The RECORD

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release April 13, 2007

Remarks by the President at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast

Washington Hilton Hotel
Washington, D.C.

The President: Thank you all; please be seated. Good morning. Thank you. It's good to be with you. You know how to make a Methodist feel right at home. (Laughter) I noticed that this year's breakfast was the Friday after Lent -- (laughter) -- you can eat your bacon in good conscience. (Laughter) And the priests can relax. (Laughter)

I appreciate the opportunity to be with you, I really do. I thank you for having this prayer breakfast. Prayer breakfasts show the true strength of our nation. I am honored that people say to me and Laura, "We pray for you." It means a lot. A prayerful nation is a strong nation. A prayerful nation is a nation, the true strength of which lies in the hearts of the men and women of our nation.

Our Declaration of Independence states that our freedom rests on self-evident truths about the dignity of the human person. Throughout our nation's history, Catholic Americans have embraced, sustained, and given their lives to defend these truths. This morning, we give thanks for the blessings of freedom, and we ask Almighty God to guide us as we renew our founding promise of liberty and justice for all.

I'm sorry Laura couldn't be here. She is by far the best representative of our family. Thank you for praying for her.

I appreciate my friend, Leonard Leo, for inviting me. I thank the leaders of the National Catholic Prayer breakfast. I'm honored to be in the presence of Archbishop Donald Wuerl. I have known the Archbishop for quite a while. I appreciate his strong and firm dedication to making sure every child in America gets a good education. (Applause) I am proud to be here with Archbishop Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. I appreciate the members of the Catholic clergy. I am honored to be here with two members of our Supreme Court, the Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Sam Alito. (Applause)

I thank the members of my administration who have joined us, particularly our Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Jim Nicholson, and Suzanne, thank you for joining us. (Applause)

I am in awe of people like Corporal Michael Blair, United States Marine Corps. (Applause) I thank the members of our Armed Services who are here today. I appreciate the members of Congress who have joined us. Thanks for letting me come by to say, hello. (Laughter and applause)

Of the 56 men who signed our Declaration of Independence, only one was a Catholic -- Charles Carroll. In 1776, Carroll was one of the wealthiest men in America. But because he was a Catholic, he could not vote or hold public office in his native Maryland. John Adams noted that Carroll's wealth and patriotism marked him for special vengeance if the Revolution were to fail. That is why when Carroll added his name to the Declaration, one bystander said: "There go a few million." (Laughter)

Carroll was willing to risk those millions because he knew that something far more precious was at stake: freedom. He believed that the self-evident truths of our Declaration would lead to religious as well as civil liberty. He knew that an America where people were free to worship God as they saw fit would be a land where Catholics would flourish and prosper. And he understood that whatever America's failings, our founding promise would always be a source of hope and renewal for our country. And at this breakfast, we commit ourselves to renewing that promise in our own time.

Renewing the promise of America begins with upholding the dignity of human life. (Applause) In our day, there is a temptation to manipulate life in ways that do not respect the humanity of the person. When that happens, the most vulnerable among us can be valued for their utility to others -- instead of their own inherent worth. We must continue to work for a culture of life -- where the strong protect the weak, and where we recognize in every human life the image of our Creator. (Applause)

Renewing the promise of America requires good citizens who look out for their neighbors. One of the reasons that I am such a strong believer in the power of our faith-based institutions is that they add something the government never can, and that is love. (Applause) Pope Benedict the 16th put it this way in his first letter as Pope: "There is no ordering of the state so just that it can eliminate the need for a service of love." In parishes and neighborhoods across our nation, Catholics take this call to heart -- and that is why we find so many of you leading America's armies of compassion. You are changing America one heart, one soul at a time, and I thank you. (Applause)

