National Prayer Breakfast

"The National Prayer Breakfast is a yearly event held in Washington, D.C., usually on the first Thursday in February." It's not sponsored by the government itself like an official "day of prayer," but the wide semi-official nature of it is of some concern. This is not about President Biden expressing his own Catholic views. It is the way a broader religious event that invites governmental officials should be truly catholic, not "Catholic."

But, checking the website, repeatedly it is not. It is not merely the reference of God, one which is masculine. Not that this is ideal. There are various people who feel some religious and/or spirtual need to pray that would find at least the latter troubling. It is the blatantly Christian nature of some of the references, including specific highlighting of "Spirit of Jesus of Nazareth"and use of the "Lord's Prayer," a Christian prayer.

President Obama repeatedly showed some concern to include all faith traditions when referencing religion, including in day of prayer type proclaimations. Members of the government can express themselves in ways that express their own beliefs. But, if we have a "national prayer breakfast," I think it should be remembered that "prayer" is not just some Christian thing. Father Martin's Colbert interview, by the way, went well. He was due earlier, but was bumped by the Bidens. Martin has a new book on prayer. So well timed.