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DC Churches Woo Obamas

Picking the inclusive National Cathedral would send a powerful message

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 22, 2008 8:12 AM CST

(Newser) – The new first family will be looking for a place of worship in Washington, DC, and area congregations are feverishly offering up their advantages: presidential tradition; diversity; proximity to the White House; community activism; connections to Trinity, the Obamas' former Chicago church; a pastor who hails from Hawaii. A historian of presidential faith tells the Washington Post the level of interest is unprecedented. "This is unique in American political history."

The Obamas won't find a better choice than the Washington National Cathedral, Sally Quinn writes. The cathedral, a place where Americans congregate in times of crisis, is nominally Episcopalian but welcomes all faiths, writes Quinn, and the choice would send a powerful message that America is a truly pluralistic nation, with a president who transcends politics, racial divisions, and even religious divisions.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Volunteers Louise Lynn, foreground, and Richard Jackson prepare the National Cathedral for Easter Mass by decorating with flowers Friday, April 6, 2007 in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Washington's National Cathedral is nominally Episcopalian but it is widely seen as the nation's sacred space for all people. (©~MVI~)

In recent years, the Washington National Cathedral has become where presidents have gone for the inaugural prayer service the day after being sworn in and e ex-presidents are mourned at their death. (©dbking)

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It would indeed be wonderful for the country to have a president who worshiped at a place most likely to welcome all Americans and all people of the world alike. - Sally Quinn

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DC Churches Woo Obamas