Thousands of Events Celebrate Annual Day of Prayer

May 2, 2003

Source: The Globe and Mail

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20030502/UPRAYQA/International/Idx

On May 2, 2003 The Globe and Mail reported, "As U.S. President George W. Bush bowed his head for a moment of quiet reflection early yesterday morning, millions of his compatriots joined him in observing a peculiarly American tradition, emblematic of the faith of the country and the administration: an annual day of prayer. About 30,000 events -- prayer breakfasts, lunch-time moments of silence at city halls, 10,000-strong gatherings at minor-league baseball parks -- drew millions of Americans. All 50 U.S. governors signed their own prayer-day proclamations and St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner prayed at the Pentagon. 'Today we recognize the many ways our country has been blessed, and we acknowledge the source of those blessings,' Mr. Bush told a gathering of religious leaders, military chaplains and other guests congregated in the White House's East Room... With a born-again Christian in the Oval Office and the religious right wielding unprecedented political influence, religion's influence on U.S. government has drawn both plaudits and scorn."