[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 24502-24507]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   THE NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 17, 2007

  Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I had the privilege, with my colleague, 
Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis of Virginia, of co-chairing the 55th Annual 
National Prayer Breakfast, held here in our Nation's Capital on 
February 2, 2007. This annual gathering is hosted by Members of the 
U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives weekly prayer 
breakfast groups. Once again, we were honored to have the participation 
of our President and the First Lady and we were inspired by the remarks 
shared by Dr. Francis Collins.
  This year we hosted a gathering of over 3,500 individuals from all 
walks of life in all 50 States and from many countries around the 
world. So that all may benefit from this time together, on behalf of 
the Congressional Committee for the National Prayer Breakfast, I would 
like to request that a copy of the program and of the transcript of the 
2007 proceedings be printed in the Congressional Record at this time.

  55th National Prayer Breakfast--Thursday, February 2, 2007, Hilton 
                    Washington Hotel, Washington, DC


  Co-Chairs: U.S. Representative Jo Ann Davis and U.S. Representative 
                          Emanuel Cleaver, II

       U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II: My name is Emanuel 
     Cleaver, and today my job will deviate slightly from what I 
     do during the week. During the week I serve as the Fifth 
     District Representative of Missouri. I am also a United 
     Methodist pastor. Today I would like for all of you, if you 
     would, to please either get out a checkbook or----(Laughter)
       No, I'm serious. In seminary they taught us when you have a 
     crowd this large, you take up an offering. We may wait--but 
     you don't seem enthusiastic. It is my honor and pleasure to 
     serve today as chair of the 55th National Prayer Breakfast. 
     My co-chair and dear friend, Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis of 
     Virginia, will not be able to join us today, and please keep 
     in mind that if you have a great experience today at this 
     prayer breakfast, it is due in no small part to the work that 
     she has done in preparing for this day. And hopefully she 
     will join us next week with her work in Washington.
       One of the basic truths of the Holy Writ is one that all of 
     us can relate to and perhaps are familiar with--you will reap 
     what you sow. You don't plant corn and expect soybeans. You 
     don't plant an apple seed and expect a pear tree. A nation 
     that sows anger will reap bitterness and division. But a 
     nation or a collection of nations that sow love and 
     understanding will reap a harvest of peace. That is what we 
     are doing here today--sowing the seeds of civility in this 
     city, in our country, and in our world. There is nothing more 
     important for us to do. The ground is already covered with 
     weeds and plants of discord. So today we are going to begin 
     to plant flowers. The best way I know to do that is with 
     prayer. If you will, please, put your food down, which you 
     shouldn't have begun to eat----(Laughter)
       If you are the person at your table who did wait for the 
     blessing, please express to the others your spiritual 
     superiority. (Laughter)
       Let us pray.
       Almighty and loving God, we are gathered here today from 
     all over the world to say thank you for your love, your 
     grace, your mercy. We confess, God, that our world is not as 
     you intended, and we have contributed to the wrongness of the 
     world because of our own sins and errors. But Lord, we know 
     the truth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s words, that 
     humankind is ``caught in an inescapable network of 
     mutuality.'' When any of us suffers injustice, we are all 
     diminished. But in the same way, when anyone finds peace, we 
     will all benefit.
       Bless, oh Lord, what is said and sung and planted in the 
     hearts of all who share this experience today, that we can 
     make this world more of a garden of your love, and if we are 
     able to do anything good and great from this prayer breakfast 
     today, we're going to give you all of the credit, all the 
     glory and all the honor. In your name and for your sake we 
     pray, Amen.
       As the former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, I know that 
     our cities are the rubber of our democracy, and I also know 
     that there are only a couple of positions in this country 
     superior to serving as mayor--the presidency, obviously, and 
     the Senate, of course. (Laughter)
       Of course the Senate.
       But serving as a mayor of one of our major cities places us 
     on center stage of the municipal drama. We are very pleased 
     today to

[[Page 24503]]

