---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Obama declined to hold public services in…"
description: "\"“Obama declined to hold public services in the White House commemorating the National Day of Prayer, which had been the practice of his predecessors. •..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/reed-ralph-44385_democratic-party_obama-declined-to-hold-public-services-i_1999518.jpg"
---

#  Obama declined to hold public services in the White House…

![“Obama declined to hold public services in the White House commemorating the National Day of Prayer, which had been the practice of his predecessors. • In September 2011, his Department of Health and Human Services terminated funding to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for its extensive…” quote by Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/reed-ralph-44385_democratic-party_obama-declined-to-hold-public-services-i_1999518.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/reed-ralph-44385_democratic-party_obama-declined-to-hold-public-services-i_1999518.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/reed-ralph-44385_democratic-party_obama-declined-to-hold-public-services-i_1999518.jpg)

> ““Obama declined to hold public services in the White House commemorating the National Day of Prayer, which had been the practice of his predecessors. • In September 2011, his Department of Health and Human Services terminated funding to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for its extensive program to assist victims of human trafficking and modern-day slavery. The reason? Objections to Catholic teaching on abortion and contraception.7 • In 2013 Obama’s inaugural committee forced pastor Louie Giglio, whose Atlanta church was nationally known for its efforts to combat sex trafficking, to withdraw from delivering a prayer at the inaugural ceremony after an audio recording surfaced of a sermon Giglio delivered in the mid-1990s referencing biblical teaching on homosexuality. When it came to praying at Obama’s second inaugural, no pastor holding to an orthodox view of Scripture had need to apply. • His Justice Department canceled a 30,000 grant to a program for at-risk youth because it allowed voluntary, student-led prayer, and the oath recited by its young charges mentioned God.8 • He advocated passage of a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act prohibiting private employers from declining to hire gays and lesbians that granted no exemption for religious ministries and charities. • The Defense Department canceled an appearance by Franklin Graham of Samaritan’s Purse at a National Day of Prayer observance because of Graham’s alleged anti-Muslim bigotry. • Obama’s campaign removed a reference to God from the Democratic Party platform and only moved to reinsert it after news outlets reported the exclusion and controversy erupted. In rushed proceedings at the party convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, the name of God was reinserted to boos from the delegates.””

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The passage lists multiple instances where the Obama administration allegedly limited religious expression and favored secular policies, suggesting a pattern of anti‑religious bias.

**In simple terms:** Claims of systematic restriction of religious activities under Obama.

Key Takeaway

Question the balance between religious freedom and policy.

Themes

religion politics policy freedom

Mood

skeptical critical

Type

political controversial

When to use this quote

- public ceremonies
- grant funding
- political platforms
- faith‑based NGOs

Key Concepts

separation of church and state governmental bias

Questions to Reflect On

- Is the evidence presented impartial?
- How should government balance religious liberty with inclusive policy?

A Different Perspective

The summary may reflect partisan interpretation rather than objective fact.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Democratic party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-party/) [Human trafficking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-trafficking/) [National day of prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-day-of-prayer/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [White house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-house/)

## Related quotes

> [“modern U.S. history. For an American president to be this insensitive to the security needs of Israel at a time of such bloody turmoil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/modern-u-s-history-for-an-american-president-to-be-this-insensitive/)

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

> [“The Obama administration submitted a budget request to Congress in 2012 that called for cutting in half U.S. funds for Israeli missile defense—this at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/the-obama-administration-submitted-a-budget-request-to-congress-in/)

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

> [“also reveal the lie of Obama’s posturing prior to the 2008 election and his comforting assurances that he deplored the Democratic Party’s past insensitivity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/also-reveal-the-lie-of-obama-s-posturing-prior-to-the-2008-election/)

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

> [“Good leaders set a clear path, show the way forward, and provide friend and foe alike with clarity and consistency that, like a northern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/good-leaders-set-a-clear-path-show-the-way-forward-and-provide-friend/)

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

> [“While he professes to be a Christian, Obama has devoted great energy seeking to establish cordial relations with those who express hatred for Jews,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/while-he-professes-to-be-a-christian-obama-has-devoted-great-energy/)

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

> [“IRS. The agency’s persecution of Christian groups has grown worse under Obama,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/irs-the-agency-s-persecution-of-christian-groups-has-grown-worse/)

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

> [“Obama’s policies and public statements, therefore, raise serious questions about the true nature of his core beliefs and values. Who is he and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/obama-s-policies-and-public-statements-therefore-raise-serious/)

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

> [“Obama assured us, only the United States. He claimed to have worked across party lines in the Illinois state senate on bipartisan issues like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/obama-assured-us-only-the-united-states-he-claimed-to-have-worked/)

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

## More by Reed Ralph

> [“modern U.S. history. For an American president to be this insensitive to the security needs of Israel at a time of such bloody turmoil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/modern-u-s-history-for-an-american-president-to-be-this-insensitive/)

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

> [“The Obama administration submitted a budget request to Congress in 2012 that called for cutting in half U.S. funds for Israeli missile defense—this at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/the-obama-administration-submitted-a-budget-request-to-congress-in/)

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

> [“also reveal the lie of Obama’s posturing prior to the 2008 election and his comforting assurances that he deplored the Democratic Party’s past insensitivity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/also-reveal-the-lie-of-obama-s-posturing-prior-to-the-2008-election/)

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

> [“Good leaders set a clear path, show the way forward, and provide friend and foe alike with clarity and consistency that, like a northern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/good-leaders-set-a-clear-path-show-the-way-forward-and-provide-friend/)

