President Barack Obama is scaling back White House plans for Thursday’s National Day of Prayer even as his administration defends the tradition in federal court in Wisconsin.
Obama’s position has disappointed Christian conservatives, who want the president to do more to mark the day, and an atheist group that wants him to end the tradition.
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.
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.
[i]Obama’s position has disappointed Christian conservatives, who want the president to do more to mark the day, and an atheist group that wants him to end the tradition.[/i]
If he’s offending both fringe groups then he’s probably getting it about right.
Christian conservatives are a fringe group? Who knew.
Is that once or five times a day as required?
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/Bills/HCR100_HD1_.HTM
PLEASE TO LET THE FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION FOLKS KNOW, OKAY?
One of the biggest objections centers around the perpetual chairperson of the event … Mrs. Dobson … who — with her husband and various minions — give a thumbs up or down on participation by others. She takes great care to ensure that only the “right people” participate.
Let’s be honest.
Susan Russell’s religious convictions are generally “fringe”. She just doesn’t know it – or want to – because she is a part of an insular leftist culture, 58% of whom (Californians) want to legalize pot (in a recent survey quoted on ABC news).
So, Susan.
Mr. Obama is supposedly dedicated to religious diversity and respects the faith practices of millions of Americans. So he shows it by staying behind closed doors on the National Day of Prayer and signing a vacuous statement. What will you say when he stays behind closed doors and ignores the much MUCH smaller (but more vocal) gay rights groups? Will you say, “he’s probably getting it about right” then?
Choir Stall,
Susan is not interested in engaging you or anyone else in a conversation; she just likes to be a drive-by commenter. Please do not honor that behavior by wasting so much binary code on it; rather, let her behavior speak for itself.
‘What will you say when he stays behind closed doors and ignores the much MUCH smaller (but more vocal) gay rights groups? Will you say, “he’s probably getting it about right†then? ‘
He’s not ignoring conservative Christians, he’s missing an event. If the president misses marching in a Gay Pride parade, I’m guessing Susan will forgive him.
Matthew 6:5-6.
Choir Stall, I suppose California might be “fringe” – although it has an economy that dwarfs most of the rest of the country. But as far as Marijuana goes, you might want to attend to the following:
“A Zogby poll commissioned by the conservative-leaning O’Leary Report has found 52 percent voter support for treating marijuana as a legal, taxed, regulated substance.”
And as far as homosexual marriage goes, 61% of 18-29 year olds think it should be legal. 22% of those 65 and older. Hate to say it, but the fringe is bcoming the norm.
They are your kids.
Back to subject: I am completely for ending the day of prayer. The state has no role in trying to access the supernatural. It’s plain old Erastianism, and a way to distract Christians from helping others in concrete ways. Too often prayer can be an excuse for not doing the work.