Renewing the promise of America also includes ensuring a sound education for every single child. America's Catholic schools play a vital role in our nation. The schools were built by poor immigrants, they were staffed by legions of dedicated nuns, brothers, and priests -- and they have given millions of Americans the knowledge and character they need to succeed in life. Today, these schools are also serving thousands of non-Catholic children in some of nation's poorest neighborhoods. I appreciate the tremendous sacrifices that many dioceses are making to keep their inner-city schools going. I am worried that too many of these schools are closing -- and our nation needs to do something about it. (Applause)

This afternoon I'll hold a meeting at the White House to discuss the difference America's parochial schools are making in the lives of some of our neediest children. We see that difference right here in the nation's capital. Pam Battle sat with Laura during my State of the Union address. She's a mom of two, Carlos and Calvin. A few years ago, these boys were in a public school that was not meeting Pam's expectations. We passed what's called the D.C. School Choice Incentive Act -- many of you in this room helped get that act passed. As a result of that act, her boys were able to transfer to Assumption Catholic School -- a parochial school that serves an almost entirely African-American student body.

Carlos became an A-student and president of his 8th grade class. He now attends high school at Georgetown Day. Calvin is a 5th-grader at Assumption -- I'm told he's running for "Student of the Month." (Laughter) Something I never achieved. (Laughter and applause)

Pam has a big smile on her face when she comes to talk about the education her boys are receiving. "The main benefit of this program is that I can drop off my sons at school with peace of mind. It's safe, and I know they are working up to their level." That's what Pam said. I believe every parent in America should have that same peace of mind -- and every school in America should ensure its students are working to their fullest of potentials. I applaud our nation's Catholic schools. I will continue to work to help these schools reach more children in need, so that our children have the skills they need to realize the full promise of the United States of America.

Finally, to realize the promise of America, we must have comprehensive immigration reform that enforces our laws and upholds the dignity of every single person in the United States. (Applause) And now is the time for the United States Congress to get a bill to my desk that I can sign. (Applause)

I thank you for your fine tradition. I applaud you for the love of neighbor you show through your organizations and your churches. I ask that you pray for our soldiers and their families in harm's way. And I ask that you pray that in a troubled world, America may always remain a beacon of hope and of freedom.

May God bless you all. (Applause)

By Rev. Dallas E. Henry

1 Chronicles 11:12-14
"Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men. He was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At a place where there was a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines. But they took their stand in the middle of the field. They defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory."

How do we as Christians respond to this story as we consider the resistance to morality and purposes of God by our culture?

What this verse speaks of is David and Eleazar holding onto a barley field against an onslaught of Philistine troops. The easiest thing for them to have done was to have retreated, but they were determined not to give any ground to the enemy. We are to express our opposition to anything that is contrary to Scripture! And this is what God is calling us to do as believers.

We should not jump ship, but hold fast to our convictions and defend Biblical truth. We should not let those representing a few, drive us to compromise through silence on moral issues facing the Church.

The following familiar story about a Civil War battle illustrates the crisis we face in our society today and how important it is for us as followers of Jesus to hold fast to the high ground of Biblical principles.

America experienced its greatest crisis as a nation during the Civil War. Indeed, to many by the summer of 1863, it seemed that the Union would fall apart.

The fate of the Union and the fate of the war rested in a confrontation between Union and Confederate forces at a Pennsylvania town called Gettysburg. One of the most crucial points of the battle occurred on the second day, when Union forces were attempting to defend their positions along the high ground at Cemetery Ridge. Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and his 20th Maine Regiment were ordered to defend a strategic point on the ridge known as Little Round Top. The regiment was placed on the extreme left flank of the Union Army.

On positioning Chamberlain and the 20th Maine, Colonel Strong Vincent wanted to make sure Chamberlain understood his responsibility, and that of his men: "I place you here! This is the left of the Union line. You understand. You are to hold this ground at all costs!"

The 20th Maine became engaged in a fierce battle with the attacking Confederate forces and suffered heavy casualties. At one point the Confederates threatened to get around the 20th's left flank. If they had succeeded, the Confederate Army would have been able to have attacked the Brigade's rear. This would have cost the Union army the battle and possibly the war.

