    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [January 15, 2004]
    [Pages 60-66]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to Faith-Based and Community Leaders in New Orleans, Louisiana
    January 15, 2004

        Thank you all very much for your warm welcome. Reverend
    Brown, thank you for your hospitality, your
    gracious hospitality. It's not easy to host a President. [Laughter] It
    seems as if the entourages are quite large. So I want to thank you for
    accommodating me and this cast of characters that travels with me.
    [Laughter] I'm here to talk about something vital to the future of the
    country, and I appreciate you giving me a chance to share with you my
    dreams and aspirations for all our citizens.
        I'm really not worthy to stand here, when I think about the fact
    that not only Reverend Brown preaches here
    on a regular basis, but this is the very place where Martin Luther King
    stood as well some 42 years ago. It's from this pulpit that he preached.
    Today would have been his 75th birthday. It's important for our country
    to honor his life and what he stood for.

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        Dr. King understood that faith is power greater than all others.
    That's what he knew. It's an important lesson for us to remember here in
    America, that God's word can humble the mighty, can lift up the meek,
    and can bring comfort and strength to all who yearn for justice and
    freedom. Those of us who are involved with public policy must not fear
    that philosophy as we all work together to save lives.
        I'm at this church to talk about the importance of what we call a
    Faith-Based Initiative. Really what I'm here to say is that in the land
    of plenty, we must recognize there are still people who hurt. In the
    land of plenty, there are people who search for the light, who simply
    want a chance to succeed and realize their God-given talents. And those
    of us who have been blessed with the opportunity to help must play to
    the strength of our country in order to help save lives. The strength of
    America is found in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens. This
    country must not fear the influence of faith in the future of this
    country. We must welcome faith in order to make America a better place.
        So Reverend Brown, thank you, and thank
    your wife, Mary, and your son, Benjie, for your hospitality. I appreciate so very much the
    Governor being here. The Governor
    not only was kind enough to meet me at the airport, but she was kind
    enough to ride from the airport to this church. We had a good discussion
    about the needs of Louisiana. She's not a shrinking violet when it comes
    to describing what she would like to see in terms of responsiveness. I
    appreciate that. I'm glad you brought Coach. [Laughter]
        I'm honored that Congressman David Vitter
    has traveled today with me. Thank you, Congressman, for coming. The
    mayor was at our roundtable discussion, which,
    by the way, happened to be at a square table, but--[laughter]--I
    appreciate working with the mayor.
        Traveling with me today from Washington, DC, is a longtime friend.
    He is the Acting Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban
    Development. When the Senate gets
    together, he's going to be the Secretary of the Housing--of the
    Department of Housing and Urban Development, Alphonso Jackson. Thanks
    for coming, Alphonso. I appreciate you being here.
        Archbishop Alfred Hughes is with us
    today. Archbishop, thanks for coming. I'm honored you are here.
        I know this will embarrass him, but I've got to mention him. One of
    the people that influenced me a lot when I was the Governor of Texas,
    influenced me in terms of what faith-based programs can mean in people's
    lives, was Kirbyjon Caldwell. Kirbyjon
    is from Houston. He's the senior pastor of the Windsor Village United
    Methodist Church. He is a true social entrepreneur. He has used his
    position as a pastor to change lives and communities in significant
    ways, ways that government couldn't possibly do. Kirbyjon, thanks for
    coming. I appreciate you being here.
        I mentioned a roundtable discussion. We just had a lot of people
    from the community, people who have been helped, people who are helping,
    neighborhood healers here to share their stories. I want to thank all of
    them for coming to talk about the influence of faith and their capacity
    to help change lives. I appreciate the choir being here.
        Not only was I met by local dignitaries and elected officials when I
    landed at the airport, I was also met by Tenisha Stevens. Where is Tenisha? Tenisha, there you are. If you're
    wondering why I would mention Tenisha, she is a soldier in the army of
    compassion. She's a soul who is interested in listening to a universal
    call and is a tutor. She's taking time out of her life to work in the
    after-school programs right here in this church, Pastor. She is a
    mentor. She's willing to help save a life.
        That's the spirit of America, isn't it, when citizens who are
    willing to sacrifice time on behalf of saving a life. We need more
    mentors in our society. If you're a citizen

