[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 24 (Monday, June 18, 2007)]
[Pages 796-798]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Satellite Remarks to the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting

June 13, 2007

    Thank you all very much. Thanks for the warm welcome, Frank, and 
thanks for your kind introduction. I really appreciate you giving me a 
chance to speak to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist 
Convention, right there in my home State of Texas. I appreciate the fact 
that messengers from all over the Nation have gathered in San Antonio 
this week. You could have chosen a cooler time of the year to visit, but 
I'm sure you'll still experience our famous Texas hospitality.
    I appreciate the fact that you're meeting to join in prayer and to 
seek a common direction for the ministry of Southern Baptist churches. I 
thank you for your Christian witness; I thank you for your defense of 
religious liberty; and I appreciate your many good works that make our 
Nation a stronger and more hopeful place. See, every day Southern 
Baptists are giving back to their communities and ministering to those 
in need. And you made our Nation stronger as a result.
    You have contributed millions of dollars to fight world hunger and 
logged countless hours in disaster relief and rebuilding. You've 
provided training to lift people out of poverty and dependency, and 
you've spread the Gospel. You've loved your neighbors as yourselves. In 
other words, you've made a great contribution to our country. And I 
appreciate that.
    I also appreciate the fact that Southern Baptists are supporting our 
brave men and women in uniform and their families. I know you pray for 
their safety as they defend our people and extend the hope of freedom to 
the oppressed across the globe. I appreciate the fact you've sent care 
packages and tend to the spiritual needs as military chaplains or kneel 
in prayer. I thank you as you support those who volunteer to serve our 
Nation.
    Just like our troops, you have the gratitude of the Commander in 
Chief as we do the hard work necessary to defend our country and, at the 
same time, lay the foundation of peace.
    I appreciate the fact that Southern Baptists understand the 
importance of fair-minded and impartial judges to our democracy. I was 
proud to nominate John Roberts and Sam Alito to the Supreme Court. And I 
will continue to nominate good judges who will interpret the law and not 
legislate from the bench.
    Southern Baptists have committed to building a culture of life, and 
my administration shares that great goal. Since taking office, I've 
signed the Born Alive Infants Protection Act and the Unborn Victims of 
Violence Act, also known as Lacy and Connor's Law. I've refused to fund 
programs overseas that promote or perform abortions. I used my first 
veto on a bill that would have compelled American taxpayers to support 
the deliberate destruction of human embryos. And

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I will veto any bill Congress sends me that violates the sanctity of 
human life.
    I worked with Congress to pass the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, 
and since I spoke to you last year, the Supreme Court upheld this vital 
law.
    I believe building a culture of life in our country also means 
promoting adoption and teaching teen abstinence, funding crisis 
pregnancy programs, and supporting the work of faith-based groups. In 
defending the lives of the weakest and the most vulnerable members of 
our society, we reflect the compassion and humanity of America. And we 
will continue to work toward the day when every child is welcomed in 
life and protected in law.
    I thank the Southern Baptists who are working to promote a culture 
of life abroad by helping lead the fight against malaria and HIV/AIDS. 
Southern Baptists run hospitals and provide medical care to many 
suffering from malaria and HIV/AIDS across Africa. In Uganda, Southern 
Baptists sponsor an abstinence program called True Love Waits. And 
thanks to efforts like yours, Uganda has made progress against HIV/AIDS. 
And now you're building on the success by expanding this important 
program to six more countries in Africa.
    My administration shares your sense of urgency in the fight against 
these terrible diseases. And that's why we created a $1.2 billion 
malaria initiative to provide protection to people in some of the most 
heavily affected countries in Africa. So far we have helped more than 10 
million Africans, and we expect to reach a total of 30 million people by 
the end of 2007.
    We're also combating the spread of HIV/AIDS. In 2003, my 
administration launched a $15 billion Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. 
And thanks to the generosity of the American people and support in 
Congress, we have supported lifesaving treatment for 1.1 million people 
infected with HIV in some of the poorest nations on Earth.
    This program makes a huge difference in saving lives. And so, last 
month, I asked Congress to double our initial commitment and provide an 
additional $30 billion for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care over 
the next 5 years. And the reason why is, is because I firmly believe, 
like Southern Baptists believe who are working to raise awareness about 
the suffering that takes place in the world, that to whom much is given 
much is required. And by dealing with disease, infectious diseases, we 
can make the world a better place, and that helps us here at home.
    I also believe it helps lift our soul and lifts our spirits when we 
help those who suffer among us. And that's why I strongly support what 
you're doing and helping to do in the Darfur region of Sudan. I 
appreciate the fact that my friend Richard Land is working tirelessly to 
help those suffering in that troubled nation.
    For too long, the people of Darfur have suffered at the hands of a 
government that is complicit in the bombing, rape, and murder of 
innocent civilians. The world has a responsibility to end this genocide 
and to hold accountable those perpetuating the violence. And America has 
taken the lead. So 2 weeks ago, I announced new actions to address this 
persecution. The Department of Treasury is tightening existing economic 
sanctions against Sudan, and we're imposing additional ones. Secretary 
Rice is working with our allies to draft a new U.N. Security Council 
resolution that will seek to impose new sanctions, expand an arms 
embargo, and prohibit Sudan's Government from conducting offensive 
military flights over Darfur.
    The people of Darfur are crying out for our help, and the Southern 
Baptists and the United States will not turn away because we believe 
that what matters overseas matters here at home.
    God has blessed our Nation with prosperity and great abundance. And 
I firmly believe, like you, that we should use our resources to help 
those that need here at home, and help those who need abroad.
    And this is a central part of the work of the Southern Baptist 
Convention. You're rising to meet the challenges of broken souls in a 
broken world with compassion and courage. You're living out the call to 
spread the Gospel and proclaim the Kingdom of God. And I thank you for 
your leadership, and I thank you for the prayers that you offer to Laura 
and me. And I thank you for your strong voice in the public square.

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    May God bless you, and may God bless America. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke by satellite at 11:43 a.m. from the Map Room 
at the White House to the convention meeting in San Antonio, TX. In his 
remarks, he referred to Frank S. Page, president, Southern Baptist 
Convention; and Richard Land, president, Southern Baptist Convention's 
Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.