Obama ends Bush-era National Prayer Day service at White House

For years, it's been a staple of the White House calendar.

On the first Thursday of May, dedicated as the National Day of Prayer, President George W. Bush hosted an ecumenical service in the East Room, a big public endorsement of evangelical Christians. (This event is different from the National Prayer Breakfast, held outside the White House gates every year on the first Thursday of February.)

President Obama opted not to have a service in the White House this year.

"Prayer is something that the president does every day," explained White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, adding that Obama will sign a proclamation to recognize the day. "I think the president understands, in his own life and in his family's life, the role that prayer plays."

President Truman signed the first National Prayer Day proclamation, and President Reagan made it a permanent occasion. Under Bush, the day was a political event, confirming a conviction that religion was a core tenet of Republican politics.

Naturally, prominent evangelicals, including National Day of Prayer Task Force Chairman Shirley Dobson, and her husband, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, expressed disappointment in Obama's decision.

"At this time in our country's history, we would hope our president would recognize more fully the importance of prayer," Shirley Dobson said in a statement.

But Obama has shown an unusual sensitivity toward atheists, the first president to mention non-believers in an inaugural address when he said, "For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers."

Non-believers took heart at Obama's decision but urged him to go further.

"It's not his job to tell people to pray," David Silverman, national spokesman for the organization American Atheists, told CNN.  "We are very happy he did away with the George W. Bush-era celebrations and party, but we wish he wouldn't do it at all."

-- Johanna Neuman

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Photo: Getty Images

Comments

[Imareal]

Our nation was born out of ugly centuries of war with difference of religion used as the excuse for persecution, genocide, and terror. Separation of church and state is what set us apart and offered hope for a new world; hope that was not to be had by religious means that offered sectarianism and violence. It is often the same today whether it is Allah, Jesus or Oil that is "worshiped." It still comes down to power and oligarchy, war and terror. Why fear openly proclaiming ourselves a secular, constitutional democracy? Our founding fathers did it and brought light into the world.

[basementfrog]

Thank, God.

Someone knows both the constitution and scripture, and respects God.

"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
6
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
7
3 4 In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
8
Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. "

Jesus said that.

"Thanks, President Obama, for understanding what he said. May he guide you always."

I said that.

[Milly]

It is a very sad day in America when our Nation's President refuses to lead us in a very much needed "Day of Prayer". It's too bad. Frankly, with the way things are going, Obama could use as many prayers as he can get. What's next? The National Day of "non-believers"?

[basementfrog]

Thank, God.

Someone knows both the constitution and scripture, and respects God.

"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
6
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
7
3 4 In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
8
Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. "

Jesus said that.

"Thanks, President Obama, for understanding what he said. May he guide you always."

I said that.

[MichaelMerriman]

It is not wise or sensible to pray with bitter and angry people such as Limbaugh and Dobson. Why pray with someone who constantly proclaims they want you to fail, or describe you in the worst of terms other than a child of God? Maybe it is the wisdom of Moses who refused to pray for Pharoh in his presence or in the city, that President Obama has gotten insight from. Limbaugh and Dobson should search the Scriptures and learn that such wisdom and insight is hidden from the proud, arrogant, bitter, hateful and angry.

[Bearpaw]

Matthew 6:5-6: "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

[meko]

It was the right thing to do. No one wants to restrict the President's beliefs, but using religion for political gain has gone on for too long in this country.

Matthew 6:5-6

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

[Larry]

I guess Barack was disappointed that Rev J. Wright was not heading up the National Day of Prayer Breakfast..
Its a sad day for America.. on more slide down the slippery slope to the abyss.... I'm personally disappointed in our president..what next?

[Cathy Principato]

My heart breaks for what God must be feeling.
This Country needs prayer more than ever. What the President has done is a disgrace. I just can't believe it.

[steve rodriguez]

What god does he pray to? an alter to himself?

Obama get down to the prayer breakfast ASAP!!!!

[David]

Everyone is having trouble fixing the economy, health, and other disasters. What we forget is that only if we quit beleiving in men but in GOD and humble ourselves and submit to HIM, then he will change the course of what we have done to ourselves. Obama cannot fix this, he is a man-human just like all of us and makes mistakes as well. Only JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth may fix it. It is not going to get any better, only worse.

