BY Kenneth R. Bazinet
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON - President Obama attended church on Sunday for the first time since April as an increasing number of Americans believe - falsely - that he is Muslim, not Christian.
The entire First Family walked from the White House across Lafayette Square Park to St. John's Episcopal Church, the quaint house of worship informally known as the Church of the Presidents.
The Obamas sat a few rows back from the altar among about 40 worshipers.
The President and First Lady Michelle Obama, along with their daughters, went up for Communion.
Obama last attended church in Washington on Easter Sunday, April 4.
He has not joined a church in the capital, giving the reason that his presence - and that of his large entourage - would disrupt other people's worship.
His low-profile Christianity may be playing into the Muslim myth, however.
A Pew poll last month showed 18% of Americans - and nearly one-third of Republicans - wrongly believe Obama is a Muslim.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a Republican who backed Obama, suggested yesterday the public doubts about Obama's religion have more to do with a weak economy.
"I'll bet you a dollar if the unemployment rate was not 9.6%, but it was down to 4%, then you would find only 5% thinking he's Muslim," Powell said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
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