For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 1, 2001
Remarks by the President at National Prayer Breakfast
Washington Hilton Hotel Washington. D.C.
9:10 A.M. EST
THE
PRESIDENT: Well, thank you all very much for that warm
welcome. Laura and I are honored to be here this
morning. I did a pretty good job when it came to picking my
wife, by the way. She's going to be a fabulous First
Lady. (Applause.)
Mr. Vice
President, it's good to see you; of course, your wife,
Lynn. And I want to thank the members of my Cabinet who are
here. I appreciate you, Senator Frist, for your commitment
and strong comments. And, Zach, thanks for your
introduction. And thank you both for organizing this
important event.
I want
to thank the members of the House and Senate who are here. I
appreciate the number of foreign dignitaries who are
here. It just goes to show that faith crosses every border,
and touches every heart in every nation.
Every
President since the first one I can remember, Dwight Eisenhower, has
taken part in this great tradition. It's a privilege for me
to speak where they have spoken, and to pray where they have prayed.
All Presidents of the United States have come to the National Prayer
Breakfast, regardless of their religious views. No matter
what our background, in prayer we share something universal -- a desire
to speak and listen to our Maker, and to know His plan for our lives.
America's
Constitution forbids a religious test for office, and that's the way it
should be. An American President serves people of every
faith, and serves some of no faith at all. Yet I have found
my faith helps me in the service to people. Faith teaches
humility. As Laura would say, I could use a dose
occasionally. (Laughter.) A recognition that we
are small in God's universe, yet precious in His sight. It
has sustained me in moments of success, and in moments of
disappointment. Without it I would be a different person,
and without it I doubt I'd be here today.
There are
many experiences of faith in this room. But most of us share
a belief that we are loved, and called to love; that our choices
matter, now and forever; that there are purposes deeper than ambition
and hopes greater than success. These beliefs shape our
lives and help sustain the life of our nation. Men and women
can be good without faith, but faith is a force of
goodness. Men and women can be compassionate without faith,
but faith often inspires compassion. Human beings can love
without faith, but faith is a great teacher of love.
Our
country, from its beginnings has recognized the contribution of
faith. We do not impose any religion; we welcome all
religions. We do not prescribe any prayer, we welcome all
prayers. This is the tradition of our nation, and it will be
the standard of my administration. (Applause.) We will
respect every creed. We will honor the diversity of our
country and the deep convictions of our people.
There's a
good reason why many in our nation embrace the faith
tradition. Throughout our history people of faith have often
been our nation's voice of conscience. The foes of slavery
could appeal to the standard that all are created equal in the sight of
our Lord. The civil rights movement had the same conviction
on its side -- that men and women bearing God's image should not be
exploited and set aside, and treated as insignificant. The
same impulse over the years has reformed prisons and mental
institutions, hospitals, hospices, and homeless shelters.
The
Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. said this: "The church must
be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but
rather the conscience of the state." As in his case, that
sometimes means defying the times, challenging old ways and old
assumptions. This influence has made our nation more just
and generous and decent. And our nation has need of that
today.
Faith
remains important to the compassion of our nation. Millions of
Americans serve their neighbor because they love their God. Their
lives are characterized by kindness and patience, and service to
others. They do for others what no government really can
ever do -- no government program can really ever do: They
provide love for another human being. They provide hope even
when hope comes hard.
In my
second week in office we have set out to promote the work of community
and faith-based charities. We want to encourage the
inspired, to help the helper. Government cannot be replaced
by charities, but it can welcome them as partners instead of resenting
them as rivals. (Applause.)
My
administration will put the federal government squarely on the side of
America's armies of compassion. (Applause.) Our
plan will not favor religious institutions over non-religious
institutions. As President, I'm interested in what is
constitutional, and I'm interested in what
works. (Applause.) The days of discriminating against
religious institutions, simply because they are religious, must come to
an end. (Applause.)
Faith is
also important to the civility of our country. It teaches us not
merely to tolerate one another, but to respect one another -- to show a
regard for different views and the courtesy to listen. This is
essential to democracy. It is also the proper way to treat
human beings created in the divine image.
We'll have
our disagreements. Civility does not require us to abandon
deeply-held beliefs. Civility does not demand casual creeds
and colorless convictions. Americans have always believed
that civility and firm resolve could live easily with one
another. But civility does mean that our public debate ought
to be free from bitterness and anger, rancor and
ill-will. (Applause.) We have an obligation to
make our case, not to demonize our
opponents. (Applause.) As the Book of James
reminds us, fresh water and salt water cannot flow from the same
spring.
I am under
no illusion that civility will triumph in this city all at
once. (Laughter.) Old habits die hard -- and
sometimes they never die at all. I can only pledge to you
this; that I will do my very best to promote civility, and ask for the
same in return. (Applause.)
These are
some of the crucial contributions of faith to our
nation: justice, and compassion, and a civil and generous
society. I thank you for displaying these values, and
defending them, here in America and across the world. You
strengthen the ties of friendship and the ties of
nations. And I deeply appreciate your work.
I believe
in the power of prayer. It's been said: "I would
rather stand against the cannons of the wicked than against the prayers
of the righteous." The prayers of a friend are one of life's
most gracious gifts. My family and I are blessed by the
prayers of countless Americans. Over the last several months, Laura
and I have been touched by the number of people who come up and say,
"We pray for you." Such comforting words. I hope Americans
will continue to pray that everyone in my administration finds wisdom,
and always remembers the common good.
When
President Harry Truman took office in 1945, he said: "At
this moment, I have in my heart a prayer. I ask only to be a
good and faithful servant of my Lord and my people." This
has been the prayer of many Presidents, and it is mine
today. God bless. (Applause.)
END
9:23 A.M. EST
|