     have with us, for welcome, the mayor of Washington, D.C., 
     Mayor Adrian Fenty. (Applause)
       Mayor Adrian Fenty: Thank you very much, Congressman 
     Cleaver, for your generous introduction and hosting everyone 
     here today. Members of Congress, governors, mayors, religious 
     leaders, President and First Lady, it is appropriate for me 
     as mayor, especially mayor of the District of Columbia, to 
     start out this prayer breakfast. Congressman Cleaver, as a 
     mayor, said it would be okay if I asked you all to say a 
     prayer for me, because it is going to snow today. (Laughter)
       Start out by asking that all of our snow plows work here in 
     the District of Columbia.
       At a time when we have gathered with so many influential 
     people, I will reflect on one prayer, and that is Solomon's 
     prayer for influence. When Solomon said to God, make me 
     famous--and all of us politicians and public servants are 
     famous in our own jurisdictions--Solomon said, I want you to 
     spread the fame of my name and give me power and blessings 
     and make me well known. When people read that first passage 
     they say, why would Solomon ask such a self-serving thing? 
     Like all other prayers, you have to read on. Further on in 
     Solomon's prayer, he says to give him these things so that 
     the king may support the widow and the orphans, defend the 
     defenseless, care for the sick, assist the poor, and to speak 
     up for the oppressed, the immigrants and the foreigners.
       And while we are all influential and powerful, as we start 
     out this great prayer breakfast, it is important that we 
     remember what influence is supposed to be used for, and the 
     purpose of influence as Solomon taught us is to speak up for 
     those who have no influence.
       Let's have a great prayer breakfast and let's use our power 
     for those who need it the most. God bless you. Thank you very 
     much. (Applause)
       Rep. Cleaver: Thank you, Mayor, for welcoming us to your 
     city.
       It is my pleasure to introduce you to the folks seated here 
     at the head table. All of you cannot follow directions, so--
     (Laughter) I would really like for you to applaud after all 
     of those at the head table are introduced, but since some of 
     you can't do it, if you would just applaud now. (Applause)
       Thank you.
       To my left is the Reverend Dan and Kathy Mucci of Glen 
     Burnie, Maryland. My co-chair, Jo Ann Davis, is not here, but 
     she once worked with Pastor Mucci's congregation as the 
     church secretary. He will offer a prayer for the nation in 
     just awhile. You have already met Mayor Fenty. And next to 
     him is the most important person in the room, it is my wife 
     for more than 30 years, Diane Cleaver.
       On the other side of the podium here is Dr. Francis 
     Collins, our keynote speaker who I will introduce more fully 
     later. Next to him, representing our nation's governors, many 
     of whom have events just like this in their own states around 
     the country, is Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota. He will 
     be offering a prayer later for world leaders. Next we have 
     one of my distinguished colleagues from the House of 
     Representatives, Allyson Schwartz, who represents the 13th 
     district in Pennsylvania. She will be sharing a reading from 
     the Talmud. Then we have people here from the Lower House, 
     the United States Senate--(Laughter)
       Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas, and Senator Mike Enzi of 
     Wyoming and his spouse Diana. The senators will bring a 
     greeting from their weekly prayer breakfast group, from which 
     this whole event sprang more than 50 years ago.
       Finally we have our singer, Nicole Mullen, and her spouse 
     David.
       Now join me in thanking the head table. (Applause)
       Despite all the awards she has won and all the famous 
     venues that she has performed in, Nicole Mullen just wants to 
     be known as everyday people--it's not going to work, however. 
     The title of her best-selling album is ``Everyday People.'' 
     She has amazing musical talent which she uses with a loving 
     servant's heart all over the world. Ladies and gentlemen, 
     Nicole Mullen (Applause)
       (Song: ``On My Knees'') (Applause)
       U.S. Representative Allyson Schwartz: Good morning. I am 
     very pleased to be here and share in this fellowship this 
     morning. I am Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz from the great 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I am pleased to be here this 
     morning. (Applause)
       A few Pennsylvanians in the crowd.
       I sometimes believe that my first memory was when I was 
     barely 3 and my father left for the Korean War. I can picture 
     my mother, my older brother at 4\1/2\, my younger sister at 
     2, all slightly sad, not really sure why.
       But I know that my father's return more than two years 
     later, after serving in an Army MASH unit in Korea, is in 
     fact my own real, first remembrance. I was 5 years old, I was 
     in kindergarten, and my father came to school to get me. I 
     remember seeing him in uniform--how unlikely to see a man in 
     uniform at school. But what I remember most is that I did not 
     recognize him. I didn't know him. I was a little awed, I was 
     a little scared. I remember needing to be reassured by my 
     older brother--who at 6\1/2\ was in fact really my older 
