National Day of Prayer

By Kat Ahn on May 6th, 2009

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The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by a joint resolution in Congress and was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.  It has been observed every year on the first Thursday of May since 1952 and invites people of all faiths and denominations to pray for the state of our country.

Disputes over religious faiths have been in existence for centuries and if you look at the pages of any major News publication, it is normal to see these types of headline stories.  And having a day set aside for prayer is one that is not exactly welcomed with open arms by all.

The Detroit Free Press reports that evangelical Christian organizers of the National Day of Prayer were not invited to the White House ceremonies today.  Shirley Dobson, chairwoman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force says, “We are 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.”

President Obama who has stated that he is a committed Christian is taking a different approach to public observance of the National day of Prayer than President Bush who publicy marked the day during his two terms in office.

White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs defended the Obama Administration saying, ” I think the president understands, in his own life and in his family’s life, the role that prayer plays.  And I would denote that the administrations prior to the past one did proclamations. That’s the way the president will publicly observe the national prayer day. But, as I said, privately, he’ll pray as he does every day.”