National Prayer Breakfast and Trump

It's that time of year again -- National Prayer Breakfast. I have talked about this practice before. I won't link to the website again.  

"Prayer" seems to have a certain ecumenical flavor to it though perhaps not totally universal to all religious beliefs. The foundation behind the ceremony suggests otherwise in its vision page:

The vision of the National Prayer Breakfast Foundation is to promote and share the idea of gathering together in the Spirit of Jesus of Nazareth, adopted by the Senate and House Prayer Breakfast Groups in the United States Congress.

Trump had this energy when releasing an executive order regarding "Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias."

Some Christians were not too supportive:

The Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, a Baptist minister and head of the progressive Interfaith Alliance, accused Trump of hypocrisy in claiming to champion religion by creating the task force.

“From allowing immigration raids in churches, to targeting faith-based charities, to suppressing religious diversity, the Trump Administration’s aggressive government overreach is infringing on religious freedom in a way we haven’t seen for generations,” Raushenbush said in a statement. 

Quakers have also voiced their opposition. Perhaps, Trump doesn't mean those Christians. Religious freedom for all, not for those Trumpites support, is our birthright. Full religious liberty should be honored. 

The EO cites his pardon of abortion clinic protesters. They are portrayed as totally innocent and the Biden Administration's prosecution is an example of anti-Christain attacks. Let's say YMMV. 

The Hill noted: "Trump’s pardons included a group convicted of a 2020 planned blockade of a District of Columbia-area abortion clinic. Protesters bound themselves with chains and locks and physically obstructed clinic staff and patients during the blockade, which was live-streamed on social media." 

See also, NBC coverage. 

The DOJ press release noted how nine people: "forcefully entered the clinic and set about blockading two clinic doors using their bodies, furniture, chains and ropes." 

BBC: "The group was convicted of conspiring in 2020 to storm a Washington reproductive health clinic and block access to intimidate patients and staff. Members forced their way into the Surgi-Clinic, injuring a nurse, and spent several hours inside."

The people pardoned included those involved in multiple efforts like this. These are not just innocent grandmothers etc.

Religious liberty includes getting health care according to your faith. Encouraging lawless interference with medical care is wrong.

Trump's involvement with Christian Nationalism had long been reported. It is depressing among other things this person of all people is out there talking about God and the government. 

Among the other bad things, he will promote a certain view of religious freedom, including but not limited to the deprivation of various types of health care. 

Private prayer, including in non-official meetings of government officials, is a protected activity. How it is expressed can be problematic, including if there seems to be a de facto governmental endorsement. 

The same applies to how the government goes about protecting religious liberty. Selective concern, including appeals to the majority religion being the true victims, is not the answer. It can be instead quite hypocritical and counterproductive.  

ETA: There is often some reference to "Our God" as if everyone clearly accepts the same one. The arrogance ignores differences in faith, those who don't believe in any god, and some who believe in many.