     brother--that it was okay, that this man was in fact our dad.
       So I know, as I watch families see their dads, and their 
     moms, off to war, that there are tough goodbyes. And there 
     are also the not-so-easy homecomings. That reuniting families 
     is not easy. That our troops come home with experiences 
     separate from their families, some good, and some very 
     difficult. That reuniting, reconnecting, is often hard.
       So for the men and women serving and returning from Iraq 
     and Afghanistan who are struggling with changes in their work 
     lives and changes in their home lives, and for all families 
     who have experienced separation or loss, who have experiences 
     that are often not revealed and difficult to communicate, but 
     nonetheless are struggling to be as good as they can be to 
     each other and to their children, I offer a prayer for 
     healing, for overcoming the difficulties, for forgiveness, 
     for feeling connected and whole again.
       Today as we offer our public officials our prayers and our 
     support, I offer this reading for all of us. The prayer I 
     will read dates from the Talmudic period and is offered at 
     evening and Sabbath services in synagogues across the world. 
     It is a beautiful prayer for serenity and for protection from 
     danger.
       Lord our God, we pray thee that we may lie down this night 
     in peace and awake in the morning to refreshed existence. 
     Spread over us the shelter of thy divine peace and guide us 
     with thy good counsel. Help us for thy name's sake. Be thou 
     at all times our shield and our protector from harm, our 
     guardian against danger, our savior from all manner of 
     trouble and distress. Keep far from us anxiety and sorrow, 
     and shelter us under the shadow of thy wings, for it is in 
     thee alone, oh God, ever gracious and compassionate, that we 
     put our trust. Guard thou our going out and our coming in, 
     that we may live a life of peace now and evermore. Amen. 
     (Applause)
       Senator Mark Pryor: My name is Mark Pryor from Arkansas, 
     and this is Mike Enzi from Wyoming, and we bring you 
     greetings from the Senate prayer breakfast. Every Wednesday 
     morning that we are in session, all senators are invited to 
     come to the Senate prayer breakfast. It is a great time of 
     fellowship and we have different faiths and very, very 
     diverse backgrounds that are represented there. It is really 
     a great way, maybe the best way, in the Senate, to get to 
     know each other in a deeper and more meaningful way.
       Another thing that we do there is, the chaplain at the 
     beginning of every Congress hands out a prayer card that has 
     all of the names of the senators on there, and he gives us a 
     weekly schedule to pray for our colleagues. And my experience 
     is, that when I am praying for my colleagues by name, any 
     hard feelings, any bitterness, any animosity has a way of 
     just melting away. So, we bring you greetings from the Senate 
     prayer breakfast, and here is Mike.
       Senator Michael Enzi: Mark mentioned our weekly prayer 
     breakfasts. I want to tell you about our global outreach. We 
     are willing to help any parliament or group of elected 
     leaders to start a prayer breakfast. We only participate when 
     we are asked. We send a senator and some prayer supporters to 
     meet anywhere the leaders seek the uniting power of the 
     teachings of Jesus. We have seen prayer groups bring 
     different faiths together. We have seen enemies begin to see 
     each other as people, people with similar problems, problems 
     solvable through the power of God used through leaders. We 
     want to share the care, the reconciliation, the respect and 
     concern that can unite. We want to share the concentration on 
     the 80 percent that we all believe in rather than the 20 
     percent that divides people. Of course these trips of faith 
     give each senator a gift of faith greater than what we are 
     able to share. May each of you, through the power of God's 
     hand, use your gifts for the betterment of God's world. 
     (Applause)
       Rep. Cleaver: Why don't you go ahead and eat. (Laughter)
       Lord, bless the food that we are about to receive, and may 
     this food do for our bodies what your Spirit does for our 
     soul. Amen.
       We will be back with you shortly. (Breakfast)
       Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the 
     United States, and Mrs. Laura Bush. (Applause)
       Rev. Daniel Mucci: Good morning, everyone. It is an awesome 
     privilege to be here this morning to lead us in prayer for 
     the leaders of our nation. As I was reflecting on this 
     opportunity to pray, I am reminded of the truth that men 
     should always pray and not give up. For we know what is 
     impossible with men is possible with God. With these thoughts 
     in mind, let us pray for our nation's leaders.
       Almighty God, we thank you for the blessing of leadership 
     you have provided to our nation time and time again 
     throughout our history. We thank you for the men and women 
     who offer themselves to serve their fellow man and seek to 
     fulfill the higher purpose of your will here on earth as it 
     is in heaven. For these gifts we express our gratitude.
       Thank you for our president, George W. Bush, a man who 
     seeks your face. May your presence go before him, may your 
     peace sustain him, and your power keep him as he fulfills 
     your call to lead our nation during this