Chamberlain ordered his officers to stand firm in holding the front and to cover their rear. Chamberlain's forces were almost out of ammunition. Their situation was desperate, but retreat was not an option.

If they lost the high ground, they would lose the battle. So Chamberlain did what many would think crazy; he ordered a bayonet charge. It was bold because many of his men charging had no ammunition left in their rifles. Chamberlain later described the event: "The men turned towards me. One word was enough--'BAYONET!'--it caught like fire, and swept along the ranks. The men took it up with a shout..." The result was that the charging 200 men of the 20th Maine captured 400 Rebel prisoners.

Many of these Union soldiers had little or no ammunition in their muskets. The point of this account is that the soldiers of the 20th Maine refused to give up the high ground. They didn't retreat--they advanced. They knew that victory would be lost if they gave up the high ground. For his actions, Chamberlain was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

We, as believers, need to hold fast to our convictions. We need to be steadfast in holding the high ground of truth left to us by the apostles and early Church fathers.

We cannot allow the enemy to flank us.
We cannot retreat.
We cannot give up our heritage.
We must remain committed to advancing the Kingdom of God in our state and in the world.

So how do we hold our ground? One way is to return to our first love.

Revelation 2:3-5 "You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place." (NIV)

Most Evangelical Denominations came out of a great revival. We desperately need to feel the heat of the fire of God again. We need that flame to consume us so that others around us will see it and feel the heat of that flame! As local churches and individuals, we need to seek the presence of God again!

A shining example of a seeker that God blessed was John Wesley. You may be aware of the story. Wesley had grown up in a fine Christian home and answered the call to ministry. He was ordained an Anglican priest in 1728. It was 1735 and John Wesley was going to America on a missionary endeavor in Georgia. It was his experience during the voyage to America on board the Simmonds that was to have a profound affect on his life. While crossing the Atlantic there was a ferocious storm, during which Wesley began to fear for his life. He claimed later he was "much ashamed of my unwillingness to die."

During the storm, however, he noticed the behavior of 26 German Moravians who were among his fellow passengers. Even during the worst of the storm, they serenely continued in prayer and praise to God, quite unlike their "crying, trembling neighbors," Wesley later testified. They seemed to have something he didn't have. They had a deeper assurance and experience with God that he wanted. There was a storm raging around them, but they had peace in the storm. Their bodies may have been in peril, but they knew their souls were in a refuge that no storm could touch.

When Wesley returned to London, he began to attend Moravian meetings there. It was at a place located on Aldersgate Street in London on Wednesday May 24, 1738 that John Wesley's heart was "strangely warmed." This experience with God changed his life. Many know the rest of the story.

In 1904 in a church service in Blaenanerch, Wales, a young man named Evan Roberts cried out: "Bend me! Bend me! Bend us!" He didn't just desire for God to change him, he was desperate for God to change him! He was on his knees, tears flowing, desperately crying out for God to change his heart. He wasn't an unbeliever praying, he was a Christian desperate for God!

When Christians get desperate for God, revival happens! It isn't enough that Christians merely desire for God to change their lives for revival to happen, they have to get desperate! Every believer needs to decide if they simply desire revival in their life and in their church or if they are desperate for it.

God heard Roberts prayer. God used this young man to send a sweeping revival throughout Wales. God eventually sent him back to his home church where he started a youth service. Meetings that started around seven lasted until midnight with young people crying out for the presence of God. Meetings eventually lasted until 3 a.m. with people crying out for revival. People started flooding the prayer meetings. Revival broke out throughout Wales. It was such an awesome revival that the donkeys stopped working in the Welsh mines. These animals were so used to being ordered by cursing miners that they didn't know what to do when many of these miners got saved and their language changed. The revival even spread to many churches in England. It started with the cry of one young man: "Bend me!" Roberts once said: "Bend the church and save the world." Just imagine what would happen if Christians got desperate for a move of God? Revival would happen!