[DJ Girardin]

President Obama did the wrong thing to stop the national day of prayer service at the White House. If we are going to be a strong nation we need to cling to God

[Pom Pom Girl]

Michell Obama's Beliefs?
Barack Obama claims to have not heard Rev. Wright say hurtful thing during his 20 year attendance at the mans church. Well, if he was sleeping through the loud sermons, what the heck was his wife doing. Surely she, an attorney by trade, should have been paying attention!
She should have warned her husband to greatly distance himself from this hateful individual. That is unless of course she agrees with Mr. Wrights statements. Given her comments on her lack of pride in the US until recently, her attendance at this particular church and her comments on 60 minutes that allege someone (presumably a white person) could shoot her husband at the gas station on any given day, gets me to wondering as to her agreement with Rev. Wrights sermons.

[Bossier J. Davis]

Thanks for being the ONLY national publication to "mention" this breaking news! I wish that our president didn't compromise where God is concerned. Hands down, he's the nicest--even the coolest president whose made the biggest mistake of them all. Alas, everything that glitters sure isn't gold. Sin if you want, invade another country just because, pad a few pockets, but never ever never, eliminate GOD from the equation! Why? God can fix sin, home invasion and financial corruption and any other mess you find yourself in....without God, you and I are nothing..
Truth be told, if Pres-O was praying AND getting a response, he'd know NOT to do away w/public recognition of National Day of Prayer. Think about it, you believe in God but you compromise with an atheist on a National Day of Prayer ceremony? They weren't coming to the party anyways so it wouldn't matter if you held it or not!

[jen sledge]

Lord Help Us All !!!!!!

[Bossier J. Davis]

To anyone using Matthew 6:5-6 to support the president’s actions, please read the entire chapter as it was directed to hypocritical form of individual prayer, which is different from a nation’s leader recognizing a national day of collective or corporate prayer by holding a prayer ceremony for believers. Clearly, a misappropriation of the Scripture as this verse has everything to do with motive and would counter corporate prayer such as See You at the Pole or even when pastors pray for and/or with their congregation. This same Jesus who warned a specific people not to hold hypocritical individual prayers for the sake of being “seen of men” prayed openly for people to be healed for example as well as in private to God about God’s will.
God honors leaders who acknowledge His office within their office through prayer—corporate and individual. Solomon is an example of a king (national leader aka, president) who sought the Lord in public and established a place of worship for God: 2 Chronicles 7. God honored Governor Sonny Perdue’s called prayer during a drought two years ago. It's been raining ever since!

[June]

Prayer? Obama has no time for prayer. He's too busy taking from some people and giving what he takes to others.

[Ed]

"Where there is NO "VISION", the people will perish."
He is leading this nation and the people down a slippery slope. All this is just the beginning.

[June]

Well said Ed.

Prayer was taken out of our schools. Now, many schools have become a war zone with students fighting teachers, usings drugs, refusing to show respect for anyone and shooting and killing other students. Their learning is low their dropout is high. I think we all need prayer. Obama should have led this country in prayer for a better economy and a more peaceful world.

[LibertyTreeBud]

I pray that we pray anyway we want to and when and where we do it is good and right and to hell with obama and his stupid ideas.

[Colli]

Jesus does tell us to be humble when we pray, but he also asks us to recognize him for who he was/is and is to come. HE is the King of this nation, not Obama. If Obama had a relationship with the Lord he would have know this. I'm not meaning to disrespect any of you, or Obama, but it's the truth.

[Shawny]

Yes, It probably would have been good for Obama to continue have the prayer breakfast at the White House, but it is his choice. He did not do away with the National Day of Prayer, he just didn't do it the way George Bush did it. I am very concerned about the anger that a lot of christians are displaying. We christians need to do more praying and stop bickering about when and where the president prays. Basically you would rather have a president who looked christian than one who is christian. You can't judge a book by it's cover. He has clearly prayed openely manay times so to act like he is against the nation praying is ridiculus.

[BJ Hebert]

I am among those who believe that Matthew 6:5-6 supports the president’s actions, precisely because it was directed to hypocritical public prayer, which is an apt description of the political motivations now driving National Prayer Day. That President Obama refuses to be used by James Dobson and other evangelicals determined to break down the walls between church and state speaks well of his judgement and moral integrity.
In light of their own moral shortcomings, "hypocrite" seems to be exactly the right descriptive term for those on the right who are so anxious to throw stones.

[Robert Hall]

It is sad that he will not participate in a national day of prayer but instead host an islamic prayer group on the lawn on sept 25. The Beast has arisen. The end is near. check it out www.islamoncapitalhill.com

[paulette rideout]

We are one nation under God, prayer is one of the most inportant part of that foundation . William Penn wrote"If thou wouldest rule well thou must rule for God, and to do that thou must be ruled by Him, those who will not be governed by Him will be ruled by Tyrants. This is a day of public and private prayer like never befor if we want to remain free on Nation Under God
paulette