The National Day of Prayer and Obama's Middle Path

By TChris, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Thu May 07, 2009 at 10:02:44 PM EST
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It is difficult to square President Obama's proclamation of May 7, 2009 as a National Day of Prayer with the founding belief that the government should be neutral on religious matters. In his proclamation, the president expressly "call[s] upon Americans to pray in thanksgiving for our freedoms and blessings and to ask for God's continued guidance, grace, and protection for this land that we love." With all due respect, Mr. President, whether I choose to pray or not is my business, not yours and not the government's.

Perhaps it it is asking too much to have a president who agrees that lobbying for prayer is not an appropriate exercise of official authority. President Lincoln approved the Senate's request to designate April 30, 1863, "as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer," Congress passed a joint resolution in 1952 establishing the National Day of Prayer, and the president has proclaimed a National Day of Prayer every year since 1975. We may one day have a president willing to buck that trend, but it isn't Obama. [more ...]

It is at least mildly comforting to observe that President Obama, as he so often does, seems to have settled on a middle path, one that does not divorce his office from a ceremonial approval of religion while avoiding the more enthusiastic embrace of Christian prayer that characterized his predecessor.

Dan Gilgoff observes that Obama's proclamation makes only one reference to God while last year's proclamation "featured five references to God in the first paragraph alone" and 15 in all.

Whereas Bush employed overtly Judeo-Christian language when invoking God in last year's proclamation, Obama's goes out of his way to emphasize religious pluralism, even acknowledging nonbelievers.

During the Bush administration, the National Day of Prayer morphed into "a showcase for religious conservative Christians to lead the nation in prayer." Obama has been derided by the religious right and its media supporters for toning down the White House's endorsement of prayer. James Dobson expressed disappointment that Obama did not send a White House representative to a supposedly bipartisan program on Capitol Hill, breaking a nearly two decade long tradition. Good for Obama.

Not so good, but not surprising, is the Executive Branch's decision to ask a judge to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the National Day of Prayer as violating the Establishment Clause. Given the president's decision to uphold the long tradition of political calls for prayer, dismissal is the lawsuit's likely outcome.

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The National Day of Prayer and Obama's Middle Path | 28 comments (28 topical)

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I'm glad I have been occupied with other things (5.00 / 0) (#2)
by nycstray on Thu May 07, 2009 at 10:22:21 PM EST

and pretty much missed that it was "prayer day". I''ll say a thanks to my fav, Momma Nature, tonight before bed. Much better for my blood pressure ;) And while I'm at it, a shout out to The Great Spotty B!tch in the Sky. Dalmatians rule! {evil grin}

Apparently 1952 was a banner year (none / 0) (#3)
by oculus on Thu May 07, 2009 at 10:36:33 PM EST

for the World Day of Prayer. Figures. I recall it being a very big deal in the Protestant sector of the midwest in my childhood.


Ain't this (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by lentinel on Fri May 08, 2009 at 04:23:19 AM EST

around the time when good old Ike led the charge to change the "pledge of allegiance" in include "under God" so that school children could babble this insidious propaganda?

Wonderful days, those.
McCarthy.
Nuclear tests in the open air.
Duck and cover.
And God.
Lots and lots of God.


: I believe it was '54 (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by cal1942 on Fri May 08, 2009 at 08:02:49 AM EST

I remember when Miss Durkin told us about the additional words, 'under God'
The addition was awkward and didn't really fit the flow of the oath.
If I'm not mistaken it was the Knights of Columbus pressuring Congress (GOP controlled) to include those words.

I think around '52 my parents (none / 0) (#5)
by nycstray on Thu May 07, 2009 at 10:58:08 PM EST

were either fleeing the midwest or had fled. I didn't hit the ground until '59. I'm very thankful they decided CA was a good place to raise a family {grin} I was able to grow up and go to school in pretty neutral territory as far as religion was concerned. iow, it just wasn't on many kids radars. Or their parents where I grew up, and if a family was religious, it was more of a family matter, not shove it down everyone's throats in school, the community etc. Works for me.

I have a very bad reaction to National Prayer Day.


When I saw the headlines stating (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by oculus on Thu May 07, 2009 at 11:00:21 PM EST

the religious right was miffed because Pres. Obama wasn't as gung ho as his predecessors about this event, I thought--there is still such a "Day"? See what living in CA does to one?


: Me likes what living in CA does to one (none / 0) (#7)
by nycstray on Thu May 07, 2009 at 11:19:00 PM EST

It's not bad where I am, most of it is old school and there's a variety. Not much of the born again and/or over the top stuff. Co-existence seems to be the norm. I think it's the volume we have of several vs the narrow mindset of the few.

I actually heard and learned (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by gyrfalcon on Thu May 07, 2009 at 11:20:05 PM EST

the Lord's prayer for the first time when we moved to Mass. from NYC when i was in 4th grade and the class was required to recite it at the beginning of every day.

I am very, very big on keeping religion out of public schools as a result.


: Me too. (none / 0) (#17)
by lentinel on Fri May 08, 2009 at 04:25:51 AM EST

It was the beginning of my feeling of being separated from a sense of belonging to my own country.

: Had to say it as a team (none / 0) (#27)
by MKS on Fri May 08, 2009 at 02:12:11 PM EST

before all sporting events starting in junior high. Try opting out in front of the team captain, coaches and other players, etc.

Eh (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by Claw on Fri May 08, 2009 at 12:27:19 AM EST

This is just political. Unconstitutional? Sure. But atheists are smart enough not to get their feelings hurt. Hell, I didn't even know it was National Prayer day. The right is casting about for something to hold on to, and cancellation or denunciation of prayer day would've been a gift...from God? Seriously, I'm much too worried by the recent behavior of Obama's DOJ to care about this.

