President Obama Scales Back National Day Of Prayer
Thursday, May 7, 2009 (12:14 pm)
By Worthy News Staff
WASHINGTON, USA (Worthy News)-- United States President Barack Obama was to limit his participation in the annual "National Day of Prayer," Thursday, May 7, to signing a proclamation, disappointing both Christian conservatives and atheists who want to end the tradition.
"We are disappointed in the lack of participation by the Obama administration," said Shirley Dobson, who chairs the National Day of Prayer Task Force, a private group that promotes prayer events around the country. The task force estimates two million Americans attended more than 40,000 events marking the day last year.
Dobson, who is also the wife of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, added in published remarks that "At this time in our country's history, we would hope our president would recognize more fully the importance of prayer."
However White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs denied that President Obama did not value prayer. "I think the president understands, in his own life and in his family’s life, the role that prayer plays," Gibbs told reporters. "And I would denote that administrations prior to the past one did proclamations." It was a reference to President George W. Bush, who besides signing a proclamation also participated in public prayer events and meetings with religious leaders.
PRIVATE PRAYER
"The president will publicly observe National Prayer Day. But as I said, privately he’ll pray as he does every day,” Gibbs said about Obama's plans. Yet, atheists say that even a proclamation goes to far and a debate over the day has landed in federal court in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Obama administration has asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which claims the day violates the separation of church and state.
In a rare alliance, 31 mostly Republican members of Congress and a prominent Christian legal group are joining the administration to fight the lawsuit, news reports said. Freedom From Religion Foundation Co-Director Annie Laurie Gaylor told media she has been "shocked" by his administration's defense of the day in court.
The Madison-based group of 12,000 atheists and agnostics filed the lawsuit near the end of George W. Bush's second term. It asks a judge to declare the law unconstitutional and to order presidents and governors to stop issuing prayer proclamations.
LONG TRADITION
The Obama administration reportedly asked U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb to dismiss the case in March, saying the the group has no legal standing to sue and that the tradition's roots date to 1775. In addition, the administration said most presidents have invoked faith in a higher power.
It also stressed that the day does not promote religion and argued that preventing presidents from issuing a proclamation would "unfairly" restrict how they communicate with Americans.
The U.S. Congress established the day in 1952 and in 1988 set the first Thursday in May as the day for presidents to issue proclamations asking Americans to pray.
WASHINGTON, USA (Worthy News)-- United States President Barack Obama was to limit his participation in the annual "National Day of Prayer," Thursday, May 7, to signing a proclamation, disappointing both Christian conservatives and atheists who want to end the tradition.
"We are disappointed in the lack of participation by the Obama administration," said Shirley Dobson, who chairs the National Day of Prayer Task Force, a private group that promotes prayer events around the country. The task force estimates two million Americans attended more than 40,000 events marking the day last year.
Dobson, who is also the wife of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, added in published remarks that "At this time in our country's history, we would hope our president would recognize more fully the importance of prayer."
However White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs denied that President Obama did not value prayer. "I think the president understands, in his own life and in his family’s life, the role that prayer plays," Gibbs told reporters. "And I would denote that administrations prior to the past one did proclamations." It was a reference to President George W. Bush, who besides signing a proclamation also participated in public prayer events and meetings with religious leaders.
PRIVATE PRAYER
"The president will publicly observe National Prayer Day. But as I said, privately he’ll pray as he does every day,” Gibbs said about Obama's plans. Yet, atheists say that even a proclamation goes to far and a debate over the day has landed in federal court in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Obama administration has asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which claims the day violates the separation of church and state.
In a rare alliance, 31 mostly Republican members of Congress and a prominent Christian legal group are joining the administration to fight the lawsuit, news reports said. Freedom From Religion Foundation Co-Director Annie Laurie Gaylor told media she has been "shocked" by his administration's defense of the day in court.
The Madison-based group of 12,000 atheists and agnostics filed the lawsuit near the end of George W. Bush's second term. It asks a judge to declare the law unconstitutional and to order presidents and governors to stop issuing prayer proclamations.
LONG TRADITION
The Obama administration reportedly asked U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb to dismiss the case in March, saying the the group has no legal standing to sue and that the tradition's roots date to 1775. In addition, the administration said most presidents have invoked faith in a higher power.
It also stressed that the day does not promote religion and argued that preventing presidents from issuing a proclamation would "unfairly" restrict how they communicate with Americans.
The U.S. Congress established the day in 1952 and in 1988 set the first Thursday in May as the day for presidents to issue proclamations asking Americans to pray.
Copyright 2009 Worthy News. All rights reserved.
This is an open forum. Any opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of Worthy News, or its parent ministry Worthy Ministries.
Increase
Decrease
Praise the Lord! Keep praying for our President.
Amen!
Praying For The leadership… To Walk Humbly With The LORD
“He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” Matthew 12:30
To Stand Resolute With Israel
“For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.” Psalms 69:35
Kneeling In Worship
“Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” Revelation 5:12
Leading In Truth
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
Knowing The End
“Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.” Zechariah 14:3
To Give Glory To The LORD
In the name of Jesus, guide our United States govt. to heart sets, and mind sets of wisdom. Create a humbleness within each person in Congress and President Obma’s cabinet to know that they need Jesus, and that You Jesus are theyre source for everything they have and for where they are in they’re lives. Even if you Jesus have to pull back your blessing, I’m willing to ride the storm, because I know I belong to you. In Jesus name
We in Britain envy you in the US having a National Day of Prayer. We had the odd Day in the past, but such Days are never called by our monarch now. We don’t have separation of church and state, so there is no reason why not to call for Days of Prayer. Our nation needs divine intervention. A formal arrangement would help to focus all our people on the LORD and also give believers a legitimate opportunity to refer to Him. Give thanks, US, for whatever you get in this area of national life!
