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National Day of Prayer Proves to Be a Subsidiary of Focus on the FamilyFocus on the Family leader mounts attack on New York governor to force him to issue a proclamation
by JewsOnFirst.org, May 1, 2007 Major figures on the Christian Right are pulling out all the stops to simulate an official, government-endorsed national prayer day scheduled for Thursday, May 3rd. Focus on the Family, regarded as the nation's most powerful religious right group, effectively controls the day's events, according to news reports and interfaith non-profits. On Monday, Focus on the Family Chairman James Dobson thanked his followers for successfully badgering New York Governor Eliot Spitzer into becoming the 50th governor to sign a proclamation for the National Day of Prayer. Dobson's wife chairs the self-appointed National Day of Prayer Task Force. The group is organizing prayer events in and near official buildings and schools to give the impression of government-endorsed religion. Interlinked websites promoting this year's event (listed on the task force home page pictured here) also include web pages on evangelizing military personnel. We've provided examples and links at the end of this report. One of the interlinked websites operated by the pseudo-official Presidential Prayer Team promotes a "National Observance" from Washington DC, bidding the public to: "[j]oin with us as we celebrate America's 56th annual National Day of Prayer from our nation's capitol." James Dobson will be one of the presenters. Purposeful exclusion of other faith traditions
In a statement issued last week the Texas Freedom Network warned that the task force -- "sometimes with the tacit approval and support of elected local and national officials – uses the day to promote 'culture war' battles that divide, rather than unite, our nation." Indeed, the task force requires coordinators of local prayer day events to sign an explicitly Christian statement of faith "confirming your commitment to Christ." Both the Salt Lake Tribune and the Colorado Springs Gazette report that non-Christians participants have been turned away from events. The Gazette interviewed a woman who says she is no longer allowed to be an coordinator because she invited people of other faiths to participate in an event she organized. The National Day of Prayer Task Force website has a dismissive item entitled "Official Policy Statement on Participation of 'Non-Judeo-Christian' groups in the National Day of Prayer." The "official" policy is that these "non" religious groups should organize their own, presumably unofficial events. Focus On the Family attack on Governor Spitzer
On April 27, Dobson emailed his supporters and posted on his CitizenLink website this message: We want to make you aware of a slap in the face the governor of New York has delivered to people of faith all across the country. Scant news coverage of Christian Right's takeover of prayer day
"For Focus on the Family to claim that its website is the official website of the National Day of Prayer is highly irresponsible,” said the alliance's spokesman William But the American people are unlikely to learn about the religious right's takeover because, to date, no national newspaper or network has exposed it. The Salt Lake Tribune published a story Friday about the exclusion of non-fundamentalist Christians by the Focus on the Family-dominated National Day of Prayer Task Force. And on Saturday the Gazette in Colorado Springs, where Focus on the Family is based, wrote in some detail about the takeover and noted the religious right political agenda for which prayers were crafted. Accessible extremism
Most notable among these is the "Military Ministry" link found in the left margin of the Task Force's military page, a few inches above the Oliver North link. Military Ministry is one of the many innocuously named operations of Campus Crusade for Christ. (More here) A click on the "Evangelism and Discipleship" menu item brings up a video in which the speaker says: "Military Ministry’s first strategic objective is to Evangelize and Disciple All Enlisted Members of the US Military. We seek to provide every uniformed son and daughter of America with an anchor for the soul through Jesus Christ. This process begins at the recruit training bases…boot camps…where new troops are transformed physically, mentally, and ideally… spiritually." The schools link offers a curriculum with a "Christian worldview" by David Barton, a religious right leader who argues that the US was founded as a Christian nation. The schools link also offers a kit to organize a prayer day at school and an "adopt-a-leader" program, which encourages children to pray for their political leaders. We have assembled quotes from some of those websites below.
National Day of Prayer Task ForceTurning a Day of Faith into a Rally for the Christian RightTexas Freedom Network, April 2007 Although originally established by Congress in 1952 as a day of prayer for people of all faiths, in recent years the National Day of Prayer has been co-opted by the religious right to advance a politicized, sectarian agenda. This is due in large part to a deceptive and deliberate strategy executed by the National Day of Prayer Task Force, a private organization that explicitly excludes participation by any non-Christian group in its programs. Although the NDP Task force has no recognized standing with any governmental body, its Web site bills itself as the “official” Web site of the National Day of Prayer. Further, the group’s extensive organizing efforts at the federal, state and local level have established it as the de facto national sponsor. This is evidenced by widespread endorsement in the media and, more alarmingly, by state and local governments. Continue reading this summary, which includes links to a 2005 report on the prayer day by the Texas Freedom Network's Educational Fund. Day of Prayer: Our way or the highway?Peggy Fletcher Stack, The Salt Lake Tribune, April 27, 2007 Next week's National Day of Prayer was once a symbol of American unity and faith in God that transcended boundaries. In recent years, though, the decades-old tradition has become mired in divisions. Across the nation, most celebrations are organized by and for evangelical Christians, with others choosing to host alternative services. Believers from Muncie, Ind., to Oklahoma City to Troy, Mich., and Salt Lake City have added more inclusive events, with participation across the spiritual spectrum. The holiday began in 1775 when the Continental Congress asked Americans to pray for guidance as it was trying to birth a nation. Abraham Lincoln called for a day of "humiliation, fasting and prayer" in 1863. Nearly a century later, Harry Truman made it an annual event, and in 1988, Ronald Reagan set aside the first Thursday in May so citizens could join in worship across all religious boundaries. Continue. Day to PrayNational event set aside for all, but evangelicals play the lead rolePaul Asay, The Colorado Springs Gazette, April 28, 2007 Anyone can pray. And most people do. They pray in gratitude, in pain, in petition. They pray to sink that putt, pass that test, survive this day. Some pray without knowing who they pray to, but they pray all the same. The National Day of Prayer is about all that, but since its inception, it’s become something else, too: It’s now as much about redstate values, about presidential proclamations, about Bible-reading marathons on the Capitol steps. It’s a day where communion wine mingles with apple pie, and some wonder whether the National Day of Prayer really encompasses all Americans. "It’s become an exclusively evangelical event," said Victoria Heim, who is organizing a local multifaith Day of Prayer observation at Shove Chapel. Continue.