[[Page 24504]]

     challenging time. We now lift up President Bush and his 
     Cabinet, the members of the United States Senate and the 
     House of Representatives, the Supreme Court justices, the 
     governors of our states and their respective general 
     assemblies, the mayors of our cities and towns and all those 
     charged with the responsibility to create and enforce the 
     laws of the United States of America.
       We unite our hearts in asking that you grant America's 
     leaders the courage to stand together when tested by the 
     winds of adversity--economically, socially, politically, and 
     spiritually--for there is no overcoming without a struggle. 
     So we ask that you would give them your grace to succeed in 
     our quest for peace and progress in our nation.
       We also ask that you would grant your servants wisdom to 
     work toward unity when confusion overrides their clarity of 
     vision for the future, for there is no unity without 
     humility. So we humbly ask that you would grant them the 
     mercy and love that they need to recognize and fulfill your 
     purposes in this generation.
       We ask for the determination to win the challenging battles 
     we face, to ensure the safety and security of our citizens, 
     and for those who call on us to be partners for democracy and 
     peace, for there is no victory without perseverance. So we 
     ask you to reveal to our leaders the strategic plans for 
     success, and to supply them with the strength to endure the 
     perils of war.
       Please protect the men and women of our military who have 
     placed themselves in harm's way for the ideals of our nation. 
     And finally, with the faith of Abraham, the meekness of 
     Moses, and in the spirit of Jesus of Nazareth, give us all a 
     servant's heart to meet the needs of those who are suffering, 
     from poverty, hunger, or disease, when we have the resources 
     within our influence to relieve the suffering and to bring 
     hope and healing to our fellow human beings. We ask these 
     things in your mighty name, Amen.
       General Peter Pace: President and Mrs. Bush, and to all of 
     you here, good morning. I am Pete Pace, and my wife Lynne and 
     I are honored to be here with you this morning. (Applause)
       Since the founding of our country, generation after 
     generation of Americans have sacrificed themselves that we 
     might have the freedom to gather here this morning and pray 
     as we see fit to our God. It has been my personal experience 
     that although some may enter battle either not believing or 
     questioning the existence of God, that very few leave battle 
     with any doubt. In fact in my experience, almost the first 
     thing that those who are wounded say is, ``oh my God.'' In 
     answer to their prayer, often the compassion and love of God 
     in the midst of that most difficult of times is brought 
     forward in the form of our chaplains, who risk their own 
     safety to bring God's love and compassion to those who need 
     it. So it is with great respect and appreciation for our 
     chaplains and for their assistance, for their bringing God's 
     love to all of us daily, in battle and out, that I offer this 
     reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians.
       ``Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again, rejoice. 
     Everyone should see how unselfish you are. The Lord himself 
     is near. Dismiss all anxiety from your minds. Present your 
     needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of 
     gratitude. Then God's own peace, which is beyond all 
     understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and minds. 
     Finally, my brothers, your thoughts should be wholly directed 
     to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is 
     honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous, or worthy of 
     praise. Live according to what you have heard, learned, and 
     accept it, what you have heard me say and seen me do. Then 
     will the God of peace be with you.'' The word of the Lord. 
     (Applause)
       Governor Tim Pawlenty: Would you please bow your heads and 
     join me in prayer for world leaders.
       Lord, this morning we bow before you with humble hearts, 
     deeply grateful that you are a God powerful enough to form 
     the earth but gentle enough to care for our smallest 
     concerns. You are an amazing God. We know, Lord, that you are 
     the source of all love and that through the course of history 
     you have poured out your love, your mercy and your grace when 
     people have humbled themselves and prayed. It is with this 
     spirit that we come before you this morning. As the light of 
     the world, you have pierced through the darkness in troubled 
     times. Lord, our world struggles. We live in troubled times. 
     We struggle against the forces of darkness. The power of sin 
     and alienation is strong, but you are stronger. Our world 
     needs your healing power and your love.
       Today, God, we pray for our world leaders. We pray that the 
     power of your love will guide their decisions. Lord, we pray 
     for your special blessing on those world leaders who are with 
     us today, Prime Minister Musa and President Bush. We also 
     pray for those in this room that will one day lead their 
     nations. Prepare them also, by your grace.
       God, as our world leaders face the troubles and enormous 
     challenges of our times, we pray Solomon-like wisdom for each 
     of them. Touch their hearts. Heal any brokenness.
       We pray that each world leader will be guided by your 
     spirit, your leadership. Lord, bless them, teach them, 
     counsel them, continue to love them and hold them in the 
     powerful palm of your hand. May the leaders of this world be 
     led by you every day, in every decision, big and small. You 
     are the hope of the world and the ruler of history. We pray 
     that all world leaders seek first your kingdom and your 
     righteousness. I pray all of this in Jesus' name. Amen.
       Rep. Cleaver: As you are continuing to eat your breakfast, 
     I would like to recognize a visiting head of state who joined 
     us today, Prime Minister Said Musa of the nation of Belize. 
     Prime Minister. (Applause)
       Thank you so much for being with us.
       And while focusing on the room, I want to recognize a 
     historic person in our midst, the first woman Speaker of the 
     United States Congress, Nancy Pelosi of California. 
     (Applause)
       Rep. Cleaver: She had to leave. As many of you know, Father 
     Drinan, who served in the House of Representatives, died, and 
     she is going to attend his funeral.
       For the Democrats who are in the House, who are in 
     Congress, if you would please let her know that I did 
     introduce her. Committee assignments have not been made. 
     (Laughter)
       If I may have your attention once again, we will continue 
     with our program. But first let me share something with you 
     that I read the other day that I hope all of us can remember. 
     William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, said--and this is 
     extremely important; if you can remember these words, I think 
     it helps this entire nation: ``I know of no religion that 
     destroys courtesy, civility, or kindness.'' William Penn.
       In this room today we are a people of over 160 nations and 
     many religious traditions, but a common teaching of all 
     faiths and philosophies is this important word civility.
       I came to Washington and to Congress with this desire in my 
     heart, to do what I could to make this a more civil place. In 
     the intensity and tension of this place, it's really hard for 
     me and all of us to follow the biblical teachings to count 
     others as important as ourselves, and as far as it depends on 
     us, we must all seek to live in peace with all.
       I have opinions that are as strong as anyone. My challenge 
     is to state them in a tone that raises the level of the 
     conversation and honors those who disagree with me. When you 
     look at the roots of the word ``civility,'' to be civil is to 
     be a citizen, a respected part of the community. So to be 
     uncivil is to fracture the community, locally, nationally, 
     and even internationally, and that is something none of us 
     can afford to do.
       With the passing of President Ford recently, I was reminded 
     of a story of his days in the White House. He held regular 
     debates here in Washington with Democratic members of 
     Congress, but most especially with Congressman Thomas Hale 
     Boggs, at the National Press Club. At President Ford's 
     suggestion, they would actually share a cab downtown and pick 
     their topic for debate on the way. Afterwards, they would 
     often go out and eat together.
       Mr. President, I am happy you are joining us for our House 
     Democratic retreat later today. It will be good for us and 
     good for the country to break bread together. (Applause)
       Remember, we reap what we sow. I think God is pleased when 
     we as citizens of the world, and people of faith, sow 
     courtesy, civility and kindness with each other, and raise up 
     a harvest of grace and peace.
       Now, our keynote speaker. Some of us know the song that 
     says, ``we are fearfully and wonderfully made.'' Any of us 
     who studied human anatomy in junior high biology probably 
     felt more fear than wonder. My biology teachers were always 
     the worst [pause] human beings (Laughter)
       But I have grown to respect and appreciate the men and 
     women of science because they unlock the secrets of how we 
     can get more and better life out of these bodies.
       Our keynote speaker this morning is one of the heroes of 
     that effort, Dr. Francis Collins, the director of the Human 
     Genome Project. He grew up on a little farm in Shenandoah 
     Valley, Virginia, and now he heads up the most significant 
     scientific project in history. He supervises hundreds of 
     researchers from different disciplines, different 
     institutions and different countries, in the effort to map 
     the human genome and share with the world what it means. And 
     I know the President appreciates this fact--he is ahead of 
     schedule and under budget. (Laughter, Applause)
       He has also served as a volunteer doctor in hospitals in 
     developing worlds. Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor for 
     me to introduce Dr. Francis Collins. (Applause)
       Francis S. Collins, M.D, Ph.D.: Thank you for that very 
     kind introduction, Congressman Cleaver.
       President Bush, First Lady, heads of state, members of 
     Congress, distinguished guests, I am deeply honored to be 
     speaking with you on this significant and moving occasion. As 
     you have heard, I am not a rock star, as the person who spoke 
     last year, and that's a large leather jacket to step into--
     (Laughter)
        I didn't say anything about the sunglasses.
       I am also not a man of the cloth nor am I a political 
     leader. As you've heard, I am a physician and a scientist, 
     here this morning as a private citizen, but who had the 
     incredible privilege of leading the Human Genome Project. I 
     am also a believer in God.
       The astrophysicist Robert Jastrow started his book on 
     science and faith with the following words: ``When a 
     scientist writes about

