New York, To attend the Easter worship at St John’s Church, president Obama and the first family walked from the White House across Lafayette Square. While being in Washington, it has been their most frequent religious venue.
On Easter 2009, the president and his family worshiped at St John’s and they have visited the Episcopal congregation, which is led by the Rev. Luis Leon, numerous times, including last year.
Leon took a shot at political conservatives as the president was present over there. He argued from the pulpit that some conservative positions are holding people back.
Quoting from John 20:1-18, Leon said in the same way that Jesus told Mary Magdalene not to hold on to him, it is time for conservatives to stop holding on to what he considers outdated stances in matters of race, gender equality, homosexuals and immigrants.
Leon said that people instead should use Easter vision to allow them to see the world in a different, more wonderful way.
After the service, the president and his family walked back to the White House.
During his presidency, the president has visited the church, near the White House, many times. Like most of his previous visits to churches in the District, Obama did not make a speech. He sat on the end of a pew near the middle of the sanctuary, smiling and greeting members of the congregation with Happy Easter.