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May 4, 2007. Coverage of the day's activities is 
Americans Unite in Prayer
Military Ministry’s first strategic objective is to Evangelize and Disciple All Enlisted Members of the US Military. We seek to provide every uniformed son and daughter of America with an "anchor for the soul through Jesus Christ. This process begins at the recruit training bases ... boot camps ... where new troops are transformed physically, mentally, and ideally ... spiritually.
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Dozens of Heads Were Bowed
Dana Milbank, Washington Post, May 4, 2007
Let us pray.
Let us pray that, on next year's National Day of Prayer, there is better attendance at the "Bible Reading Marathon" on the West Front of the Capitol.
Organizers put out 600 folding chairs on the lawn -- the spot where presidents are inaugurated -- and set up a huge stage with powerful amplifiers. But at 9:30 a.m. yesterday, not one of the 600 seats was occupied. By 11 a.m., as a woman read a passage from Revelations, attendance had grown -- to four people. Finally, at 1 p.m., 37 of the 600 seats were occupied, though many of those people were tourists eating lunch. Continue.
National Prayer Day marred by divisions
Peggy Fletcher, Whittier Daily News (Whittier, California), April 3, 2007
Thursday's National Day of Prayer was once a symbol of American unity and faith in God that transcended boundaries. In recent years, though, the decades-old tradition has become mired in divisions.
Across the nation, most celebrations are organized by and for evangelical Christians, with others choosing to host alternative services. Believers in Muncie, Ind.; Oklahoma City; Troy, Mich.; Salt Lake City and more have added more inclusive events, with participation across the spiritual spectrum.
The holiday began in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked Americans to pray for guidance as it was trying to birth a nation. Abraham Lincoln called for a day of fasting and prayer in 1863. Nearly a century later, Harry Truman made it an annual event, and in 1988, Ronald Reagan set aside the first Thursday in May so citizens could join in worship across all religious boundaries. Continue.
Mississippi jurist encourages prayer at D.C. event
Ana Radelat, The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Mississipi), May 4, 2007
Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Jim Smith came to Washington on Thursday to make "judicial branch remarks" at a National Day of Prayer event on Capitol Hill.
The event, held in a cavernous room at the Cannon House Office Building, had the feeling of a religious revival and was aimed at encouraging Americans to pray.
Smith spoke about the importance of prayer in his life, especially after a bout with cancer and the death of his first wife. He said "a prayer line with God gives people their strength." Continue.
Church, state get closer for a day
>Nearly 100 gather in Bel Air for National Day of Prayer observance
Mary Gail Hare, The Baltimore Sun, May 4, 2007
While noontime traffic rolled past on Main Street in Bel Air yesterday, a crowd of about 100 people gathered in front of the Harford County Courthouse in small groups. Clusters of strangers filled the courtyard, locking arms with one another, eyes closed and heads bowed.
This was not the monthly assembly of peace demonstrators, the casual lunch bunch on a pleasant spring day, or the concert-goers at the town's weekly First Friday events, all of whom convene regularly on the courthouse grounds in the county seat. This group had come to pray and sing in voices that overcame the din of cars, trucks and sirens. Continue.
Prayer day in Akron is divided
Christians gather at courthouse, interfaith group meets at church with different themes displayed
Colette M. Jenkins and Carl Chancellor, Akron Beacon-Journal, May 04, 2007
Millions of Americans came together across the nation on Thursday to pray and echo the theme ``America, Unite in Prayer.''
But in Akron, the 56th annual observance of National Day of Prayer was divided -- a Christian-based event drew about 150 people to the steps of the Summit County Courthouse downtown while an interfaith service several blocks away at Church of the Master United Methodist Church on East Market Street attracted more than 50 people, including those of the Baha'i, Christian, Hindu, Islamic and Jewish faiths.
``It's lovely to see the diversity. It is truly the face of America,'' said Chloe Ann Kriska, executive director of the Akron Area Association of Churches. ``On National Day of Prayer, all people of all faiths are to come together and pray in accordance with the way we are accustomed to praying. Muslims need not hide Mohammed today and Christians need not hide Jesus today. If we deny who we are in our faith, it leads to the rumor mill and the rumor mill leads to the hate mill.'' Continue.
'Sim Shalom' at national prayer day
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, May 4, 2007
The U.S. Army Chorus sang "Sim Shalom," the final prayer of the Amidah, at the National Day of Prayer at the White House.
The chorus opened Thursday's event with a rendition of the prayer that ends the Amidah, the most common set of Jewish prayers, recited three times a day. The "Sim Shalom" prayer beseeches God for peace.
President Bush addressed the event, and a number of U.S. senators were in attendance. Rabbi Michael Siegel of Anshe Emet, a conservative congregation in Chicago, was among a number of clerics delivering remarks. He recited Psalm 145, saying that it offered solace to President Abraham Lincoln during the U.S. Civil War.
The original report is here.
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