[[Page 24505]]

     God, his colleagues assume he is either over the hill or 
     going bonkers.'' I hope and pray that I am neither of those. 
     And yet in the scientific community there is an unwritten 
     taboo about discussing one's spiritual leanings, so many 
     assume that scientists are generally godless materialists. 
     That's not actually true--a recent survey found that 40% of 
     working scientists believe in a God to whom one may pray in 
     expectation of an answer. And that number has changed very 
     little over the past century.
       Yet there are increasingly shrill voices around us who 
     argue that somehow the scientific and spiritual worldviews 
     are incompatible. I am here this morning to tell you that 
     these different ways of finding the truth are not only 
     compatible, but they are wondrously complementary.
       As the leader of the Human Genome Project, I had the great 
     privilege of serving as the project manager for a dedicated 
     team of more than 2,000 scientists from six countries. 
     Together, we determined all three billion letters of the 
     human genome, our own DNA instruction book, and we made all 
     that data freely available on the internet every 24 hours. It 
     is hard to get your mind around how much information this 
     is--three billion is a very big number, even in Washington. 
     (Laughter)
       Suppose we decided to take a little time this morning to 
     read the letters of the human genome together, just to 
     express our awe at God's creation. If we could take turns 
     reading, and we would agree to stick to it until we were all 
     done, and we would read at a reasonable pace, A-C-G-T-T-G-C-
     A-A--there are only four letters in the DNA alphabet, that 
     makes it a little easier but a little monotonous. (Laughter)
       If we all decided that was worth doing, and we even decided 
     that we would stay up all night if it was necessary, we would 
     stay up a lot of nights. We would be here for 31 years. You 
     have all that information inside each cell of your body. And 
     every time that cell divides, it's got to copy the whole 
     thing. Isn't that amazing?
       We have learned many interesting things already about this 
     human DNA instruction book, now that we have all those 
     letters. One profound observation--and it is a good one to 
     highlight this morning--is just how alike we all are. Your 
     DNA and mine are 99.9% the same, and that would be true 
     regardless of which one of you I chose for the comparison. So 
     you see, at the DNA level, we really are part of one big 
     worldwide family.
       Faced with this rapidly growing body of information, one 
     cannot help but feel a sense of awe at the amazing complexity 
     and elegance of the human body--from the intricate digital 
     DNA code to the marvelous nanotechnology machines that 
     operate inside each cell of our bodies, to that most amazing 
     organ of all, the human brain.
       But this exploration of human biology is for many of us not 
     just a sterile academic pursuit. Whether you are a Hindu, a 
     Buddhist, a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian, or still searching, 
     you would probably agree that the mandate to alleviate 
     suffering is one of our highest callings. These new tools of 
     biomedical research, many stemming from this new science of 
     genomics, now provide us with an unprecedented opportunity 
     for breakthroughs in cancer, diabetes, mental illness, 
     infectious diseases, and many other conditions, and a true 
     revolution is getting underway. Though there are legitimate 
     concerns about setting appropriate boundaries for this 
     research, we also have a strong ethical mandate to proceed as 
     quickly as possible, so long as a sick child lives somewhere 
     in the world who could be helped.
       So these are exciting times for a scientist. But my hopes 
     and dreams for all of us do not rest solely in science. I am 
     also a man of faith. Many of you probably would assume that 
     this stance stems from childhood training in a particular 
     religious tradition, as that is certainly the way in which 
     many come to believe. But that is not my story.
       I was raised, as you heard, on a small farm in Virginia by 
     wonderfully unconventional free-thinking parents who greatly 
     valued learning, literature, music and the arts, but for whom 
     religion was just not that important. As I fell in love with 
     science as a teenager, I also slipped into a worldview that 
     assumed that the only true meaning in the universe was to be 
     found in mathematics and physical laws. And so I became first 
     an agnostic and then an atheist.
       But my scientific curiosity eventually led me from 
     chemistry and physics into medicine. And there at the bedside 
     of people with terrible illnesses, matters of life, death and 
     the spirit were no longer academic. Just as it has been 
     said--and General Pace said something very much like this--
     ``there are no atheists in foxholes,'' I found that there 
     were few atheists lying in hospital beds in this little 
     hospital in North Carolina. One afternoon, a kindly 
     grandmother with only a few weeks to live shared her own 
     faith in Jesus with me, and then asked, ``Doctor, what do you 
     believe?'' Stammering something about not being quite sure, I 
     fled the room--(Laughter)
       I had the disturbing sense that the atheist ice under my 
     feet was cracking, though I wasn't quite sure why. And then 
     suddenly the reason for my disquiet hit me: I was a 
