Obama cancelled 2010 White House National Day of Prayer ceremony. The National Day of Prayer has historically been the first Thursday in May, since Harry S. Truman put it into effect in 1952, but wasn’t official until the days of Ronald Reagan.
For eight years, the White House held a celebration on the National Day of Prayer, and last year Obama cancelled the celebration, and the ceremony has been cancelled for 2010. In 2009, CNN reported that Obama was toning down the National Day of Prayer by cancelling the White House ceremony, but that the official day was not cancelled.
The National Day of Prayer was created to remind people to pray for family, friends, the country, etc. It wasn’t created for a specific religion, but for anyone who wanted to participate.
In the past, many Presidents worried that making the National Day of Prayer official may cross the line at keeping church and state separate. While cancelling the National Day of Prayer ceremony has some people upset, and others have no opinion.
Kevin Coburn, from Salt Lake City said, “People shouldn’t care about the National Day of Prayer being cancelled. If people want to pray, they should, but they don’t need a special day set aside for it.”
If you enjoyed this article, click on the subscribe button above to receive emails when this examiner publishes a new article.
Source: Helium and CNN
Maria Kirilenko suffers early loss in Spain (photos)
Articles from this examiner:
Giant meteor flashes through Wisconsin and amazes citizens (video)
Video: April 15, 2010 is tax day for 2009 and this brings anxiety and the search for an extension form
Sarah Palin joins the Boston Tea Party (video)
Students find Sarah Palin’s speaking contract in trash; state investigation of university opened
Massive earthquake hits China, death toll over 400, and aid is rushed in (video and photos)
Sales of 2010 Lexus GX 460 SUV suspended after Consumer Reports released warning
President and Michelle Obama to travel to Poland for President Kaczynski’s funeral
Hank Williams wins lifetime achievement Pulitzer Prize in music
Nadia Bloom, 11-year-old autistic girl found alive after five days
Comments
Even if it is cancelled there will ALWAYS be a national day of prayer whether it is on the calender or not.
This is crap reporting. It leaves unclear whether the national day of prayer was canceled, or just the official white house celebration of it.
This is a bit misleading. The National Day of Prayer Observance is still recognized. A ceremony marking it was canceled last year - here is the article from the Washington Post: President Obama is distancing himself from the National Day of Prayer by nixing a formal early morning service and not attending a large Catholic prayer breakfast the next morning.
All Mr. Obama will do for the National Day of Prayer, which is Thursday, is sign a proclamation honoring the day, which originated in 1952 when Congress set aside the first Thursday in May for the observance.
For the past eight years, President George W. Bush invited selected Christian and Jewish leaders to the White House East Room, where he typically would give a short speech and several leaders offered prayers.... See More
Obama White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that the president is simply reverting back to pre-Bush administration practice.
I guess five times a day is enough for the pres.
Cindy - Is you comment meant to imply he is a Muslim? If so, shame on you, you know that's not true. And, how un-Christian of you to malign someone falsely!
It is a big thing and he shouldnt even distance himself. When he came the president of this country he knew what we are one nation under God. If he cant represent that then why did he want to be president. We as a country our losing our believes and values that this country was founded on. We are so worried bout offending everybody that we are destroying this country from the inside out. It is a day for all races and religions to unite and pray for guidance and peace. So why would you want to be distance yourself from that. It shows me he doesnt accept what others believes just what and how he feels. Wake up america and face reality before we lose this country.
This is perhaps the most poorly researched and written article I've ever seen on the Examiner, and that is saying a lot. It is factually incorrect. The NDOP is still law and designated as the first Thursday in May. President Obama simply chooses to do what the law requires and no more. He will sign the proclamation. (Reference: 1998 Pub. L. 105-225, August 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1258: The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.) He will then mark the day privately, as is his right. He is, after all, not the Pastor In Chief.
Wow, what a lot of misinformation- check your sources, guys. It was NOT cancelled.
@ Dawn: This country was not founded by any means of religion. Our founding fathers were deists, all of them believed in God, yet shared a resentment for organized religion feeling that it impedes on a growing society. One nation under God was not added until 1954, way after the establishment of the United States.
John Adams said it himself: "The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion. This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it." You can find this in the Treaty of Tripoli.
you guys are idiots. the white house CEREMONY was cancelled, not the DAY. no where in this article does it say the day is cancelled. READ before you freak out and leave stupid comments.
