The White House has launched an initiative calling for prayers for the nation as part of the celebration of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
President Donald Trump announced the initiative Sept. 8 during remarks at the Museum of the Bible for a hearing by the Department of Justice’s Religious Liberty Commission.
The effort, according to the White House, will seek 1 million Americans who will dedicate “one hour a week to praying for our country and our people.”
“America has always been a nation that believes in the power of prayer,” Trump said during his remarks at the hearing. “And we will never apologize for our faith. Ever, ever, never, never. We will never surrender our God-given rights.”
Catholic entities participating in the “America Prays” effort include the prayer and meditation app Hallow.
Alex Jones, CEO of Hallow, said in a statement, “Every great renewal begins with prayer. Our country was born through prayer, and by God’s grace, will be renewed through it. What an honor and a joy it is to help invite us to come together as a nation in prayer. May the Lord bless us and keep us.”
Other organizations partnering with the White House are Catholics for Catholics and CatholicVote, both Republican-aligned advocacy groups that do not operate with any formal approval from the Catholic Church.
Kelsey Reinhardt, president of CatholicVote, said in comments on the group’s blog that “Nothing is more important than winning back the soul of America. Prayer is the essential weapon in this battle.”
CatholicVote “joins the President’s call to change the heart of the nation – not through politics as usual,” she said, “but through prayer, sacrament, and surrender.”
