Reading the Obamas' Rare Public Church Appearance
Updated on 10/14/09
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
It's unusual to see video footage of President Obama attending a Sunday church service. Having left Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ last year over the Reverend Wright flap, Obama has reportedly made a habit of worshiping privately at Camp David's Evergreen Chapel.
On the rare instances when the president has strolled before the cameras to enter or exit St. John's Episcopal Church, a popular worship destination for U.S. presidents because it's just a short stroll from the White House, it has been on an important weekend. He worshiped at St. John's this year on Inauguration Day and on Easter Sunday.
So what brought him and his family there this past Sunday, for only the third time?
The White House did not provide an explanation. But wouldn't it be a pretty big coincidence for a rare Obama public church appearance to come the morning after his address to the nation's biggest gay rights group, the Human Rights Campaign, which drew plenty of fire from religious conservatives?
Asked whether there was a connection between Obama's church appearance and Saturday night's Human Rights Campaign dinner, White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships executive director Joshua DuBois—who accompanied the president to church—said "no" in an E-mail message.
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Tags: Barack Obama | religion
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Reader Comments
Just one more facade
from a man who cherishes his secrets!! I take this with a grain of salt - he does NOTHING without a hidden agenda!
Word of an Atheist
The word of an atheist, My children, is nothing, for he uses whatever means--foul and degraded, it matters not to him, for the end will justify his means. That is the rule of an atheist, My child.
"Human life is of no value to the unbeliever. The unbeliever, My children, does not know of the life beyond the veil. Therefore, he is running wildly throughout his world, gathering all manner of worldly riches; for his kingdom is upon earth with satan, and his future is with satan
The Pragmatic President
Any politician worth their salt knows that you cannot alienate ANY voting bloc if you can avoid it. There are supposed to be no religious tests to become a public official, but the court of public opinion demands that our president attend church...whether they want to or not. Personally, I find it refreshing to not have the leader of our nation wearing the supernatural on his sleeve and making decisions based on mythology.
I am a non-theist and have no need for a god to lead an ethical and full life. There are few things as dangerous as mixing God and governance. Let's keep religion personal and make public policy based on facts and evidence. If Mr. Obama needs to walk into a church once in a while to placate the religiously inculcated...well...he unfortunately has to do it.
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