Groups call for more inclusive prayer day

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By Eric Fingerhut · April 23, 2009

The Interfaith Alliance and the pro-First Amendment group Jews on First have written a letter to President Obama asking him to endorse an "Inclusive National Day of Prayer and Reflection" on May 7 that welcomes believers of all religions and those who profess no religion.

The groups said it was making the request because it said the National Day of Prayer, first proclaimed by President Harry Truman in 1952, has been "taken over" by "religious exclusivists" led by the Christian group Focus on the Family and excludes non-Christians from its events.

"We are respectfully asking as well that you decline to issue a separate proclamation for May 7th to the National Day of Prayer Task Force," says the letter, "because the group has a record of using proclamations from elected officials to raise the status of events in which it discriminates against and excludes clergy who represent faith traditions other than fundamentalist evangelical Christianity."

The group says the task force requires volunteers to pledge that prayer day activties will only be conducted by Christians, although those with differing beliefs are welcome to attend.

The full letter can be seen here.