President Obama on Thursday (Feb. 5)
called for an emphasis on what is just about
the world’s religions as a way to counter the
ways faith has been distorted across the
globe.
“We see faith driving us to do right,” he said
to more than 3,500 people attending the
annual National Prayer Breakfast. “But we
also see faith being twisted and distorted,
used as a wedge — or worse, sometimes
used as a weapon.”
He urged believers of all faiths to practice
humility, support church-state separation and
adhere to the golden rule as ways to keep
religion in its proper context.
“As people of faith, we are summoned to
push back against those who try to distort
our religion — any religion — for their own
nihilistic ends,” Obama said. “Here at home
and around the world we will constantly
reaffirm that fundamental freedom: freedom
of religion, the right to practice our faith
how we choose, to change our faith if we
choose, to practice no faith at all if we
choose, and to do so free of persecution and
fear and discrimination.”
Obama denounced the so-called Islamic
State that is waging a bloody war across
Syria and Iraq against fellow Muslims and
religious minorities, labeling the group “a
brutal, vicious death cult.”
The breakfast has often turned controversial,
and this year was no exception with the
inclusion of the Dalai Lama, the exiled
spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, who
attended but did not speak and was not
seated on the dais with other speakers.
Under pressure from China not to recognize
the Nobel laureate, Obama nonetheless
opened his remarks by welcoming the Dalai
Lama, calling him “a powerful example of
what it means to practice compassion” and
someone who “inspires us to speak up for
the freedom and dignity of all human
beings.”
Chinese officials had criticized the Dalai
Lama’s plans to appear at the event.
“We are against any country’s interference in
China’s domestic affairs under the pretext of
Tibet-related issues, and are opposed to any
foreign leader’s meeting with the Dalai Lama
in any form,” said Hong Lei, spokesman for
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before
the breakfast.
Obama and the Dalai Lama have met several
times at the White House, but the White
House usually keeps the meetings private
and low-key so as not to anger China.
NASCAR commentator Darrell Waltrip, the
keynoter of the breakfast, joked about his
being invited two years after conservative
neurosurgeon Ben Carson raised eyebrows
by directly confronting the president about
Obama’s signature health care reform.
“I’m not a brain surgeon and I’m not running
for office so I’m the perfect guy to be here
this morning,” he said.
From a distance, Pope Francis joined Obama
in calling for greater religious freedom.
“I ask you to pray for me and to join me in
praying for our brothers and sisters
throughout the world who experience
persecution and death for their faith,” the
pontiff wrote in a letter to attendees that
was read in part by Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa.,
who co-chaired the breakfast with Sen.
Roger Wicker, R-Miss.
Following the recent deadly attacks on a
French weekly that had published satirical
cartoons of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad,
Obama also spoke of the need to support
both freedom of speech and freedom of
religion.
“If, in fact, we defend the legal right of a
person to insult another’s religion, we’re
equally obligated to use our free speech to
condemn such insults,” he said, drawing
applause, “and stand shoulder to shoulder
with religious communities, particularly
religious minorities, who are the targets of
such attacks.”
Obama expressed thanks for the safe return
of Christian missionary Kenneth Bae, who
was held in North Korea for more than a
year, and recounted his recent meeting in
Boise, Idaho, with the family of U.S. pastor
Saeed Abedini, who remains imprisoned in
Iran and has become a cause celebre for
many evangelicals.
“We’re going to keep up this work for Pastor
Abedini and all those around the world who
are unjustly held or persecuted because of
their faith,” the president said, noting that
Rabbi David Saperstein, the new U.S.
ambassador-at-large for international
religious freedom, would be heading soon to
Iraq to work with religious leaders there.
The breakfast, in its 63rd year, is chaired
each year by members of Congress who
meet weekly for prayer when Congress is in
session. It draws politicians, diplomats and
prominent evangelical Christian leaders but
often includes an interfaith roster of
speakers.
Rabbi Greg Marx of Maple Glen, Pa., gave
the invocation and former Ambassador
Andrew Young, once an aide to the Rev.
Martin Luther King Jr. and a president of the
National Council of Churches, gave the
benediction.
Wicker read from the Gospel of Luke in
place of the scheduled speaker, King
Abdullah II of Jordan, reciting the story of
the good Samaritan. Abdullah had to return
home after a hostage crisis involving the
Islamic State turned deadly.
“We all know the heartbreaking
circumstances his country is experiencing at
this point,” Wicker said. “Our prayers are
with the people of Jordan during this
troubling time of crisis.”
Courtesy: Religion News Service
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