Obama issues National Day of Prayer proclamation
He said he would do it.
Now President Obama (pictured) has followed through with a National Day of Prayer proclamation.
He had yet to do it when we went to press with tomorrow’s Life section featuring a story and timeline regarding this year’s observance.
Proponents of the National Day of Prayer have been waiting to see if Obama would issue the proclamation at a time when the observance has been challenged in the courts.
The full text of the proclamation, courtesy of the White House Office of the Press Secretary, is below:
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, 2010
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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Throughout our history, whether in times of great joy and thanksgiving, or in times of great challenge and uncertainty, Americans have turned to prayer. In prayer, we have expressed gratitude and humility, sought guidance and forgiveness, and received inspiration and assistance, both in good times and in bad.
On this day, let us give thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed upon our Nation. Let us rejoice for the blessing of freedom both to believe and to live our beliefs, and for the many other freedoms and opportunities that bring us together as one Nation. Let us ask for wisdom, compassion, and discernment of justice as we address the great challenges of our time.
We are blessed to live in a Nation that counts freedom of conscience and free exercise of religion among its most fundamental principles, thereby ensuring that all people of goodwill may hold and practice their beliefs according to the dictates of their consciences. Prayer has been a sustaining way for many Americans of diverse faiths to express their most cherished beliefs, and thus we have long deemed it fitting and proper to publicly recognize the importance of prayer on this day across the Nation.
Let us remember in our thoughts and prayers those suffering from natural disasters in Haiti, Chile, and elsewhere, and the people from those countries and from around the world who have worked tirelessly and selflessly to render aid. Let us pray for the families of the West Virginia miners, and the people of Poland who so recently and unexpectedly lost many of their beloved leaders. Let us pray for the safety and success of those who have left home to serve in our Armed Forces, putting their lives at risk in order to make the world a safer place. As we remember them, let us not forget their families and the substantial sacrifices that they make every day. Let us remember the unsung heroes who struggle to build their communities, raise their families, and help their neighbors, for they are the wellspring of our greatness. Finally, let us remember in our thoughts and prayers those people everywhere who join us in the aspiration for a world that is just, peaceful, free, and respectful of the dignity of every human being.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 6, 2010, as a National Day of Prayer. I call upon the citizens of our Nation to pray, or otherwise give thanks, in accordance with their own faiths and consciences, for our many freedoms and blessings, and I invite all people of faith to join me in asking for God’s continued guidance, grace, and protection as we meet the challenges before us.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA
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Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Cartoons, religion and TV
Several of my worlds collided last night when I finally sat down to watch one of my favorite television shows.
“The Good Wife,” starring Julianna Margulies (pictured) and Chris Noth, featured an episode about a newspaper being sued for negligence because it ran a cartoon image of the Prophet Mohammad. One of the newspapers editors was killed when someone threw a bomb in the newspaper building. A radical Islamic terrorist group claimed responsibility for the fatal bombing.
Now, the new episode aired on Tuesday, but I didn’t get to see it until Thursday because of my busy schedule. I sat there slack-jawed because I couldn’t believe that my effort to escape into a TV show had been tharted. It just goes to show that religion permeates every part of our society these days.
I was especially intrigued about the ethical questions that surrounded the whole issue of the cartoon. Should a newspaper or any media entity be held liable if it prints a cartoon of a religious figure and the cartoon incites violence?
Then, another question arose: Is it ethical for a newspaper or media outlet to print or air something solely for the shock value (and the resulting spike in circulation), even knowing that it might stir violence or put someone in serious jeapardy? Is there a sensitivity to religion and religious figures that should come in to play when these questions are being debated?
Some news folks would argue that those kinds of questions come up everyday and that there are many stories that wield that potential power and influence.
What is different in the case of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad is the threat of violence from radical Islamic extremists.
A prime example of this is what happened in mid-April when the Comedy Central TV show “South Park” aired an episode featuring the Prophet Mohammad.
The animated show showed the religious figure hidden in a bear suit, so his actual image wasn’t depicted per se. The show did, however, portray Jesus and Buddha in such a way that many Christians and Buddhists were probably offended by.
Should the Prophet Mohammad have received similar treatment? Should the Islamic religious figure have been treated with kid gloves as Comedy Central obviously chose to do? In a world where fear of terrorists is very real (with good reason), were the Comedy Central leaders doing the right thing by pushing their censorship button?
All these provocative questions came to mind as I watched ”The Good Wife,” trying to relax a bit.
What do you think?
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
P.S. If you are interested, here’s more on the “South Park” episode: South Park censorship. And here’s some more: Forbes.com. Also: Christian Science Monitor.
April 30 Today’s Prayer
Friday, April 30
Bring healing, Lord, to those who have been devastated by disaster. Amen.
April 28 Today’s Prayer
Dear Lord, free Your people from the bondage of selfish immorality. Amen.
Wednesday, April 28 
April 27 Today’s Prayer
Prepare our hearts, dear Lord, for what You have in store for us. Amen.
Tuesday, April 27 
Obama meets with Billy Graham
The Associated Press is reporting that President Obama met with evangelist Billy Graham (pictured) on Sunday at Graham’s North Carolina home.
Reportedly, evangelist Franklin Graham, Billy Graham’s son, said the meeting was very cordial.
Here’s The Associated Press story: President meets with Billy Graham
April 26 Today’s Prayer
Monday, April 26
Lord, let us clearly define our goals so that we can act with purpose. Amen.
April 24 Today’s Prayer
Saturday, April 24
We are in awe of Your benevolence, and we desire to be more like You, dear Lord. Amen.
April 23 Today’s Prayer
Friday, April 23
Lord, let us not be reckless when we make decisions instead let us seek Your wisdom. Amen.
Alliance Defense Fund sends Natl Day of Prayer letters
The Internet and blogosphere is abuzz with commentary and news about the National Day of Prayer and a federal judge who recently ruled that it is unconstitutional.
Here’s some of the latest news:
The Alliance Defense Fund has sent leters to mayers across the country telling them that it is OK to observe the National Day of Prayer on May 6.
In a news release, leaders of the fund said they wanted to inform the city leaders that a federal judge’s decision striking down the National Day of Prayer statute as unconstitutional does not impedes their observance of the designated day.
An initial letter was sent by the Alliance Defense Fund to mayors on April 1, urging them to observe and participate in the May 6 event and resist demands from National Day of Pray opponents to discontinue honoring the day.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
