National Day of Prayer

I am very uncomfortable with the National Day of Prayer.

From the website:
"In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual, national day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day."

This year, the Day is May 1, this Thursday. (Which, for Catholics and Anglicans anyway, is Ascension Thursday -- which makes me wonder if this is a pretty Protestant-centric event? The concurrence isn't mentioned anywhere on the website, that I could find.)

Here's what I REALLY don't understand. If the website says this:
"The National Day of Prayer belongs to all Americans. It is a day that transcends differences, bringing together citizens from all backgrounds. "

...how can it also declare this? --
"The National Day of Prayer Task Force was a creation of the National Prayer Committee for the expressed purpose of organizing and promoting prayer observances conforming to a Judeo-Christian system of values. People with other theological and philosophical views are, of course, free to organize and participate in activities that are consistent with their own beliefs. This diversity is what Congress intended when it designated the Day of Prayer, not that every faith and creed would be homogenized, but that all who sought to pray for this nation would be encouraged to do so in any way deemed appropriate. It is that broad invitation to the American people that led, in our case, to the creation of the Task Force and the Judeo-Christian principles on which it is based."

If Muslims, in particular, are going to be so explicitly excluded, I can't, in good conscience, believe that it's truly a *National Day.* Or a day that can united us as a country. Or a day that God would be very happy about -- Muslims are also a people of prayer after all: they formally pray FIVE times a day. Together.

My wardens agree with me, and so the Church of St. Benedict is not participating.