2015 National Prayer Breakfast Address

GOOD MORNING. GIVING ALL PRAISE AND HONOR TO GOD, IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE BACK WITH YOU HERE. I WANT TO THANK OUR COCHAIRS, BOB AND ROGERS. THESE TWO DON'T ALWAYS AGREE IN THE SENATE, BUT IN COMING TOGETHER IN UNITING US ALL IN PRAYER, THEY EMBODY THE SPIRIT OF OUR GATHERING TODAY. I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO HELPED ORGANIZE THIS BREAKFAST. IS WONDERFUL TO SEE SO MANY FRIENDS AND FAITH LEADERS, DIGNITARIES, MICHELLE AND I ARE TRULY HONORED TO BE JOINING YOU HERE TODAY. I WANT TO OFFER A SPECIAL WELCOME TO A GOOD FRIEND. HIS HOLINESS, THE DALAI LAMA, WHO IS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO PRACTICE COMPASSION. TOHE INSPIRES US TO SPEAK UP FOR THE DIGNITY OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS. I'M PLEASED TO WELCOME HIM TO THE WHITE HOUSE. [APPLAUSE] THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY OCCASIONS THAT BRING HIS HOLINESS UNDER THE SAME ROOF AS NASCAR. [LAUGHTER] THIS MAY BE THE FIRST. BUT GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS. [LAUGHTER] SO I WANT TO THANK DARRELL FOR THAT WONDERFUL PRESENTATION. DARRELL KNOWS THAT WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO HUNDRED MILES PER HOUR --200 MILES PER HOUR, A LITTLE PRAYER CANNOT HURT. HE PROBABLY HAD THE SAME PROCESS AS WE HAD IN OUR LIVES. , JESUS, TAKE THE WHEEL. [LAUGHTER] ALTHOUGH I HOPE YOU KEPT YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL WHEN YOU ARE THINKING THAT. HE AND I SHARE SOMETHING. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO STEVIE FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE TOGETHER TO BUILD A MINISTRY WHERE THE FASTEST DRIVERS CAN SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT. AND SPEND TIME IN PRAYER AND REFLECTION AND THINGS. AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO WISH DARRELL A HAPPY BIRTHDAY. [APPLAUSE] HAPPY BIRTHDAY. ALTHOUGH DARRELL, WHEN YOU ARE READING THAT LIST OF THINGS PEOPLE SAID ABOUT YOU, I SAID, YOU ARE A PIKER. [LAUGHTER] IF YOU REALLY WANT A LIST, COME TALK TO ME. [LAUGHTER] IS THAT AIN'T NOTHING. IS THAT THE BEST THEY CAN DO IN A NASCAR? SLOWING DOWN AND PAUSING FOR FELLOWSHIP AND PRAYER, THAT IS WHAT THIS BREAKFAST IS ABOUT. WASHINGTON MOVES A LOT SLOWER THAN NASCAR. CERTAINLY, MY AGENDA DOES. [LAUGHTER] BUT STILL, IT IS EASIER TO BE CAUGHT UP IN THE RUSH OF OUR LIVES AND THE POLITICAL ACT AND FORTH. WE GET SIDETRACKED WITH DISTRACTIONS, LARGE AND SMALL. WE CAN'T GO 10 MINUTES WITHOUT CHECKING OUR SMARTPHONES. FOR MY STAFF, THAT IS EVERY 10 SECONDS. FOR 63 YEARS, THIS PRAYER TRADITION HAS BROUGHT US TOGETHER, GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER IN HUMILITY BEFORE THE ALMIGHTY. AND TO BE REMINDED OF WHAT IT IS THAT WE SHARE AS SHOULDER AND OF GOD. -- CHILDRE OF GODN. THIS IS A CHANCE TO REFLECT ON MY OWN A JOURNEY. AS PRESIDENT, I HAVE BEEN REMINDED OF A LINE THAT ELEANOR ROOSEVELT WAS FOND OF. SHE SAID, KEEP US AT TASKS TOO HARD FOR US THAT WE MAY BE DRIVEN TO BE FOR STRENGTH. I WONDERED AT TIMES, IS GOD WAS ANSWERING THAT PRAYER A LITTLE TOO LITERALLY. BUT NO MATTER THE CHALLENGE, HE HAS BEEN THERE. FOR ALL