Another day, another national event. How does Hallmark manage to keep up?

This time, it’s National Prayer Day — and some folks are mad at President Obama.

The National Day of Prayer Task Force, chaired by Shirley Dobson, will be holding an observance at the Cannon House Office Building on Thursday, May 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. That observance is open to the public. The White House has been asked to send a representative on behalf of the Executive Branch, but no response has been received, as of today. The Legislative and Judicial Branches will be represented.

Shirley Dobson said today, “We are disappointed in the lack of participation by the Obama Administration. At this time in our country’s history, we would hope our President would recognize more fully the importance of prayer.”

Frankly, since Dobson’s task force limits volunteers or worship leaders to Christians only, I’m ticked that the Legislative and Judicial Branches will be represented — not because individuals might choose to participate, but because they’re going as representatives of the FedGov.

In contrast, Obama says he will be observing privately (as seems to be his habit), and I take that to mean he’s read his New Testament — and specifically, the Gospel of Matthew:

Matthew 6:5-6: 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

The “National Task Force” has doubtless read that same passage. Since their problem seems to be that Obama won’t make a public event of his personal prayer, I can only conclude that they prefer the President to be a hypocrite. Bad Obama!

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs defended the Obama administration’s plan to recognize the National Day of Prayer on Thursday with a paper proclamation, rather than a public event at the White House.

“We’re doing a proclamation, which I know that many administrations in the past have done,” Gibbs told reporters Tuesday.

But that is a major change from the way the day was recognized during eight years of the Bush administration, when prominent evangelical and other spiritual leaders were invited to attend an event in the East Room.

Polimom’s not going to criticize how prior administrations have approached this issue, but I whole-heartedly endorse how this administration is handling it.

Happy National Prayer Day, however you, personally, choose (or do not choose) to observe it.

Cross-posted from Polimom Too