| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"Harry Hope" |
| Date: |
08 May 2004 07:59:03 AM |
| Object: |
National day of prayer draws fire from Christians |
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_04057ndop.shtml
National day of prayer draws fire from Christians
7/5/04
An annual address by US President George W. Bush marking the National
Day of Prayer has drawn fire from several religious groups, including
the Fuller Theological Seminary.
Bush's speech was broadcast on Thursday night over US Christian
television and radio networks as part of an evangelical concert,
transmitting his message to a pivotal political constituency around
the country.
The president's participation in the broadcast drew criticism from
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which suggested
that the non-profit evangelical organization that sponsors the concert
and related events was improperly advertising for Bush's re-election.
Some religious figures also accused the organizers of the broadcast
and the White House of using prayer for political purposes.
The president made his remarks before a small gathering of religious
figures in the East Room of the White House.
"God is not on the side of any nation, yet we know He is on the side
of justice. And it is the deepest strength of America that from the
hour of our founding, we have chosen justice as our goal," Bush said.
The White House ceremony offered some religious diversity - with
Catholic, Protestant and Jewish clergy offering prayers.
Bush even acknowledged the nation's religious pluralism in his speech.
"Americans of every faith and every tradition turn daily to God in
reverence and humility," Bush said.
However the audience was largely made up of evangelical Christian
leaders.
Among them were Southern Baptist Convention president Jack Graham, SBC
Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission President Richard Land and
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler.
__________________________________________________________
Politics? Naaaaaaaaaaaaah.
Harry
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