OF US. HE HAS CERTAINLY STRENGTHENED ME WITH THE POWER THROUGH HIS SPIRIT. I HAVE THOUGHT HIS GUIDANCE. NOT JUST IN MY OWN LIFE, BUT IN THE LIFE OF THE NATION. OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES. CERTAINLY OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS. PART OF WHAT I WANT TO TOUCH ON TODAY IS THE DEGREE TO WHICH WE HAVE SEEN PROFESSIONS OF FAITH USED BOTH AS AN INSTRUMENT OF GREAT GOOD, BUT ALSO TWISTED AND MISUSED IN THE NAME OF EVIL. AS WE SPEAK, AROUND THE WORLD, WE SEE FAITH INSPIRING PEOPLE TO LIFT UP ONE ANOTHER. TO FEED THE HUNGRY, CARE FOR THE POOR, COMFORT THE AFFLICTED, AND MAKE PEACE WHERE THERE IS STRIFE. WE HEARD THE GOOD WORK THAT THE SISTERS HAVE DONE IN PHILADELPHIA. THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT DR. BRADWAY AND HIS COLLEAGUES HAVE DONE. WE HAVE SEEN FAITH DRIVING THIS RIGHT. BUT WE HAVE ALSO SEEN FAITH TWISTED. SOMETIMES USED AS A WEAPON. FROM A SCHOOL IN PAKISTAN TO THE STREETS OF PARIS, WE HAVE SEEN VIOLENCE AND TERROR PERPETRATED BY THOSE WHO PROFESS TO STAND UP TO FAITH. THEY PROFESS TO STAND UP FOR ISLAM, BUT INSTEAD ARE BETRAYING IT. WE SEE ISO, ISIL, A BRUTAL, VICIOUS DEATH CULT, THAT IN THE NAME OF RELIGION, TERRORIZES RELIGIOUS MINORITIES LIKE THAT USESE YAZIDIS. BY RAPING WOMEN AND CLAIMING RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY FOR SUCH ACTION. WE SEE THE MURDER OF MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA. THE RELIGIOUS WAR IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. AND TRYING SEMITISMANTI-SEMITISM AND HE CRIMES IN EUROPE, SO OFTEN PERPETRATED IN THE NAME OF RELIGION. HOW DO WE, AS PEOPLE OF FAITH, RECOGNIZE THESE REALITIES? OF PROFOUND GOOD, THE STRENGTH, THE TENACITY, THE COMPASSION AND LOVE THAT FLOWS FROM ALL OF OUR FAITHS. OPERATING ALONG THOSE WHO SEEK TO HIJACK RELIGIONS FOR THEIR OWN MURDERS AENDS. HUMANITY HAS BEEN GRAPPLING WITH THESE QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT HISTORY. UNLESS WE GET ON OUR HIGH HORSE AND THINK THIS IS UNIQUE TO SOME OTHER PLACE, THE MEMBER THAT DURING THE CRUSADES AND INQUISITION, PEOPLE COMMITTED TERRIBLE DEEDS IN THE NAME OF CHRIST. IN OUR HOME COUNTRY COME A SLAVERY AND JIM CROW ALL TOO OFTEN WAS JUSTIFIED IN THE NAME OF CHRIST. MICHELLE AND I RETURNED FROM INDIA, AND INCREDIBLE, BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. FULL OF MAGNIFICENT DIVERSITY. BUT, A PLACE WHERE LAST FEW YEARS, THEY HAVE BEEN TARGETED BY OTHER PEOPLES OF FAITH, SIMPLY DUE TO THEIR HERITAGE AND POLICE. THAT IS THE KIND OF INTOLERANT THAT WOULD HAVE SHOCKED GANDHI, THE PERSON WHO WORKED TO LIBERATE THE NATION. THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO ONE GROUP OR RELIGION. THERE IS A TENDENCY IN US, A SINFUL TENDENCY, THAT CAN PERVERT AND DISTORT OUR FAITH. IN TODAY'S WORLD, WHERE HATE GROUPS HAVE THE TWITTER ACCOUNTS IN HIDDEN PLACES IN CYBERSPACE, IT CAN BE EVEN HARDER TO COUNTERACT SUCH INTOLERANCE. GOD COMPELS US TO TRY. IN THIS MISSION, I BELIEVE THERE ARE A FEW PRINCIPALS THAT CAN GUIDE US. PARTICULARLY, THOSE OF US WHO PROFESS BELIEF. BURST, WE SHOULD START WITH SOME BASIC MELODYHUMILITY. I BELIEVE THAT THE STARTING POINT OF FAITH IS DOUBT. NOT BEING SO FULL