AP changes Easter story
But Jesus Christ still figures very prominently in it, thank God.
This is interesting. Normally, a major news outlet will update a news story by either writing a new and more current one, or adding an ‘Update:’ blurb at the bottom of the original online. The Associated Press just ran a piece over Easter weekend about President Obama using his Saturday radio address as an Easter address. I linked to it in this post, noting (as the article did), that the president took the opportunity to weave his administration’s priorities of healthcare, jobs and education into a larger message of “shared humanity” and common bonds, for people of all faiths and nonbelievers alike.
Just went back to that link to check something in the original story, and it’s not there. The AP removed it and replaced it with an account of Tuesday’s Easter prayer breakfast Obama hosted at the White House for Christian leaders. Follow that original link and you’ll find the new story about Obama honoring Christ.
In openly personal terms, President Barack Obama on Tuesday honored the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, saying he draws inspiration from an eternal story of pain, suffering and redemption.
“We are thankful for the sacrifice he gave for the sins of humanity, and we glory in the promise of redemption in the resurrection,” Obama told Christian leaders from around the country at an Easter prayer breakfast at the White House.
What a remarkably different story, not only from the one the AP removed, but from the usual tone Obama keeps on matters of faith and in particular, his. He’s been removed, distant, somewhat aloof, noncommittal, certainly inclusive….which was the point of the now removed AP story. And it’s still morphing. When I found this new AP story just a while ago, it called Obama’s remarks “unusually personal” in the lede. Now they’re “openly personal”….though the AP mentions this was a “brief, uncommon opening into how he views his Christian faith.”
This is inspiring, especially if sincere.
He told the religious leaders that their examples are followed by millions of people. He welcomed them warmly as “my brothers and sisters in Christ” and honored Christ as “our risen savior.”
The president spoke in particular of the story of Christ’s last words on the cross, quoting this phrase: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
“These words were spoken by our Lord and savior,” he said, “but they can just as truly be spoken by every one of us here today. Their meaning can just as truly be lived out by all of God’s children. So on this day, let us commit our spirit to the pursuit of a life that is true.”
This is encouraging to hear. It would be more so if he recognized the truth about life.