     scientist. I was supposed to make decisions based on 
     evidence. And yet I had never really considered the evidence 
     for and against faith.
       Determined to shore up my position, I began to explore the 
     path of others who before me had asked the same questions 
     about faith. In that search I was particularly affected by 
     the writings of the Oxford scholar C.S. Lewis, who had 
     similarly sought as a young man to defend his atheism and 
     instead became a believer.
       As I explored that evidence more deeply, all around me I 
     began to see signposts to something outside of nature that 
     could only be called God. I realized that the scientific 
     method can really only answer questions about HOW things 
     work. It can't answer questions about WHY, and aren't those 
     in fact the most important ones? Why is there something 
     instead of nothing? Why does mathematics work so beautifully 
     to describe nature? Why is the universe so precisely tuned to 
     make life possible? And it is. Why do we humans have a 
     universal sense of right and wrong, and an urge to do what is 
     right, even though we often disagree on how to interpret that 
     calling?
       Confronted with these revelations, I realized my own 
     assumption--that faith was the opposite of reason--was 
     incorrect. I should have known better. Scripture defines 
     faith as ``the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of 
     things not seen.'' Evidence!
       Simultaneously I realized that atheism was in fact the 
     least rational of all the choices. As Chesterton wrote, 
     ``Atheism is indeed the most daring of all dogmas, for it is 
     the assertion of a universal negative.''
       How could I have had the arrogance to make that assertion?
       So I had to accept the plausibility of a powerful force, a 
     creative Mind, that existed outside of nature. But was God 
     only to be found in the abstract, or did he also care about 
     me? I felt an increasing hunger to answer that question.
       After searching for two years more, I ultimately found my 
     own answer, in the loving person of Jesus Christ. Here was a 
     man unlike any other. He was humble and kindhearted. He 
     reached out to those considered lowest in society. He made 
     astounding statements about loving your enemies. And he 
     promised something that no ordinary man should be able to 
     promise--to forgive sins. On top of all that, having assumed 
     all my life that Jesus was just a myth, I was astounded to 
     learn that the evidence for his historical existence was 
     actually overwhelming.
       Eventually I concluded the evidence demanded a verdict. And 
     in my 28th year, while hiking in the majestic Cascade 
     mountains in the Pacific Northwest, I could no longer deny my 
     need for forgiveness and my need for new life, and I gave in 
     and became a follower of Jesus. He is now the rock upon which 
     I stand, the source for me of ultimate love, peace, joy, and 
     hope.
       But, some of you might say, you're a geneticist. Doesn't 
     this make your head explode? (Laughter)
       Aren't there irreconcilable contradictions between your 
     scientific and spiritual worldviews? No. Not at all! As long 
     as one uses a thoughtful approach to interpretation of the 
     meaning of Scripture in light of what science has allowed us 
     to learn about the universe, as St. Augustine compellingly 
     articulated 1600 years ago--I can't identify a single 
     conflict between what I know as a rigorous scientist and what 
     I know as a believer. Not one. Yes, science is the reliable 
     way to understand the natural world. But being a believer 
     allows me to see scientific discoveries in a wholly new 
     light. In that context, science becomes a means not only of 
     discovery, but of worship. When as a scientist I have the 
     great privilege of learning something that no human knew 
     before, as a believer I also have the indescribable 
     experience of having caught a glimpse of God's mind.
       Bernard Lonergan captured this aspect of scientific 
     discovery as ``the eternal rapture glimpsed in every 
     Archimedean cry of Eureka.'' So if this is all true, why does 
     there seem to be such a battle going on between science and 
     faith, at least in some quarters? As is often the case in 
     such battles, a bit of effort on each side to understand each 
     other would go a long way. Concrete thinkers amongst my own 
     colleagues who deny the value of a spiritual worldview would 
     be well advised to admit the ultimate impoverishment of that 
     perspective given that it offers no answers to questions like 
     ``Why am I here?'' Perhaps Jesus was thinking of such folks 
     when he said in Matthew 11, verse 25, ``I praise you, Father, 
     Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these 
     things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little 
     children.'' (Laughter)
       On the other hand, some well-meaning believers have adopted 
     the view that science is a threat to faith, and that God has 
     to somehow be defended against scientific conclusions. Is 
     this really compatible with trust in the Almighty, who could 
     hardly be threatened by the efforts of our puny minds to 
     understand his creation? God's creation is majestic, awesome, 
     intricate, and beautiful, and it cannot possibly contradict 
     itself. He is the same God whether you find him in the 
     cathedral or in the laboratory. He is in the laws of physics, 
     but he is also the ultimate source of love and forgiveness.

