Why the Modern President Can’t Belong to a Church

by Amy Sullivan
Time Magazine

The new internet era of politics has changed a lot of things about the way Presidents go about their daily lives. A stray comment captured on tape can instantly ricochet and cause havoc. Post-9/11 security concerns combined with the ability to find detailed information about virtually any location has made the already challenging job of protecting the President and his family even tougher. But the freedom to attend church and be part of a congregation while living at the White House may be the first true casualty of our new political age.

Last Sunday, the Obamas held hands to cross Lafayette Park and attended the 11 a.m. worship service at St. John’s, a small Episcopal church that is famous for hosting Presidents. It was just their third visit to a local church this year, and one of a handful of church services they’ve attended in Washington since moving into the White House. More often, Obama and his family have followed the lead of the Bush family, joining the congregation at Camp David when they spend the weekend at the presidential retreat in Maryland, but staying home on Sunday mornings when in Washington. In a poll last summer, two-thirds of Americans didn’t know that Obama is a Christian, a misperception that could be easily enough fixed if the President were seen trooping up the steps of a local church every Sunday. Three years into his presidency, though, Obama has clearly decided that isn’t an option for him and his family.

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