I don't need a National Day of Prayer to pray but this is just another example of how Obama is trashing the traditions and legacies of our country. He didn't care one bit about offending anyone back in September when he allowed Muslims to hold a Day of Prayer on the Capitol grounds. As a Christian, I am offended.
This story is false. Debunked it on my blog A Dash of Salty this morning.
Ok guys read the article it says that he cancelled the Ceramony at the White House, not the day. but I agree iwth LoveRae, any day is a day of prayer
Can someone ... anyone show me where the "separation of church and state" is written? What the constitution says is that ... the state shall not mandate a religion (e.g. Church of England - where the King dictated what was preached.)The fact that the new administration bows to the whim of a few shows his strength of character. He either believes in prayer or not. His praying will not sway me one way or the other, however his lack of conviction to take a stand in what he believes does.
I really have a problem with the President cancelling the White House prayer! Yes we can pray everyday and that day on our own but with all the horrific stuff that goes on day to day it would be nice that the person we elect to lead us finds this day important enough to hold it WITH us!!!! As Red Skeleton said about the Pledge of Allegience "wouldn't be a sad day if becuase the words "under God" was put into the pledge that the people would consider it unconstitutional to say in school!" Gee, who'd of thought!!!!
Just so I understand correctly--he is cancelling a National Day of Prayer ceremony at the White House for the Atheists-- who dont believe in anything. Yet those that do get nothing? My oh my what have we done to ourselves.
They need to kick him out of of the White House. Don't need this for a head man Praying for short term
I hope he keeps it up so he becomes a one termer like Carter
FALSE: National Day of Prayer 2010 Canceled by Obama: The truth: President Obama has not, in fact, canceled the National Day of Prayer. Per a 1988 Act of Congress setting the observance on the first Thursday of every May, the U.S. National Day of Prayer will take place as usual on May 6, 2010. The information was just made up to get people upset.
I do not understand why this is such a big deal. We live in a nation where there are many different religions and I don't think that we need to have a day of prayer for the Christians (which I am one of)and then nothing for all of the other religions. We need to keep it neutral and stop overreacting every time this man makes a move. Good grief you should be ashamed of yourselves! How many of us could stand up to the scrutiny of the press...especially when they make up half of what they write.
If you cover the statue of Jesus, you would cancel prayer day.
Everyday is prayer day, acknowledged or not, and I will continue to pray for the soul of the ungodly Obama,for his removal from office and for all the others who will find out when it's too late that they should have prayed.
Good, I don't want the Muslum in Chief praying in the Peoples House anyway
Of course he cancelled it, I don't care if he claims to be a Christian, the man is a Muslim
PROGRESSIVES are Evil and hate God. Are you surprised??
@Danny before you correct someone you really need to read the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, and see just how much Christian values and Christians Faith is in each one. As for Obama and canceling the day of Prayer at the White House. He has to answer to God for this. I pray for this Country each and every day. That is what I am as a Christian to do daily. More Christians need to do this. God Has Blessed this Nation; but for how much longer will He keep letting things continue.
Why not let the White House know how we feel about the cancellation as the atheists and "other people" did about the ceremony?
The article clearly states the day itself has not changed or been cancelled, just the WH ceremony. So the article isn't wrong, just the headline.
Why should our President bow to the cries of a select group of people who mock prayer, when they don't have a belief system in place other than unbelief.
KLM
Because he cancelled the prayer celebration last year, not surprised Oboma is cancelling it this year. His reason for doing so was because of athiest and others who did not want this event to take place. If this outcry was so controversial, according to Oboma, then the same reasoning should have applied to not PASSING OBOMA CARE!!!!! 2012 can't get here fast enough!!!!!
No wonder more and more people are deciding to become atheists.....gotta love how religion lets you be a bigot and judgmental of every other religion out there. How do you know that Christianity is THE religion? How do any of us know that what we believe is the truth? You all need to step back and get off your high horses and think about how your religion would view what you have to say on here.
I KNOW he cancelled the ceremony and not the day itself but it is still a travesty. They open sessions of Congress with prayer and when tragedies happen like 9/11 and earthquakes there is LOTS of prayer then. It's just one more step in the wrong direction for our great country.
He is a communist heathen. Read Mein Kampf if you want to see what's coming next. I don't care one way or another but am beginning to think this as*hole is trying to dismantle the foundation of the country and his fifteen minutes are up. In '12, that is.