There is something about being desperate. People who are desperate give priority to that which they are desperate for. When ever we read the history of the great revival movements, it always started with a man who was desperate for change in his life. It wasn't enough for these men to exist for God. It wasn't enough for them to just live for God. They wanted to burn for God!

We need to return to our first love and we need to:

Pray - Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

"If I should neglect prayer but a single day, I should lose a great deal of the fire of faith."-- Martin Luther

"What the Church needs today is not more machinery, not a new organization or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use--men of prayer, men mighty in prayer."-- E.M.Bounds

John Knox, the father of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, was a great man of prayer. While on his deathbed, he said to his wife: "Read me that Scripture where I first cast my anchor."

Upon hearing the prayer of Christ in John 17, Knox forgot his illness. He began to cry out to God, praying for his fellow believers. He interceded for the lost. He asked God to strengthen those who had recently received Christ. As he prayed, his spirit departed. About John Knox, Mary the Queen of Scotland said: "I fear John Knox's prayers more than an army of ten thousand men."

Not only do we need to return to our first love and pray, we must remain active in sharing our faith. Philemon 1:6 "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ."

Even as this crisis of immorality in our society continues, we must remain active in sharing the love of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. This is what United Methodism was about in the beginning when John Wesley preached in the fields of England.

We must "dig in" to the Word of God. When the armies fought in World War I they dug themselves trenches. We dig ourselves into the Word of God to defend ourselves against the onslaught of the enemy. We also use the Word to stave off the attacks of the enemy.

Consider the words of the Apostle Peter as recorded in 1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."

God is calling us to revival! Let this depraved culture serve as a call to arms--arms raised to God in prayer and the Word! He is calling us to fervently intercede and to hold the higher ground. We can have the flame back in the Church if we would only call upon the name of the Lord. With a revived, on-fire Church, nothing can stop us from changing our culture!

The Christian Civic League is passionate about being a strong Christian witness in the public arena. The League is an extension of the church to be a witness in the State House. With your support, the League is making an impressive impact. The League is well respected for our unwavering witness to Biblical morality in Augusta and around the state. You might say that The Christian Civic League of Maine is the Church's Missionary to the Maine State Legislature.

This is your invitation to join other churches in Maine who are becoming part of the 500-50-5 program. For more information feel free to call the League office at (207) 622-7634; Ext. 1

The "A Call to Intercession" prayer service was held Thursday night at the Kennebec Valley Baptist Church in Waterville. Approximately eighty Christians from central and southern Maine attended the service. It was co-sponsored by the Christian Civic League of Maine, the Concerned Women for America of Maine, and the Maine Jeremiah Project. The event was hosted by Dr. Kevin Grant, pastor of the Kennebec Valley Baptist Church.
Tim Russell, the Christian Civic League's Legislative Liason led the worship and prayer service. Tim is also a church member and church leader within the Kennebec Valley Baptist Church. After an invocation and greeting from Pastor Grant, Tim explained to those gathered, that the service was meant to repent of our own personal sins, pray to the Lord for revival in our churches, and to ask for intercession from the Lord for a renewal of righteousness and holiness in our culture.

Tim read extensively from Proverbs, and other chapters of the Bible throughout the service. Those in attendance gathered in small groups within the sanctuary for spoken and non-spoken prayer. After each of the three small-group prayer sessions, there was a hymn sung by all. Repentance of personal sin, strength for local pastors and congregations, wisdom for our national, State, and local officials, protection for our military troops, and guidance for our youth. The closing hymn, appropriately, was "God Bless America."

If any Maine pastors or church leaders want more information on how to organize an intercessory prayer service or event, please contact Tim Rusell of the Christian Civic League of Maine at tim@cclmaine.org, Charla Bansley of the Concerned Women for America of Maine at director@maine.cwfa.org, or Pastor Bob Emrich of the Maine Jeremiah Project at bemrich@midmaine.com.

