I just emailed Sen. Hassan to ask why, as a Democrat and a Christian, she is choosing to host a breakfast that is based on hatred of LGBTQ individuals.
I can't remember for sure, but I think they asked for my zip code before I could email her. I'm not in her constituency.
I do believe that, to some extent, all Senators and Members of the House represent us all. Examples are being honest, having integrity, not basing decisions on hatred, educating themselves on issues they vote on.
I recognize that American culture and government are rife with contradictions, but the idea that a prayer meeting is held not just in the Capitol but in the rotunda of the Capitol seems to violate at least two precepts: the First Amendment's establishment clause and Matthew 6.
1. Supposedly, the establishment clause is designed to create "a wall of separation" [Thomas Jefferson's phrase] between religion (church) and government (state). [Jefferson would be banging on his coffin if he could discover that multiple state legislatures are working to require that the 10 Commandments be posted in every public school building!] This wall was generally respected until the Supreme Court became occupied by a majority of Catholic fundamentalists.
I understand that these prayer breakfasts go all the way back to Eisenhower, but you'd think that all the mucky mucks who swear an oath to the constitution might pause to think about this celebrated mixing of church and state. Furthermore, while not praying, they might cast their eyes upon the painting on the rotunda's ceiling. From a distance, they might believe that the painting depicts a religious scene, e.g., Christ and the apostles or Christ rising into heaven. But that ain't Christ; it's George Washington! The painting is titled "The Apotheosis of Washington" and those aren't angels: they're representations of the 13 colonies and of very earthly concepts such as War, Science, and Agriculture [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Apotheosis_of_Washington]. So holding a prayer breakfast in a place that celebrates deism, not religion, is itself a kind of blasphemy at worst and a contradiction at best.
2. In Matthew 6, Jesus instructs his followers how to practice their faith, e.g., how/where to give alms and -relevant here - how/where to pray:
"5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
Gathering for a prayer breakfast in the Capitol Rotunda calls more attention to the 'holiness' of the participants than if they prayed in their church or - for that matter - in the Grand Hall of the Grand Central Terminal! Enough said ....
In sum, the whole National Prayer Breakfast abomination is an affront not only to the Constitution but to Christianity!
I just emailed Sen. Hassan to ask why, as a Democrat and a Christian, she is choosing to host a breakfast that is based on hatred of LGBTQ individuals.
Wow, cool, Kai. Thanks for sharing that you did this. Will you let me know if there's a response?
No reply. Not even an acknowledgement that it was received.
Thanks for the update. Are you a constituent? Did you tell them either way?
I can't remember for sure, but I think they asked for my zip code before I could email her. I'm not in her constituency.
I do believe that, to some extent, all Senators and Members of the House represent us all. Examples are being honest, having integrity, not basing decisions on hatred, educating themselves on issues they vote on.
Thank you for birddogging this issue, Jon and for staying on Sen. Hassan about it.
Maggie needs to hear the footsteps.
I honestly think most of them just don't know. How would they?
Fantastic, deep-dive reporting.
I recognize that American culture and government are rife with contradictions, but the idea that a prayer meeting is held not just in the Capitol but in the rotunda of the Capitol seems to violate at least two precepts: the First Amendment's establishment clause and Matthew 6.
1. Supposedly, the establishment clause is designed to create "a wall of separation" [Thomas Jefferson's phrase] between religion (church) and government (state). [Jefferson would be banging on his coffin if he could discover that multiple state legislatures are working to require that the 10 Commandments be posted in every public school building!] This wall was generally respected until the Supreme Court became occupied by a majority of Catholic fundamentalists.
I understand that these prayer breakfasts go all the way back to Eisenhower, but you'd think that all the mucky mucks who swear an oath to the constitution might pause to think about this celebrated mixing of church and state. Furthermore, while not praying, they might cast their eyes upon the painting on the rotunda's ceiling. From a distance, they might believe that the painting depicts a religious scene, e.g., Christ and the apostles or Christ rising into heaven. But that ain't Christ; it's George Washington! The painting is titled "The Apotheosis of Washington" and those aren't angels: they're representations of the 13 colonies and of very earthly concepts such as War, Science, and Agriculture [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Apotheosis_of_Washington]. So holding a prayer breakfast in a place that celebrates deism, not religion, is itself a kind of blasphemy at worst and a contradiction at best.
2. In Matthew 6, Jesus instructs his followers how to practice their faith, e.g., how/where to give alms and -relevant here - how/where to pray:
"5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
Gathering for a prayer breakfast in the Capitol Rotunda calls more attention to the 'holiness' of the participants than if they prayed in their church or - for that matter - in the Grand Hall of the Grand Central Terminal! Enough said ....
In sum, the whole National Prayer Breakfast abomination is an affront not only to the Constitution but to Christianity!
Thanks Jonathan, we always need more info, more transparency to expose these haters