Since then, many groups have criticized the event, particularly secular organizations such as the Freedom From Religion Foundation, whose leader challenged President Biden’s participation in 2021. The group organized a sign-on letter opposing the Prayer Breakfast this year as well, featuring support from secular as well as religious organizations.
Some Democrats have signaled misgivings about the event as well. Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat who previously co-chaired the National Prayer Breakfast, told The Young Turks in December 2021 he had “no intention” of returning to the event.
FFRF President Annie Laurie Gaylor told RNS in an email that her organization welcomes the changes, but said, “it does look as though the creation of a new entity to sponsor the prayer breakfast is essentially a subterfuge, because the folks running the NPB Foundation are all connected with the Fellowship.”
Other critics also are raising questions as to whether the newly announced changes constitute a genuine leadership overhaul or are “largely cosmetic.”
In a statement to RNS, Sharlet pointed to reporting showing how, among other things, the board of the new foundation includes many people with ties to the International Foundation.
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“Any step toward reducing this mostly off-the-books weeklong lobbying festival is good news,” Sharlet said. “On the other hand, the change appears largely cosmetic.”
Pryor said that his organization is “completely different and totally separate” from The Family.
He hopes the skeptics will understand that as the event takes place.
“Let us show that it is going to be different and just give us a little time here,” he said. “We haven’t even had the breakfast yet.”
This story has been updated to correct Pryor’s title.
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