A Harp and Bowl interecessory prayer service was held recently on Friday evening, September 8, 2006, at Elim Christian Fellowship in Augusta. Over fifty central Maine Christians participated in the lightly publicized service sponsored by the Greater Augusta Pastors' Society (G.A.P.S.). Pastor Kevin Kidd of Elim Christian Fellowship gave the introduction to the service attendees after hymns of praise and worship were sung.

The early portion of the service was led by the half dozen pastors in attendance and involved small group confessions of the participants to one another so as to begin with a humble spirit and humility. After the personal confessions of the service participants, prayerful requests for intercession began. Each G.A.P.S. pastor led the congregation of Christians in a specific series of prayers that addressed an area of concern within the Christian church generally, and within the Central Maine community specifically.

Pastor Sam Richards of East Winthrop Baptist Church led those present in prayer against sexual immorality, fornication, adultery, pornography, homosexuality, and the like. Pastor Sue Wynn of Living Streams Fellowship in Augusta led the participants in prayer against sorcery, witchcraft, Wicca, other devinations, and worshipping false gods or idols. Pastor Paul Dibden of New Life Christian Fellowship led in prayer for local pastors and congregations, and against the spirit of self-reliance or independence. Pastor Stephen Gagnon of the Augusta Deaf Fellowship prayed against the power of drugs and addiction within our community. Pastor Ron Witham ended the intercessory prayer sessions offering prayers to end the devastating impact of poverty and the accompanying sense of despair and hoplessness within our community.

Hymns of triumphant praise punctuated the evening's Harp and Bowl service. The monthly service is held at various central Maine congregations, usually on the first Friday evening of the month, starting at 7:00 pm. For more information on the October Harp and Bowl service or the Greater Augusta Pastors' Society, please call Pastor Wynn at (207) 622-5371, Pastor Kidd at (207) 622-7031, or Pastor Dibden at (207) 626-7044.

By Rev. Ron Pinkham

Recently I took a little time to ponder a few questions: What if every Christian and moral person (they are not always the same) went to the polls and voted his or her conscience? Would this result in some good people leading us? Probably!

What if every person who believes homosexuality is wrong boycotted any business that supported it? Would there be some policy changes? Probably! Consider the dent that a relatively limited boycott has made on Ford sales. What if all the conservative organizations took a coordinated approach on one or two major issues at a time? Would it accomplish anything? Most likely. Is Wal-Mart too big to take on for their support of a lifestyle that the majority of people, through sheer common sense, know to be wrong? Is Wal-Mart too big for God? You, reader, know the answer to that question!

How much fervent praying have we done? Not enough to move us to action maybe? Has our comfort zone become too comfortable? What will it take to move us out of our stupor? Is it too late for America? If we lose our greatness as a nation, is it only the other people who are to blame? NO! If we fail to do our part, we must share the blame. What will it take to reverse the "spiritual rigor mortis" that has begun to take hold?

As I pondered, I came up with these possible answers:

1) No more artificial distinctions between the sacred and the secular. After all, we Christians are the "salt and light." Salt in the shaker needs to be shaken upon something in order to do any good. How about on our society?

2) Judgment! There is a gospel song called "I Shall Not Be Moved" which talks of standing firm in the truth. But nowadays it may take judgment to move us out of complacency. I hope not! That would be painful beyond what we might imagine.

3) Revivial!!! Now that is our greatest hope! However, if we are seeking revival for the betterment of our country and that is our primary motive, we are wasting God's time and ours. Revival is for the Glory of God, first and foremost! The price? Becoming intensely serious about our relationship with Jesus Christ. But what a payoff-- a precious fellowship with our Savior and a return to the righteousness that once characterized our beloved country!

Let's stop pondering and faithfully pray and PARTICIPATE