OF YOURSELF AND SO CONFIDENT THAT YOU ARE RIGHT AND THAT GOD SPEAKS ONLY TO US. AND IT DOES NOT SPEAK TO OTHER. THAT GOD ONLY CARES ABOUT US AND NOT OTHERS. THAT SOMEHOW WE ALONE ARE IN POSSESSION OF THE TRUTH. OUR JOB IS NOT TO ASK THAT GOD RESPOND TO OUR NOTION OF THE TRUTH, OUR JOB IS TO BE TRUE TO HIM. HIS WORD AND HIS COMMANDMENTS. WE SHOULD ASSUME HUMBLY THAT WE ARE CONFUSED AND DO NOT ALWAYS KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE ARE STAGGERING AND STUMBLING TOWARDS HIM. AND TO HAVE SOME HUMILITY IN THAT PROCESS. THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO SPEAK UP AGAINST THOSE WHO WOULD MISUSE HIS NAME TO JUSTIFY OPPRESSION OR VIOLENCE OR HATRED WITH THAT FIERCE CERTAINTY. NO GOD CONDONES TERROR. NO GRIEVANCE JUSTIFIES THE TAKING OF INNOCENT LIVES OR THE OPPRESSION OF THOSE WHO ARE WEAKER. AS PEOPLE OF FAITH, WE ARE SUMMONED TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THOSE WHO TRY TO DISTORT OUR RELIGION. ANY RELIGION, FOR THEIR OWN NIHILISTIC ENDS. HERE AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD WE CONSTANTLY REAFFIRM THAT FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOM, FREEDOM OF RELIGION, TO PRACTICE OUR FAITH HOW WE CHOOSE, TO PRACTICE NO FAITH AT ALL IF WE CHOOSE, AND TO DO SO FREE OF PERSECUTION AND FEAR. THERE IS WISDOM IN OUR FOUNDERS. WRITING IN THOSE DOCUMENTS THAT HELPED FOUND THIS NATION THE NOTION OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION. THEY UNDERSTOOD THE NEED FOR HUMILITY. THEY ALSO UNDERSTOOD THE NEED TO UPHOLD THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THAT THERE WAS A CONNECTION BETWEEN FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION. FOR TO INFRINGE ON ONE RIGHT TO PROTECT OTHERS IS A BETRAYAL OF BOTH. PART OF HUMANITY IS ALSO RECOGNIZING THE MODERN, COMPLICATED DIVERSE SOCIETIES, THE FUNCTIONING OF THESE RIGHTS CALLS FOR EACH OF US TO EXERCISE CIVILITY AND RESTRAINT AND JUDGMENT. IF WE DEFEND THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF THE PERSON TO INSULT ANOTHER'S RELIGION, WE ARE EQUALLY OBLIGATED TO OUR FREE SPEECH TO CONDEMN SUCH INSULTS. AND TO STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY RELIGIOUS MINORITIES WHO ARE TARGETS OF SUCH ATTACKS. [APPLAUSE] JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY SOMETHING DOES NOT MEAN THE REST OF US SHOULDN'T QUESTION THOSE WHO WOULD INSULT OTHERS IN THE NAME OF FREE SPEECH. BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR NATIONS ARE STRONGER WHEN PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS FEEL THAT THEY ARE WELCOME, THAT THEY TOO ARE FULL AND EQUAL NUMBERS OF THE COUNTRY. HUMILITY I THINK IS NEEDED. THE SECOND THING IS TO UPHOLD THE DISSENSION BETWEEN FAITH AND OUR GOVERNMENTS. BETWEEN CHURCH AND BETWEEN STATE. THE UNITED STATES IS ONE OF THE MOST RELIGIOUS COUNTRY'S IN THE RIES IN THE WORLD. FAR MORE RELIGIOUS THAN WESTERN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES. ONE OF THE REGION IS THAT OUR FOUNDERS WISELY EMBRACED SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. HOW GOVERNMENT DOES NOT SPONSOR A RELIGION, NOR DOES IT PRESSURE ANYONE TO PRACTICE A FAITH OR ANYTHING AT ALL. THE RESULT IS A CULTURE WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUND CAN FREELY WORSHIP WITHOUT FEAR OF COERCION. WHEN YOU LISTEN TO DARRELL TALK ABOUT HIS FAITH JOURNEY, YOU KNOW IT IS REAL. YOU KNOW IT IS NOT SAYING IT BECAUSE IT HELPS IN ADVANCE OR BECAUSE SOMEBODY TOLD HIM TO. IT IS FROM THE HEART. THAT IS NOT THE CASE IN THE UPPER SEES THAT RESTRICT PEOPLE'S -- THEOCRACIES THAT RESTRICT PEOPLE'S FAITH. THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION AS A VALUE WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROTECT AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD. IT IS ONE THAT WE GUARDED VIGILANTLY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. LAST YEAR, WE JOINED TOGETHER TO PRAY FOR THE RELEASE OF CHRISTINE MISSIONARY KENNETH HELD IN NORTH KOREA. TODAY WE GIVE THANKS THAT HE IS HOME WHERE HE BELONGS, WITH HIS FAMILY. [APPLAUSE] DETAINED IN IRAN SINCE 2012. I WAS RECENTLY IN BOISE, IDAHO, AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE AND CHILDREN. I CONVEYED TO THEM THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS NOT FORGOT ABOUT SAID AND WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BRING HIM HOME. [APPLAUSE] THEN I RECEIVED AN EXTRAORDINARY LETTER FROM HIM. IN IT, HE DESCRIBES HIS CAPTIVITY AND EXPRESSES ATTITUDE FOR MY VISIT WITH HIS FAMILY. HE THINKS ASSAULT FOR STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH HIM DURING HIS CAPTIVITY. THE PASTOR WROTE, NOTHING IS MORE VALUABLE THAN THE BODY OF CHRIST MOVES AHEAD OF COUNTRIES AND LEADERSHIP'S THROUGH UNITED PRAYER. HE CLOSED HIS LETTER BY DESCRIBING HIMSELF AS " A PRISONER FOR CHRIST WAS PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS GREAT NATION, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THAT CARES FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AROUND THE WORLD." [APPLAUSE] WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THIS WORK. THE PASTOR AND ALL OF THOSE AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE UNJUSTLY HELD OR PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO OUR NEW AND FASTER FOR INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, WHO HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND IS HEADED TO IRAQ TO HELP RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES THERE. WHERE IS DAVID, I KNOW HE IS HERE SOMEWHERE? THANK YOU DAVID FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK YOU ARE DOING. HUMILITY, A SUSPICION OF GOVERNMENT GETTING BETWEEN US AND OUR FAITH, OR TRYING TO DICTATE OUR FAITH OR ELEVATE ONE FAITH OVER ANOTHER. AND FINALLY, LET'S REMEMBER THAT IF THERE IS ONE LAW WE CAN ALL BE MOST CERTAIN OF THAT SEEMS TO BIND PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL FIGHTING THEIR WAY TOWARDS FAITH, THAT HAVE A SENSE OF ETHICS AND MORALITY. THAT GOLDEN RULE, TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU WISH TO BE TREATED. IN ISLAM, THERE'S THE HEIDI THAT ADITH WHICH STATES, NONE LOVES HIS BROTHER UNTIL HE LOVES HIMSELF. WHATEVER OUR BELIEFS, WHATEVER OUR TRADITIONS, WE MUST SEEK TO BE AN INSTRUMENT OF PEACE AND BRINGING LIGHT WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS. AND SO IN LOVE WHERE THERE IS