[[Page 24506]]

       On June 26, 2000, I had the privilege to stand in the East 
     Room of the White House, next to the President of the United 
     States, announcing the completion of the first draft of the 
     human genome. I was overcome with awe and a sense of history 
     that morning. As a believer, this remarkable book of life did 
     indeed seem to be written in the language in which God spoke 
     life into being.
       But that day was also one of personal mourning, for I had 
     just spoken at a memorial service for my sister-in-law, a 
     marionette artist whose wonderful light had been snuffed out 
     much too soon by breast cancer. The promise of these new 
     discoveries about the human genome had come too late for her.
       Recalling the mixed emotions of that day, they bring into 
     sharp focus the complex nature of our human condition. We 
     have great hopes for health and long life for ourselves and 
     our families, but all too often we stand at the gravesides of 
     loved ones who have been taken from us much too soon. We find 
     in the great truths of faith the kind of clear spiritual 
     water that we long for, but all too often we see that pure 
     water has been poured into those rusty human vessels, 
     distorted, and discolored. We want to believe in ultimate 
     human goodness, but all too often our hopes are dashed by 
     selfish and violent acts of our own human family against each 
     other. We cling to the promise of new scientific 
     breakthroughs to help our hurting world, but we fear that 
     some of these discoveries may be used in ways that cause more 
     harm than good. All in all, we dream of an earthly garden of 
     delight, but all too often it seems more like a vale of 
     tears.
       Yet if we put our trust in God, and resolve to put love 
     above all else, we are promised ultimate victory over all 
     these trials. ``Come unto me, all you who are burdened and 
     heavy laden, and I will give you rest.''
       So, my brothers and sisters, from every creed and nation, 
     let us here today resolve to love one another, and to 
     celebrate the beautiful and intricate world that God has 
     given us. Let us agree to protect it, even as we seek to join 
     the power of science with the warm embrace of human 
     compassion to reach out to all those who need healing, 
     whether of body or spirit.
       To conclude this homily, I propose to do something risky, 
     to ask you all to join me in singing a song. Some may find it 
     ironic that last year's speaker--(Laughter)
       --the rock star Bono, spoke about justice and world 
     economics but passed up the chance to sing. (Laughter)
       Now this year's speaker, a scientist who might be 
     considered a bit of a nerd, proposes to sing and even play 
     the guitar. But the Prayer Breakfast is where we are all 
     supposed to break out of our comfort zones. (Laughter)
       So please help me--I need it--break out of your own comfort 
     zones and sing along with me. In your program you will find a 
     little card which has three verses of a wonderful hymn. The 
     tune will be familiar to many of you and will be quickly 
     learned by the rest. Harmony is welcome. So my brothers and 
     sisters, lift your hearts and voices with me as we praise the 
     God who is the source of all faith and learning.

     (Song: ``Praise the Source of Faith and Learning'')

       [Words by Rev. Thomas H. Troeger
       From Borrowed Light: Hymn Texts, Prayers and Poems
       Copyright 1994 Oxford University Press, used by permission
       (To the tune of Hyfrydol)]

     Praise the source of faith and learning who has sparked and 
           stoked the mind
     With a passion for discerning how the world has been 
           designed.
     Let the sense of wonder flowing from the wonders we survey
     Keep our faith forever growing and renew our need to pray.

     God of wisdom, we acknowledge that our science and our art
     And the breadth of human knowledge only partial truth impart.
     Far beyond our calculation lies a depth we cannot sound
     Where Your purpose for creation and the pulse of life are 
           found.

     As two currents in a river fight each other's undertow
     Till converging they deliver one coherent steady flow,
     Blend O God our faith and learning till they carve a single 
           course,
     Till they join as one, returning praise and thanks to You, 
           their Source.