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    in this community or any community around the country who want to know
    what you can do to help America, mentor a child; teach a child to read;
    love a child.
        Tenisha, I want to thank you for
    serving. You're such a good example for other people around the country.
    Thank you for being a soldier in the great army of compassion here in
    America.
        Many of the problems that are facing our society are problems of the
    heart. Addiction is the problem of a heart--of the heart. I know I've
    told this story before. I was a drinker. I quit drinking because I
    changed my heart. I guess I was a one-man faith-based program.
    [Laughter]
        Problems that face our society are oftentimes problems that require
    something greater than just a government program or a government
    counselor to solve. Intractable problems, problems that seem impossible
    to solve, can be solved. There is the miracle of salvation in our--that
    is real, that is tangible, that is available for all to see. Miracles
    are possible in our society, one person at a time.
        But it requires a willingness to understand the origin of miracle.
    Miracles happen as a result of the love of the Almighty, professed, by
    the way, taught, by the way, by religions from all walks of life,
    whether it be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu--people who have heard
    that universal call to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved
    yourself and then surround someone who hurts with love. Love is
    powerful. Love is soul-changing. Love doesn't happen because of
    government. Love happens because of the inspiration of something greater
    than government. That's what we're here to talk about, programs based
    upon faith.
        Right here in this church, there are faith-based programs. Any
    program emanating out of a church or a synagogue or a mosque is a faith-
    based program. So when you hear some people talk about faith-based
    programs, those are programs that start as a result of a group of folks
    of faith deciding to do something about a problem. And the fundamental
    question in our society is, how does the Federal Government relate to
    programs of faith? ``The mighty check writer''--how does it relate when
    it writes checks to meet social needs with people who are solving our
    problems in spite of government? My attitude is, the Government should
    not fear faith-based programs. We ought to welcome faith-based programs,
    and we ought to fund faith-based programs.
        This church receives Federal funding for childcare. It must be
    comforting for a mom or a dad to drop off his or her child to a
    childcare center run by a church. It's a safe place, to begin with, but
    it's also a place where there's values. The handbook of this particular
    childcare is a universal handbook. It's been around for a long time. It
    doesn't need to be invented. Let me see your handbook there. [Laughter]
    This handbook is a good book; it's a good go-by.
        And yet our governments have, frankly, discriminated against faith-
    based programs. It's the truth. How does it happen that way? Well,
    oftentimes a faith-based program that applies for Federal Government
    says, ``I want to help.'' And they say, ``Fine, you can help, but take
    the cross down from the wall. Take off the Star of David. Take down the
    crescent.'' And my answer to that is, how can you be a faith-based
    program if you can't practice your faith? It seems to be a contradiction
    in terms.
        Government policy said, ``On the one hand, perhaps you can help. On
    the other hand, you can't practice your faith.'' Faith-based programs
    are only effective because they do practice faith. It's important for
    our Government to understand that. Government oftentimes will say,
    ``Yes, you can participate, but you've got to change your board of
    directors to meet our qualifications. You've got to conform to our
    rules.'' The problem is, faith-based programs only conform to one set of
    rules, and it's bigger than Government rules. The inspiration is

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    not from bureaucracy, and that's what's important for Government
    policymakers to understand.
        I have asked Congress to not fear faith. See, the debate in
    Washington oftentimes is, well, the church will become the state, or the
    state will become the church. To me, that's never going to happen, and
    we won't let it happen. As a matter of fact, the separation of church
    and state is a vital part of our country. The freedom of religion is a
    vital part of our country.
        But on the other hand, when people are able to deliver results,
    people should not say--people shouldn't say, ``Well, the results are
    coming from the wrong source of programming.'' We ought to say, ``We
    want results. We welcome results, and we're willing to fund programs
    that are capable of delivering results. We want to fund programs that
    save Americans, one soul at a time.''
        In order to get beyond the debate of process, we must say--we must
    ask the question in Washington, ``Does the program work? Does the
    program to help the addicted work? Is the homeless program working?''
    That's the question that must be asked.
        So I called on Congress to join me in passing laws that would allow
    the--open up the Federal Treasury to faith-based programs, and they
    balked. They got caught up in the process. So I signed an Executive
    order, an Executive order that instructed all Federal agencies not to
    discriminate against religious groups. Cabinet Secretary--soon-to-be
    Cabinet Secretary Jackson now knows the
    call. One reason he's the Cabinet Secretary is because he already heard
    it, however, and that is that we're not going to discriminate against
    faith-based groups when it comes to housing initiatives.
        We're spending a lot of time traveling the country. I've got a
    fellow that works in my office in the White House named Jim
    Towey. Towey is an interesting
    character. He is a--well, I shouldn't call him a character; he's a fine
    citizen. [Laughter] Believe it or not, Towey--you're not going to
    believe this, but it's true--he was Mother Teresa's lawyer. It's an
    interesting society where Mother Teresa needs a lawyer. [Laughter] But
    Towey's job is to educate people to what is possible, educate the social
    entrepreneurs, those who are on the frontline of saving lives, about
    what is possible, and to assure people who try to access Federal funds
    that you won't have to change your mission.
        In other words, we're changing a culture, and it takes a lot of
    work. And I appreciate you all giving me a chance to come and be a part
    of explaining what is taking place in Washington, DC. Cultures change
    because others will then go out and say, ``It's okay to try to access
    money to meet our need. The Government now is not going to thwart you.''
    It's going to take a while to make sure that these faith-based offices
    which we've created in every Cabinet Department--or most of the Cabinet
    Departments in Washington--are able to get out the word.
        But we want you to help spread the word. We want those of you on the
    frontline of saving lives to feel comfortable now of accessing the
    billions of dollars which are available at the Federal Government level.
    What we said is, ``The playing field is now level.'' You've got a chance
    to bid, right along with other types of organizations, to be a part of
    the grantmaking process without fear of discrimination. It's a
    significant change. I'm comfortable in pushing the change because I know
    the nature of the work that is taking place.
        Let me give you one example. Three months after HUD opened its doors
    to faith-based groups, 600 such groups have received $168 million to
    provide shelter for the homeless. In other words, we're beginning to
    change. I love the idea of religious organizations providing help for
    the homeless. What a comforting place for someone who is lost and
    looking for help to be able to provide that help.