I am beginning to think there "is" something to his being a raghead muslim after all. And the governour of Hawaii "did" seal his actual birth certificate. I'm just sayin'.
I hope that all of us pray for this Country and its leaders. We are a far step from believing and doing that which is morally right. Who broke all the Tem Commandments Mose did he threw them down and broke all of them. But my friends we have literary broke them through our sins and call it our right. The good old USA better wake up.
For those who imply that Obama cancelled it because he is Muslim..How can you be so righteous? Would a real Christian talk like that. Why do you need a celebration at the White House to pray. You can do that on your own, you don't even need a church.
Hey WOW it's Faith you got to have Faith! belief in and devotion to God
First, he does not attend public church services because he claims 'their presence would be too disruptive', then he cancels the ceremony for the NDOP to distance himself from it. He will continue to make decisions that follow his personal beliefs and make cryptic comments that hide his heritage and religion. He's nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing.
It's just another example of why Obama needs to be OUT of office. I don't care how many non-believers cried about it, it was always in place until Obama crawled in. All of the people that think he's a "good" thing for our country, are sadly mistaken, and will figure it out when it's too late. And, for Melissa....Are you an American? You surely don't sound like one. Maybe, you should be the one doing some research!! All we can do as Americans, is to pray, and pray hard. We are in for some real trouble in our country!
Separation of Church and State. Pray on your own time. The US gov't should never favor any religion. The President has a country to fix.
The National Day of Prayer was first started in 1775 allocated by Continental Congress to allow a day of prayer and has been called for by Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Although it did not become official until Harry Truman signed a bill on April 17, 1952 making the National Day of Prayer an official holiday in the United States designated for the first Thursday of May.
go to time and date .com to see this information, I would post the exact link, but links and URL's are disabled on this page, which makes it impossible to list my exact source, and unlike Marci Stone, name my source.
Juile.
"First, he does not attend public church services because he claims 'their presence would be too disruptive', then he cancels the ceremony for the NDOP to distance himself from it. He will continue to make decisions that follow his personal beliefs and make cryptic comments that hide his heritage and religion. He's nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing. "
George W didnt attend church services either. Bet you voted for him and called him a good christian man.
Reagan & Bush Sr. also cancelled all but one each of their National Day of Prayer ceremonies. Didn't hear anyone raising a fuss then, did you?
Well, it's always favored christianity, and all has been ok until Obama comes into the picture...
Religion, the bible, prayer, etc. etc. etc. is nothing more than a bunch of superstitious, man-made, made-up bull dink. PROVE to me that it's real (and, no, that doesn't mean quoting verses from the man-written bible) and I will pray with you, otherwise, keep your religion and your beliefs to yourself.
Per Snopes, this is a false report. www.snopes.com/politics/obama/photos/prayerday.asp
So he cancels the WH ceremony because of outcries from other religious groups, but he let Muslims hold a day of prayer on the Capitol grounds last year???? What's the difference?
Dennis Tedder says:
"I am beginning to think there "is" something to his being a raghead muslim after all. And the governour of Hawaii "did" seal his actual birth certificate. I'm just sayin'."
Did you really just say "raghead muslim?" For people to claim themselves as Christians while barking out racist comments is exactly why Jesus said that the pharisees are all talk but no walk. You can live a righteous life but have hatred in your heart, and never get into God's kingdom. You should take a look in the mirror and look at all of your faults before you start pointing out others. Was Jesus not the all loving and welcoming man who walked this Earth? He was, and if he were here now, he would be ashamed of how some of his so called children lived.
This is the 21st century in America, and racists comments have no place anywhere. If this is truly what you believe, maybe you and Mike Huckabee should head off to some island where you can control who lives there so that you are "sa
Is it 2012 yet?
Not to sure what to think on this one, true every day can be a day of prayer no matter what the religion. Has anyone else seen any comparison to the "Left Behind" series? Just saying....
Matthew 6:5-7...
"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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
JJvest, I certainly am American, but I choose to not perpetuate falsehoods and fearmongering. How is not having a celebration at the White House contributing to the downfall of America? Will it truly affect you? I like my church separate from my state, thank you very much.
Research the FACTS not just what Fox News or any other organization wants you to believe. I am American and I am proud to be able to think and believe for myself. I don't need a National Day of Prayer to be a productive citizen.
Pages
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!