Obama recalls slavery, crusades at National Prayer Breakfast

President Obama denounced those around the world who distort religion to justify wars and violence as he addressed faith and political leaders at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday. The Dalai Lama was one of the participants, Sarah Pulliam Bailey reports in the Washington Post. “We see faith driving us to do right,” Obama said. “We also see faith being twisted and distorted, used as a wedge, or worse, sometimes as a weapon.”

Obama noted the recent atrocities by the Islamic State group, the January shooting at the offices of the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris, fighting in the Central African Republic and other recent events in which religion served as a motivating factor…..

He did not exempt the United States, noting that Christianity had at one time been used to justify slavery and laws discriminating against blacks. “So this is not unique to one group or one religion,” he said. “There is a tendency in us, a sinful tendency that can pervert and distort our faith.”

Pope Francis sent a message to the Prayer Breakfast. “Dear friends, I send prayerful good wishes for you, for the fruitfulness of your work,” reads the message. "I ask you to pray for me, and to join me in praying for our brothers and sisters throughout the world who experience persecution and death for their faith. Upon you, your families, and those whom you serve, I cordially invoke God’s blessings of wisdom, joy, and peace.”

Read Sarah Pulliam Bailey's full report, and watch the speech here:  www.washingtonpost.com/local/obama-warns-at-national-prayer-breakfast-of-those-who-use-religion-to-wage-war/2015/02/05/e485e416-ad39-11e4-9c91-e9d2f9fde644_story.html