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        It is a--it's just the beginning, Mr. Secretary-to-be. And it's just the beginning of a lot of change.
    Health and Human Services Department, HHS, is now opening up its
    grantmaking process for faith-based programs. It's billions of dollars
    now available. And that's good for the society. And it's good for our
    country.
        Let me give you an example of some progress being made. Donna
    Blackburn--raise your hand, Donna. Donna's
    a--she's a good soul. She started a shelter for battered women and their
    children in Baton Rouge. First of all, thank you for starting a shelter.
    It's a noble calling. It's important for people like Donna to know
    there's a problem and respond to it. Donna didn't wait for a law to be
    passed, by the way. She didn't get permission from the President. She
    didn't say to the Governor, ``Can I do this?'' She just did it. That's
    what happens in America. People see a problem, and they move.
        And then the fundamental question is, when you find that spirit
    moving, what is the role of Government? She
    wanted to make the shelter, of course, a safe haven. But she also wanted
    to make a place where God's grace shines. She wanted the presence of the
    Almighty there to help her and her staff deal with the problems, the
    difficult problems that a battered woman and her children face. The
    problem was--and she applied for Federal money, housing money to take
    this donated warehouse and convert it into a house of love. The local
    government said, ``Yes, you can probably have some money, but you can't
    have prayer. You can't express faith.''
        Donna understands that the use of
    Federal money is not to proselytize. All comers are welcome. If a person
    of another faith walks in as a battered woman, she will be received. But
    Donna also understands that in order to make her program work, that
    they've got to be able to exercise their faith.
        We moved at the Federal level to say, ``No discrimination against
    faith-based programs.'' Last night, she
    reported to us that the Baton Rouge city council approved her faith-
    based grant, no strings attached, and now she's got $60,000 to help
    convert her shelter.
        Somebody said, ``Well, thank you for the Federal Government.'' Now,
    see, you've got it wrong. You don't need to be thanking the Federal
    Government. We're talking about the people's money, anyway. It's the
    Federal Government's job--the Federal Government's job is to thank the
    Donnas of the world, the social people--the social entrepreneurs, the
    people who are literally changing America, one heart at a time. That's
    who we're here to thank, and that's where our society must recognize and
    welcome.
        Nicole Hilliard is here. Where are you,
    Nicole? There you go, okay. I embarrassed her. Nicole is a single mom.
    By the way, that's the toughest job in America, being a single mom.
    She's got a 15-year-old son. She was hurting. I shouldn't be giving her
    testimony for her, but I will paraphrase. She hurt, and she was worried,
    just like a mom would worry. She didn't have any housing. She was broke,
    stone broke, and she was worried as a mom, ``How do I take care of my
    child?''
        So she went to the First Evangelist
    Housing--went to the First Evangelist Church. This says, went to the
    First Evangelist Housing CDC. That's a little too technical. She went to
    the church, is where she went. She said, ``I hope to be able to get some
    help at this church.'' Her pastor is here; Pastor Taylor is with us as well. She said, ``I want some help.''
    She was trying to escape not only an abusive relationship, she was
    trying to escape desperation and hopelessness. There's nothing better,
    by the way, than a faith-based program to provide hope. Again, I don't
    care what religion it is. Nothing more hopeful than the Word. She and
    her son moved into a one-bedroom apartment managed by First Evangelist.
    That apartment was supported by Federal money. Alphonso shouldn't worry about where that money goes. He