Yeah, speaking as an atheist, this is just (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by tigercourse on Fri May 08, 2009 at 02:24:51 AM EST

about at the bottom of my list of worries. As long as the police don't show up at the door to make sure I'm praying, it doesn't really matter.


: The bottom (none / 0) (#14)
by lentinel on Fri May 08, 2009 at 04:14:50 AM EST

The fact that this garbage declaration is at the bottom of our concerns speaks to the many other and more dangerous activities of this administration.
We have just slaughtered people in Afghanistan, and tried to blame it on the "enemy" for hiding among the people. The alternative, not bombing, doesn't occur to these soulless half-wits.
We are still sending drones over Pakistan, killing civilians collaterally. Washington scratches its' head as Al Queda gains support from the people.
We condemn North Korea for testing an unarmed rocket in the air while continuing to circle the globe with baskets full of nuclear missiles. Now they don't even want to talk to us.
Pakistan, with our aid, has nuclear weapons that could fall into the hands of an unstable and possibly unfriendly government.
The prayer-day business, which seems relatively innocuous, is nevertheless an expression of the same mentality. It is an expression of contempt.

NDoP not surprising in its violation (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by pluege on Fri May 08, 2009 at 04:42:29 AM EST

of the fundamental Constitution principle of separation of church and state. The disregard and disrespect for, and ignorance of the Constitution that the NDoP represents comes from the same people who disregard, disrespect, and are ignorant of the teachings of Jesus, who abuse the nonviolence, empathy, and magnanimity of Jesus to make a pompous, abusive authoritarian organization out of faith and religion.

He's smart (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by Mikeb302000 on Fri May 08, 2009 at 05:18:59 AM EST

not to move too quickly on something as sensitive as this. He's a politician, after all. He's more cautious than I'd like, but it is progress albeit painstaking.

"Render Unto Caesar (5.00 / 2) (#21)
by john horse on Fri May 08, 2009 at 05:56:09 AM EST

the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." This is the biblical justification that Roger Williams used for the separation of church and state. Strange how those who want to erode the separation of church and state seem unaware of this verse in the Bible.

The only authority that any religion should have is the conscience of the believers. Mixing religion with the coercive power of the state damages both religion and the state.

Although Rick Warren segued into (none / 0) (#1)
by oculus on Thu May 07, 2009 at 10:05:48 PM EST

"The Lord's Prayer" at Obama's inauguration.

At least he mentioned nonbelievers (none / 0) (#4)
by Spamlet on Thu May 07, 2009 at 10:38:16 PM EST

in his inaugural address. And I'm somewhat reassured by the fact that his mother was a nonbeliever. But yeah:

Perhaps it it is asking too much to have a president who agrees that lobbying for prayer is not an appropriate exercise of official authority.

: Too much to ask? (none / 0) (#15)
by lentinel on Fri May 08, 2009 at 04:17:48 AM EST

If it is too much to ask for this bunch to realize that lobbying for prayer is not an appropriate exercise of official authority, then, bluntly, to hell with them.

Stone the crows! (none / 0) (#9)
by Salo on Thu May 07, 2009 at 11:46:32 PM EST

Pray for UHC oe single payer not this sort of theological tripe. Dumd as a **in' lawyer.

If he was a proper aetheist he'd be for (none / 0) (#10)
by Salo on Thu May 07, 2009 at 11:47:31 PM EST

single payer. Everything else is B***ocks!

With "all due respect"... (none / 0) (#13)
by lentinel on Fri May 08, 2009 at 04:05:27 AM EST

I give Obama zero respect for foisting this on us.

I experience this as an act of contempt by Obama and his coterie.

Just another one of those good ideas... (none / 0) (#20)
by lambert on Fri May 08, 2009 at 05:35:02 AM EST

Is this the visionary part? Or the minimalist part? Much depends on the answer....

I don;t have a problem (none / 0) (#22)
by BobTinKY on Fri May 08, 2009 at 07:56:06 AM EST

with prayer days so long as who to pray to and how to pray to Her/Him is not presribed or in any way intimated by elected officials. The Constitition prohibits establishment of religion it does not forbid all references to or discussions about a diety. I am indifferent about the prayer day thing though vehemently opposed to posting of 10 commandments in public buildings, creches on public property etc.

For the record, I am a proudly non-religous individual. I do think moments of silence for individual contemplation are healthy. If you want to pray fine. If you want to think about and reflect upon matters even better. I thought that was what Thanksgiving was for.

: Yes (5.00 / 1) (#24)
by jbindc on Fri May 08, 2009 at 08:40:31 AM EST

Thanksgiving (in the US) was originally a religious holiday, but it now a secular one.
And as a person who actually attends Mass fairly regularly, I am vehemently opposed to a National Day of Prayer. Like TChris says, I will pray where and when I want, and I don't want Obama or the rest of the government when I am to do that. The administration should be focused on other things.

So? (none / 0) (#25)
by catmandu on Fri May 08, 2009 at 11:26:22 AM EST

As someone who is completely nuetral on the subject of God, I really don't care who prays. It doesn't bother me one bit if its a day of prayer or a day of broccoli. It doesn't cost me money or time so I don't care.
I am always amazed about how intensely people believe or don't believe. I need a scorecard to tell the difference between who is religious and who are atheists. They both sound so alike!

: do you think Bushs (none / 0) (#26)
by Capt Howdy on Fri May 08, 2009 at 01:04:37 PM EST

"Days of Prayer" festivities in the white house did not cost you anything?
somehow I doubt he made the thumpers pick up the bill for that.

What part of the Constitutional did he teach as a (none / 0) (#28)
by jawbone on Fri May 08, 2009 at 05:25:05 PM EST

Constitutional law professor?

Just wonderin'....