It is very sad how your Queen has so neglected her duties in matters of faith these last decades. I have nothing but respect for how she held up and stood strong during WWII. And I have no doubt it was God that empowered her to hold up so. Which makes it all the more sad how she has just led people astray with her power to do good, or nothing, in the area of being an example for Christ. I hold her Knighting gays just because it was economically prudent for England to have been nothing less than a shameful sellout. Profitability is not everything. She did not have to discriminate against them to keep from outright blessing them. And it shows too. One wonders just whom she thinks saved Great Britian, the English, or the English (and their Allies) who trusted in Christ?
Maybe President Obama learned from that disgusting thing they called a prayer at his Inaguration.
Amidst a strange and rapidly changing political landscape a rare blossom is found. Three cheers to the Obama administration for speaking up for the goodness and heritage of our nation. We should be aware of the executive branch’s influence on judicial matters. There are so very few people who actually “hate” God and anything that denotes His existence. When these few surface to wipe out His footprints, we can’t be idle. Atheism is a religion in itself and these folks are always trying to move the line between what is true and what is error.
“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face
and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin
and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
Now I am confused by the online fellowship of this site…..in some places I see people posting to “Defend the separation of church and state” when a given law or bill will violate Christian rights…..but then on other threads, like this one…I see people celebrating a clear and definite breech in the separation of church and state. It is hard to imagine a more direct involvement of government in private religion then to have the leader of the government call for a national day or prayer….isn’t this mixing of the two exactly what we try to avoid in this country? I can’t tell which side of that particular coin this community falls on. So which is it….church and state SHOULD mix or SHOULD NOT?
When this country was given to us by God, it was done so due to the founding father’s faith. The Bible was the foundation of its Government. Children were taught to read in order to be able to read the Bible. This expression “separation of church and state” has been thoroughly misrepresented on purpose. Its original intent was that the state or government could not interfere with the faith or religion of the people, which at that time was Christianity (who knows what it is now). Government and schools were built on the foundation of Christianity and God was acknowledged in this country as a real and living Creator.
That is the sole reason why American has been blessed, not unlike the Jews who were blessed when they obeyed God and judged with punishments when they disobeyed. God is the same yesterday, today and forever and what is what is going on in America now is the same as what was going on with the Jews throughout history. We must never forget that without the Jews, we Christians do not exist. We come forth from them spiritually.
We have lost our way, that is our foundation, due to the many cracks of apathy and idolatry that have crept in during the past decades and now we are reaping what we have been sowing. I guess God has about had enough of it and He has now begun the harvesting. His harvesting isn’t going to look very acceptable to most, since separating the tares and the wheat will be a painful process but it has truly begun.
May we draw strength from those who have had to suffer much more that we in other countries and may we always glorify His Holy name in all we do and say.
Baruch haba b’shem Adonai, Yeshuati
When this country was given to us by God, it was done so due to the founding father’s faith. The Bible was the foundation of its Government. Children were taught to read in order to be able to read the Bible. This expression “separation of church and state” has been thoroughly misrepresented on purpose. Its original intent was that the state or government could not interfere with the faith or religion of the people, which at that time was Christianity (who knows what it is now). Government and schools were built on the foundation of Christianity and God was acknowledged in this country as a real and living Creator.
That is the sole reason why American has been blessed, not unlike the Jews who were blessed when they obeyed God and judged with punishments when they disobeyed. God is the same yesterday, today and forever and what is going on in America now is the same as what was going on with the Jews throughout history. We must never forget that without the Jews, we Christians do not exist. We come forth from them spiritually.
We have lost our way, that is our foundation, due to the many cracks of apathy and idolatry that have crept in during the past decades and now we are reaping what we have been sowing. I guess God has about had enough of it and He has now begun the harvesting. His harvesting isn’t going to look very acceptable to most, since separating the tares and the wheat will be a painful process but it has truly begun.
May we draw strength from those who have had to suffer much more that we in other countries and may we always glorify His Holy name in all we do and say.
Baruch haba b’shem Adonai, Yeshuati
It would be nice if you could show all of us where it says anything about seperation of church and state, it does say the state shall not infringe upon the right to worship nor will the state set up a specfic religion, but they are trying to stop the worship thru the so called “hate” laws.
Ask….seek…knock….and the door will be opened unto you. If only you have an ear to hear or the eye to see, the deep questions of your heart shall be answered. Should church and state mix? Should His will be done on earth as it is in heaven? Should His Kingdom come?………. As long as the Most High is in control and His Holy, good, and perfect will is unfolding before my eyes, I do not care about the church and state situation, for He is in control and Mighty to save! Look to Him and His Son, for the time draws nigh.
Peace, grace, and mercy be upon your bodies, souls, and hearts in these times of lawlessness.
~jay
{{{ So which is it….church and state SHOULD mix or SHOULD NOT? }}}
You Are Teasing
Aren’t You….?
The Wee Folk Of The USA!
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
“…. We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
And The Supreme Judge Of The World!
“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38
So, What Ever Could Have Happened To Put US In Such Hot Water?
“The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.”
“It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.”
“For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 7:4-6
Is There Yet Any Hope For Sinner Folk, Public Or Private?
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.” Joel 2:32
The LORD Knows!
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
John 14:1-2
Trust Him!
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”
John 11:25