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    just ought to be worried about whether or not that money is saving lives
    and providing a chance for people to find shelter.
        By the way, as a result of interfacing with this faith-based group,
    she went back to school. She found a job.
    She lives in a neighborhood, by the way, which has been transformed by
    the faith-based institution itself. She's talked about what it means to
    walk from the bus stop without fear of life.
        It's amazing what can happen when faith-based programs begin to
    influence entire neighborhoods. People change; the attitude of the
    people in the neighborhood change. Nicole's
    story is one that shows that individual lives are rescued on a daily
    basis. Our job is to help the rescuers find those who need to be saved
    and helped.
        Tonja Myles is here. I got to know Tonja
    because in my State of the Union last year, I introduced her to the
    country. And she's still talking to me, fortunately. [Laughter] She's
    from Baton Rouge. She directs what's called Set Free Indeed. It's an
    interesting name, isn't it? Set Free talks about the inspiration of the
    program. She receives money, Federal money to help save lives.
        Addiction, addicts need to be treated. They need to be helped. A
    small number of people consume most of the drugs. We need to find them
    and help save their lives. Sometimes a government counselor can work. It
    can make a difference. A lot of times, it requires a faith-based program
    to help break that terrible habit.
        And Tonja understood that. She started this
    program. She said she heard a call from God to start the program. It
    wasn't a Government bureaucracy that she talked to. It was a call from a
    higher being. And as a result, that program is inculcated with that
    spirit, and she's saving lives, one at a time.
        Interestingly enough, by heralding her program, a lot of other
    people came. I want you to herald programs. When you find something
    that's working in your local community, make sure that the citizenry
    knows what's happening. This is not me. This is not the Governor. It's
    just not the mayor. It's local community leaders willing to hold up
    examples of great success, of great healing. People need to know what's
    available. People need to know that there's love and the capacity to
    help save lives in their very neighborhood. You're here because you're
    interested. You're leaders, yourselves. Please make your programs and
    what is available known.
        The Government can help. I mean, we're calling for special
    initiatives: $100 million for drug treatment; 48 million for the
    Compassion Capital Fund, which is really to help startup faith-based
    programs. Like Kirbyjon--I told Kirbyjon, I said, ``Kirbyjon, you're successful. Help another church
    learn how to be successful. Reach out. Use your entrepreneurial skills
    and find another church to help that pastor understand what is
    available.'' That's what the Compassion Capital Fund does.
        We've got $50 million, by the way, in the budget that supports
    mentors for children whose moms or dad might be in prison or are in
    prison. See, this--the money is--it's important, and we're funding out
    of Washington and funding out of the State level. But more important is,
    where does the money go? And that's what we're here to talk about.
    Congress must not fear faith-based programs that interface and save
    lives. They must welcome such programs. So that's what I'm here to talk
    about, Pastor, good public policy based upon
    the willingness of our citizenry to love a neighbor just like you'd like
    to be loved yourself.
        One of my favorite pulpit stories came when a preacher was
    preaching. A guy, right where Congressman is
    sitting, he stood up and said, ``Use me, Lord. Use me.'' The man was
    about halfway through the sermon. He kind of ignored him. Maybe that's
    happened to you before, and you kind of ignore whoever is standing up
    yelling. Next Sunday, halfway through the sermon, same fellow pops up
    and says, ``Use me, Lord. Use me.'' Third Sunday,

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    the same thing happens. So the pastor comes down, he says, ``Fine, you
    said, `Use me, Lord. Use me.''' He said, ``I'll be glad to use you. Why
    don't you paint and scrape all the pews.'' [Laughter] Next Sunday, the
    guy stands up and says, ``Use me, Lord, use me, but only in an advisory
    capacity.'' [Laughter]
        No, no, the people here are not advisers. They're doers. People in
    faith-based programs all around the country just don't sit around and
    say, ``Here's some advice.'' They say, ``What can I do to answer a call?
    How can I help change my community and thereby change my country?'' And
    that's what you're doing.
        Our Government must understand America is a hopeful and optimistic
    place, particularly when we apply the great strength of our country,
    which is the love of our citizens, to changing America, one heart, one
    soul, one conscience at a time.
        May God bless your work, and may God continue to bless America.
    Thank you for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:57 a.m. at the Union Bethel AME Church.
    In his remarks, he referred to Rev. Thomas B. Brown, pastor, Union
    Bethel AME Church; Gov. Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana and her husband,
    Raymond ``Coach'' Blanco; Mayor C. Ray Nagin of New Orleans, LA;
    Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes, archdiocese of New Orleans; and Rev. Warren
    Taylor, pastor, First Evangelist Missionary Baptist Church.