COLORADO SPRINGS - Organizers of this week's National Day of Prayer still don't know whether the White House will participate.
The event's evangelical character earned it a White House welcome during President George W. Bush's eight years in office. But Brian Toon, vice chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, says to date, there's been no mention of a White House observance being held this year.
According to an article this past week in the Colorado Springs Gazette, advocacy groups for so-called inclusive dialogue on faith in America are "trying to break what they perceive as the organization's monopoly on the event."
The newspaper went on to say that the "Interfaith Alliance and Jews on First sent a letter this month to President Barack Obama asking him to declare that the National Day of Prayer is for Americans of all faiths - and even for nonbelievers."
The Gazette also reports that "White House officials have not said whether the Obama administration will formally honor the prayer day."
The newspaper said that as of Wednesday this past week, Joshua DuBois, executive director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, had not responded to several e-mails from The Gazette.
Meanwhile, Toon emphasizes that Americans of any faith can stage their own prayer gatherings or attend those organized by the task force. Unfortunately, he says some have sought to abolish the National Day of Prayer instead.
Amid wars, terrorism, moral decline and swine flu, Toon says there's plenty to pray about.
The event's evangelical character earned it a White House welcome during President George W. Bush's eight years in office. But Brian Toon, vice chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, says to date, there's been no mention of a White House observance being held this year.
According to an article this past week in the Colorado Springs Gazette, advocacy groups for so-called inclusive dialogue on faith in America are "trying to break what they perceive as the organization's monopoly on the event."
The newspaper went on to say that the "Interfaith Alliance and Jews on First sent a letter this month to President Barack Obama asking him to declare that the National Day of Prayer is for Americans of all faiths - and even for nonbelievers."
The Gazette also reports that "White House officials have not said whether the Obama administration will formally honor the prayer day."
The newspaper said that as of Wednesday this past week, Joshua DuBois, executive director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, had not responded to several e-mails from The Gazette.
Meanwhile, Toon emphasizes that Americans of any faith can stage their own prayer gatherings or attend those organized by the task force. Unfortunately, he says some have sought to abolish the National Day of Prayer instead.
Amid wars, terrorism, moral decline and swine flu, Toon says there's plenty to pray about.
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