Have I Missed the National Day of Prayer?

Not quite, but it appears that I'm giving it about as much attention as our president. President Obama discontinued the annual religious right-focused prayer service that George W. Bush held during his eight years in the White House. Looks like James and Shirley Dobson are going to be out in the cold for awhile.

During the Bush years the Dobson's, along with other religious right leaders, took part in an annual government-sponsored prayer service. According to Americans United for Separation of Church and State: "The relationship appeared to give governmental endorsement to the Dobsons’ National Day of Prayer Task Force, a private fundamentalist group that sponsors Christians-only prayer meetings around the country."

Obama has indicated that he will sign a proclamation recognizing the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, but that no special White House prayer service will be held.

Here's what Barry Lynn, AU's executive director, had to say about President Obama's actions:

I am pleased that President Obama has made this decision. The president is required by federal law to declare a National Day of Prayer, but there is no requirement that a special event be held at the White House in observance of this event.

During the Bush years, the Dobsons and other Religious Right leaders were given special access to the White House. That seems to have come to an end, and I’m glad.

Congress should never have mandated a National Day of Prayer. Americans don’t need the government telling them when to pray and what to pray for. But if the federal government is going to set aside a prayer day, it should recognize the broad diversity of faiths, not just fundamentalist Christians.

Barry Lynn is right. There's a time and a place for prayer, but at the White House -- on a specific day -- is not it. This is something evangelicals like Dobson fail to understand, and what they also don't get is that religious freedom is only guaranteed when there is church-state separation.