On this National Day of Prayer, we give thanks for our democracy that respects the beliefs and protects the religious freedom of all people to pray, worship, or abstain according to the dictates of their conscience. Let us pray for all the citizens of our great Nation, particularly those who are sick, mourning, or without hope, and ask God for the sustenance to meet the challenges we face as a Nation.The Proclamation is called for by 36 USC Sec.119. The National Day of Prayer Task Force website lists events around the country marking the day. Meanwhile, as reported by the Christian Post, the American Humanist Association and the Secular Coalition of America are promoting tomorrow as a "National Day of Reason". A spokesperson for the American Humanist Association said: "The National Day of Prayer demeans millions of Americans who believe that reason, not prayer, is the way to solve the country's problems."
UPDATE: For clarification, it should be noted that the National Day of Prayer Task Force is a private, not a governmental, organization. It focuses on mobilizing for Day of Prayer events in the Christian community. It lists events sponsored by groups that confirm a fundamentalist Christian statement of faith.