HATRED. THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS, POPE FRANCIS. LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, I HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY HIS CALL TO RELIEVE SUFFERING AND SHOW MERCY AND COMPASSION TO THE VULNERABLE. TO WALK WITH THE LORD AND ASK, WHO AM I TO JUDGE? TO CHALLENGE US TO PRESS ON IN WHAT HE CALLS THE MARCH OF LIVING HOPE. LIKE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, I VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT POPE FRANCIS IN THE UNITED STATES LATER THIS YEAR. [APPLAUSE] HIS HOLINESS EXPRESSES THAT BASIC LAW -- TREAT MY NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. THE DALAI LAMA, WHO HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH HIM, SENSES THAT SAME SPIRIT. CAN'T BRABRANTLEY EXPRESSES THAT SAME SPIRIT. CAN'T WAS WITH PATIENTS -- KENT WAS WITH PATIENTS IN LIBERIA WHEN HE WAS INFECTED HIMSELF. WITH GOD'S HELP, KENT SURVIVED. [APPLAUSE] AND BY DONATING HIS PLASMA, HE HELPED OTHER SURVIVORS AS WELL. HE CONTINUES TO ADVOCATE FOR A GLOBAL RESPONSE IN WEST AFRICA. REMINDING US THAT OUR EFFORTS NEED TO BE LOVING THE PEOPLE THERE. I COULD NOT BE PROUDER TO WELCOME JEBTKENT AND HIS WIFE TO THE OVAL OFFICE. HE REMINDS US WHAT IT MEANS TO LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF. NOT JUST WORDS, BUT DEEDS. EACH OF US HAS A ROLE IN FULFILLING OUR COMMON AND GREATER PURPOSE. NOT MERELY TO SEEK HIGH POSITION, BUT TO PLUMB GREATER DEPTH SO WE FIND THE STRENGTH TO LOVE MORE FULLY. THIS IS PERHAPS OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE, TO SEE A REFLECTION IN EACH OTHER. TO BE OUR SISTERS KEEPERS. TO KEEP FAITH WITH ONE ANOTHER. AS CHILDREN OF GOD, LET'S MAKE THAT OUR WORK TOGETHER. AS CHILDREN OF GOD, LET'S WORK TO END INJUSTICE. THE INJUSTICE OF POVERTY AND HUNGER. NO ONE SHOULD EVER SUFFER FROM SUCH WANT TO SUCH PLENTY. LET'S WORK TO ELIMINATE HOMELESSNESS. NONE OF US ARE HOME UNTIL ALL OF US ARE HOME. NONE OF US ARE HOME UNTIL ALL OF US ARE HOME. AS CHILDREN OF GOD, LET'S SEND UP TO THE VALUE OF EVERY WOMAN, MAN, AND CHILD, BECAUSE WE ARE ALL EQUAL IN HIS EYES IN WORK TO END THE SIN OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SET THE OPPRESSED FREE. [APPLAUSE] IF WE ARE HUMBLE, IF WE DROP TO OUR KNEES ON OCCASION, WE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE WE NEVER FULLY KNOW GOD'S PURPOSE. WE CAN NEVER FULLY FATHOM HIS AMAZING GRACE. WE SEE THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY. RAP WING WITH THE EXPANSE OF HIS AWESOME LOVE. -- GRAPPING WITH THE EXPANSE OF HIS AWESOME LOVE. EVEN WITH OUR LIMITS, WE CAN HEED THAT WHICH IS REQUIRED. TO DO JUSTICE AND LOVE KINDNESS AND WALK-ON GLEE WITH OUR GOD. I PRAY THAT WE WILL AND AS WE JOURNEY TOGETHER ON THIS MARCH OF LIVING HOPE I PRAY IN HIS NAME WE WILL RUN AND NOT BE WEARY, WALK-IN AND NOT BE FAINT AND WE WILL HEED THOSE WORDS. MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU AND MAY HE BLESS THIS PRECIOUS COUNTRY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR MESSAGE. WE ARE HONORED BY YOUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY. WE CLOSE OUR PROGRAM WITH ONE SONG AND ONE PRAYER. OUR LAST SONG THIS MORNING WILL BE SUNG BY A REMARKABLE