Hordes of atheists are commenting on yesterday's post from a Catholic priest who says Christians should pray for the cancer-stricken Christopher Hitchens, even if he is an enemy of religion. Far from being touched by the priest's gesture, the atheists are mostly offended:

As an atheist, I find it objectionable that anyone should feel the right to pray for me because I don't believe as they do. That's as bad as that idiot church who thinks its a good idea to baptize dead Jews or protest at military funerals. It's the worst kind of pandering.

Here's another:

There have been multiple scientific studies that show that prayer does not have any impact on whether someone is cured of a serious illness. It's time Christians just stopped worrying about people that don't believe in their sky god. Atheists don't care if you pray for them, your god does not exist.

A fair number of believers, meanwhile, challenge the author - a priest and a seminary professor - on his description of Hitchens as a "child of God":

Rev. Barron's main point is right on target. As Christians, we should, indeed, pray for and love those who oppose, ridicule and even persecute us. However, Rev. Barron states and uses as his basis for praying for Mr. Hitchens that Hitchens is "a child of God." For a reverend, a ministry founder, a host of a religious program and a religion professor, I am astounded at Rev. Barron's ignorance of the Bible. According to the Bible, as an atheist, Mr. Hitchens is NOT a "child of God." That description is reserved for only those who receive and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (John 1:12).

Any atheists out there who appreciate prayers for Hitchens' health? Any believers who think he's a child of God?