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

> [“While he professes to be a Christian, Obama has devoted great energy seeking to establish cordial relations with those who express hatred for Jews,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/while-he-professes-to-be-a-christian-obama-has-devoted-great-energy/)

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

> [“IRS. The agency’s persecution of Christian groups has grown worse under Obama,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/irs-the-agency-s-persecution-of-christian-groups-has-grown-worse/)

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

> [“Obama’s policies and public statements, therefore, raise serious questions about the true nature of his core beliefs and values. Who is he and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/obama-s-policies-and-public-statements-therefore-raise-serious/)

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

> [“Obama assured us, only the United States. He claimed to have worked across party lines in the Illinois state senate on bipartisan issues like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/obama-assured-us-only-the-united-states-he-claimed-to-have-worked/)

[Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

[Explore all 9 Reed Ralph quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/)

## More Democratic party quotes

> [If Robert Heinlein is more to your taste than George Lucas: “If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/if-robert-heinlein-is-more-to-your-taste-than-george-lucas-if-you-are/)

[Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/)

> [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/)

[Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/)

> [The Democratic Party is DEAD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-democratic-party-is-dead/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [the Republicans love to say that the Democratic Party is ruled by 'special interests.' But when pressed to name these 'special interests,' the usual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/the-republicans-love-to-say-that-the-democratic-party-is-ruled-by/)

[Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/)

> [There's nothing wrong with the Democratic Party that talks more about - and more loudly about - jobs, and cutting red tape, and bureaucracy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-the-democratic-party-that-talks-more-about/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [“Violence isn't a Democrat or Republican problem. It's an American problem, requiring an American solution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/violence-isn-t-a-democrat-or-republican-problem-it-s-an-american/)

[DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/)

> [I have no problem if you want to be a socialist. But for those people who are in the middle, you know, I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/i-have-no-problem-if-you-want-to-be-a-socialist-but-for-those-people/)

[Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/)

> [ I think \[ chief organizer of the Democratic Party \] it's something that I have an interest in. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-chief-organizer-of-the-democratic-party-it-s-something-that-i/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [The Democratic Party takes huge amounts of cash from corporations and unions to vote a certain way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/the-democratic-party-takes-huge-amounts-of-cash-from-corporations-and/)

[Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/)

> [The Democratic Party, the policies that the Clintons and Hillary believe in, I feel like a living example of someone who benefited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/the-democratic-party-the-policies-that-the-clintons-and-hillary/)

[Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/)

> [“was my first indication that the policies of Mamaw’s “party of the working man”—the Democrats—weren’t all they were cracked up to be. Political scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance/was-my-first-indication-that-the-policies-of-mamaw-s-party-of-the/)

[J.D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance/)

> [I also believe that we have to protect our country and lead the world with strength and steadiness, and we have to unify our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-also-believe-that-we-have-to-protect-our-country-and-lead-the-world/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [The Democratic party of Florida has put a temperance plank in its platform and the Republican party of every state would nail that plank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-sunday/the-democratic-party-of-florida-has-put-a-temperance-plank-in-its/)

[Billy Sunday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-sunday/)

> [The whole new Democratic Party is the old Republican Party. We have a whole bunch of elephants running around in donkey's clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-novak/the-whole-new-democratic-party-is-the-old-republican-party-we-have-a/)

[Robert Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-novak/)

[Browse all 666 Democratic party quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-party/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Obama declined to hold public services in the White House commemorating the National Day of Prayer, which had been the practice of his predecessors. • In September 2011, his Department of Health and Human Services terminated funding to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for its extensive program to assist victims of human trafficking and modern-day slavery. The reason? Objections to Catholic teaching on abortion and contraception.7 • In 2013 Obama’s inaugural committee forced pastor Louie Giglio, whose Atlanta church was nationally known for its efforts to combat sex trafficking, to withdraw from delivering a prayer at the inaugural ceremony after an audio recording surfaced of a sermon Giglio delivered in the mid-1990s referencing biblical teaching on homosexuality. When it came to praying at Obama’s second inaugural, no pastor holding to an orthodox view of Scripture had need to apply. • His Justice Department canceled a 30,000 grant to a program for at-risk youth because it allowed voluntary, student-led prayer, and the oath recited by its young charges mentioned God.8 • He advocated passage of a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act prohibiting private employers from declining to hire gays and lesbians that granted no exemption for religious ministries and charities. • The Defense Department canceled an appearance by Franklin Graham of Samaritan’s Purse at a National Day of Prayer observance because of Graham’s alleged anti-Muslim bigotry. • Obama’s campaign removed a reference to God from the Democratic Party platform and only moved to reinsert it after news outlets reported the exclusion and controversy erupted. In rushed proceedings at the party convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, the name of God was reinserted to boos from the delegates.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Reed Ralph"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/obama-declined-to-hold-public-services-in-the-white-house/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Democratic party"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/obama-declined-to-hold-public-services-in-the-white-house/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/reed-ralph-44385_democratic-party_obama-declined-to-hold-public-services-i_1999518.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/reed-ralph-44385_democratic-party_obama-declined-to-hold-public-services-i_1999518.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/reed-ralph-44385_democratic-party_obama-declined-to-hold-public-services-i_1999518.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Obama declined to hold public services in the White House commemorating the National Day of Prayer, which…” — Reed Ralph",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Reed Ralph",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Obama declined to hold public services...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/obama-declined-to-hold-public-services-in-the-white-house/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/obama-declined-to-hold-public-services-in-the-white-house/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
