

Wow! is all I have to say. When President Obama won the election I said I would support him and pray for him because he was the president of this country even if I did not vote for him. Every day this man makes it harder and harder for me to support him. I have not seen anything that he has done that I do support. O I will still pray for him but I have to say I am not happy about him and his policies.

Gramma 2 Many said...

Matt 7:16-20 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? 17. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neith can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringethnot forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Sorry, I was only going to reference verse 20, but could not use that one alone.

Washer Mom Val said...

OK - I'm in the minority here, but the guy is expected to create miracles in his first 100 days by all in the U.S. He has had so many "public" things to do and accomplish, he is a father too - I admire that he prays on his own and has a family that he prays with - we should tkae comfort that he even prays! Why have only 1 day of prayer - we as Christians should pray every day and not say "ooohhh - today is the day we pray" then forget about it the rest of the year. That is right up there with Easter/Christmas churh attenders. Ok - I'm off on a tanget....sorry Glenda!

Anonymous said...

I don't think being a christian is a requirement for the presidency, but Obama is a Christian. Secondly, it seems to me that a National Prayer Day should be more inclusive and also include Hindus, Muslims, Zen Buddhists and other recognized world religions. Too, in the Bible, as I recall, Jesus says, "Take thee to the closet to pray.: which suggests that prayer above all is a private, personal matter. Tija S.

Glenda, saved by grace said...

Ok OK I hear ya...I simply put an article on my blog that was interesting to me. Only the Lord knows my heart...and He also knows what the outcome of this thing we call LIFE will be.
May the Lords will be done! :)