On Sunday, the Episcopal Church’s National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. will host “A Call to Compassion” to commemorate 9/11. President Obama will attend and speak at the concluding “Concert for Hope.” Patti LaBelle will sing. CNN’s Anderson Cooper will host. After the recent earthquake and the collapse of a crane, the cathedral has gone “on the road” and relocated its 9/11 events to a nearby synagogue and the Kennedy Center. Controversy has surrounded the cathedral’s choice of spiritual representatives. Although its prayer service will include the President of the Islamic Society of North America, a Buddhist nun, and a Hindu, evangelicals and conservative Protestants were omitted, though they represent 30-40 percent of Americans. No Catholic is listed on the event website. So liberal Episcopal clergy apparently will represent Christianity. On Thursday, a cathedral spokesman told The New York Times that a Baptist may be invited.

Hopefully the “Days of Compassion” will tastefully commemorate 9/11.  But this weekend’s events almost certainly will not compare to the exalted tones of the National Cathedral’s post 9/11 service, held just 3 days after the attacks.  All of official Washington attended, as did all living former presidents, except an ailing Ronald Reagan, who was represented by Nancy.  President George W. Bush memorably spoke, as did a Jewish rabbi, Muslim imam and the Catholic Archbishop of Washington.  Hymns included the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Mighty Fortress is our God,” both suitably robust for a nation looking to regain its footing.