The National Prayer Breakfast, scheduled for Thursday in Washington, D.C., is drawing more controversy than usual this year. Every U.S. President since Dwight Eisenhower has spoken at the Breakfast. Beliefnet yesterday reported that this year, gay-rights leaders, including a member of the White House faith advisory council, are urging President Obama to use the Breakfast to speak out against repressive anti-gay legislation pending in the Parliament of Uganda. (See prior posting.) The sponsor of the Breakfast-- the Fellowship Foundation, also known as The Family-- has been accused of inspiring the Ugandan legislation. Progressive religious groups will hold an alternative American Prayer Hour in 17 cities to protest the Washington event.
Meanwhile American Atheists joined other groups in urging the President and other key political leaders such as Sen. Harry Reid, to completely boycott the National Prayer Breakfast this year.