     (Applause)
       Dr. Collins: Amen. Amen.
       Rep. Cleaver: Amen.
       Although you do not have a speaking part at today's 
     breakfast, Mrs. Bush, you say more about grace and love just 
     sitting there than most of us could say in an hour. Thank 
     you. (Applause)
       Dr. Collins used the words of the New Testament, ``Come to 
     me those who labor, those who are tired, those who are weary, 
     and I will give you rest.'' The President of the United 
     States has the most difficult job on this planet, and those 
     words should be comforting to him today.
       Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States, 
     George W. Bush. (Applause)
       President George W. Bush: Thank you all. Thank you very 
     much. Now will you please join me in singing ``The Eyes of 
     Texas.'' (Laughter)
       Good morning. Laura and I are honored to join you here at 
     the 55th National Prayer Breakfast. It is an amazing country, 
     isn't it, when people from all walks of life gather to 
     recognize our dependence on an almighty God, and to ask Him 
     for blessings in our life. I think a breakfast such as this 
     speaks to the true strength of the United States of America. 
     (Applause)
       We come from many different faiths, yet we share this 
     profound conviction: We believe that God listens to the voice 
     of His children, and pours His grace upon those who seek Him 
     in prayer.
       I appreciate, Mr. Congressman, you and Jo Ann Davis, for 
     leading this prayer breakfast. And thanks for paying tribute 
     to my wife. (Applause)
       I appreciate the speaker's presence, Congressman Hoyer's 
     presence, Congressman Blunt's presence. I want to thank all 
     the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
     who have joined us. I appreciate the fact that we have 
     governors here, local officials and state officials. I thank 
     the members of my Cabinet for joining us--Don't linger, 
     you've got a job to do. (Laughter)
       I thank the military officials who have joined us; 
     distinguished dignitaries. Mr. Prime Minister, we are glad 
     you're here. Thank you for joining us.
       I appreciate Dr. Collins. I want to thank Reverend Mucci 
     and his wife Kathy. I appreciate Nicole Mullen. Most of all, 
     thank you all.
       We are a nation of prayer. America prays. (Applause)
       Each day millions of our citizens bow their heads in 
     silence and solitude, or they offer up prayers in fellowship 
     with others. They pray for themselves, they pray for their 
     families, they pray for their neighbors and their 
     communities. In many congregations and homes across this 
     great land, people also set aside time to pray for our nation 
     and those entrusted with authority, including our elected 
     leaders.
       In my travels, I often see hand-printed signs and personal 
     messages from citizens that carry words of prayer. Sometimes 
     it's a single little girl holding up a placard that reads, 
     ``Mr. President, be encouraged, you are prayed for.'' 
     Sometimes it's a banner held by a group of young people that 
     says, ``We are praying for you, Mr. President.'' I often hear 
     similar words when I meet people on a rope line. Isn't that 
     interesting? You're working a rope line and people come up 
     and say, ``Mr. President, I am praying for you and your 
     family.''
       The greatest gift a citizen of this country can give those 
     of us entrusted with political office is to pray for us. And 
     I thank those in our nation who lift all of us up in prayer. 
     (Applause)
       Our troops must understand that every day--every day--
     millions of our citizens lift them up in prayer. (Applause)
       We pray for their safety. We pray for their families they 
     have left at home. We pray for those who have been wounded, 
     for their comfort and recovery. We remember those who have 
     been lost, and we pray that their loved ones feel the healing 
     touch of the Almighty. During this time of war, we thank God 
     that we are part of a nation that produces courageous men and 
     women who volunteer to defend us.
       Many in our country know the power of prayer. Prayer 
     changes hearts. Prayer changes lives. And prayer makes us a 
     more compassionate and giving people. When we pray, we 
     surrender our will to the Almighty, and open ourselves up to 
     His priorities and His touch. His call to love our neighbors 
     as we would like to be loved ourselves is something that we 
     hear when we pray. And we answer that call by reaching out to 
     feed the hungry and clothe the poor, and aid the widow and 
     the orphan. By helping our brothers and sisters in need, we 
     find our own faith strengthened, and we receive the grace to 
     lead lives of dignity and purpose.
       We see this grace in the life of a young American named 
     Shannon Hickey. Shannon was one of Laura's guests at the 
     State of the Union. When Shannon was growing up, her favorite 
     priest was Father Mychal Judge, a chaplain with the New York 
     City Fire Department. Father Mychal helped Shannon and her 
     family through Shannon's struggle with liver disease. On 
     September the 11, 2001, Father Mychal lost his life in the 
     World Trade Center. In memory of her friend, Shannon founded 
     Mychal's Message, a non-profit organization dedicated to 
     sharing Father Mychal's loving spirit. Over the last five 
     years, Mychal's Message has collected and distributed more 
     than 100,000 needed items to the poor and the homeless. With 
     each gift to the needy, Shannon encloses a card with Father 
     Mychal's personal prayer. It reads, ``Lord, take me where You 
     want me to go, let me meet who You want me to meet, tell me 
     what You want me to say, and keep me out of Your way.''
       Father Mychal's humble prayer reminds us of an eternal 
     truth: In the quiet of prayer, we leave behind our own cares 
     and we take up the cares of the Almighty. And in answering 
     His call to service we find that, in the words of Isaiah, 
     ``We will gain new strength. We will run and not get tired. 
     We will walk and not become weary.''

[[Page 24507]]

       And so I thank you for joining us on this day of prayer. I 
     thank you for the tradition you continue here today. And I 
     ask for God's blessings on the United States of America. 
     (Applause)
       Rep. Cleaver: Ladies and gentlemen, if you would please 
     remain in your seats while the President and Mrs. Bush leave, 
     and Nicole Mullen will return to the microphone. If all of 
     you would be so kind as to remain in your seats until I tell 
     you to leave. (Laughter)
       Ms. Mullen: I wrote a song based on the words of Job, who 
     had gone from hardship and back to goodness again. He simply 
     said, ``I know that my redeemer lives.''
       (Song: Redeemer) (Applause)
       Rep. Cleaver: Amen.
       Amen. He does live. Thank you so much, Nicole. Thank you 
     for blessing us.
       As we prepare to leave this place today, I would remind you 
     that years ago the prophet Isaiah gave us the word of the 
     Lord when he wrote:
       ``Stop doing wrong, learn to do right. Seek justice, 
     encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, 
     plead the case of the widow. `Come now, let us reason 
     together,' says the Lord.''
       As the light of the world, you pierce the darkness in 
     troubled times, those of you who are leaders both in this 
     country and around the world. Please know that we all 
     struggle against the forces of darkness. The power of sin and 
     alienation is strong, but you are now stronger. Our world 
     needs your healing power and your love.
       Today, oh God, I pray for our world leaders. I pray that 
     the power of your love will guide their decisions.
       And now, we ask that you go out into the world and make a 
     difference. Amen. (Applause)

                          ____________________