We do not claim to know all the ways of Providence. Yet we can trust in them, placing our confidence in the loving God behind all of life, and all of history. May he guide us now. The liberty we prize is not America’s gift to the world, it is God’s gift to humanity. –State of the Union Address, January 28, 2003
America believes deeply that everybody has worth, everybody matters, everybody was created by the Almighty. –White House Remarks on AIDS proposal, Jan. 31, 2003
The same Creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth; yet we pray that all are safely home. –Remarks after the Columbia shuttle disaster, Feb. 1, 2003
It is fitting that, in the midst of tough times, that these these two leaders [Joint Chief of Staff chair Gen. Richard Myers and CIA Director George Tenet] are sharing with scripture and prayer with the country. Since we met last year, millions of Americans have been led to prayer. They have prayed for comfort in time of grief; for understanding in a time of anger; for protection in a time of uncertainty.
Many, including me, have been on bended knee. The prayers of this nation are a part of the good that has come from the evil of September the 11th, . . . I believe in prayer. I pray. I pray for strength, I pray for guidance, I pray for forgiveness. (Quoted by Knight-Ridder) In this time of testing for our nation, my family and I have been blessed by the prayers of countless of [sic] Americans. We have felt their sustaining power and we’re incredibly grateful. In this hour of our country’s history, we stand in the need of prayer. . . . We pray for wisdom to know and do what is right and we pray for God’s peace in the affairs of men. (Quoted by Associated Press) –President’s Remarks at National Prayer Breakfast, Washington, D.C., February 6, 2003 (All quotes from White House posted speech unless otherwise indicated.)
I welcome faith. I welcome faith to help solve the nation’s deepest problems. We’re being challenged. We’re meeting those challenges because of our faith. After we were attacked on September the 11th, we carried our grief to the Lord Almighty in prayer. The American people have deep and diverse religious beliefs, truly one of the great strengths of our country. And the faith of our citizens is seeing us through some demanding times. . . .
We’re meeting those challenges because of our faith. In times of tragedy, faith assures us that death and suffering are not the final word. . . . [America’s enemies] hate the thought [that] . . . in this great country, we can worship the Almighty God the way we see fit. Liberty is God’s gift to every human being in the world. –President’s Remarks at National Religious Broadcasters convention, Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 10, 2003. Bush was introduced as “our friend and brother in Christ” and as someone who “unapologetically proclaims his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ” when he appeared at the broadcasters’ convention, according to the Washington Post (Feb. 11, 2003).
