Bush puts faith in power of prayer

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush, who gave up the bottle and found God 14 years ago, has made it clear during his early days in the White House that religion will have a high profile.

Since Bush was inaugurated, he has declared January 21 a national day of prayer, made a pilgrimage to a black church last weekend and has spent this week promoting his plans to allow faith-based groups to seek money from the Government.

His inaugural address included a reference to a higher purpose with his comment that "an angel still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm."

The focus has raised the hackles of those who want a strict constitutional separation between church and state.

And it has triggered a national debate over whether Government funds should be used to support faith-based centres that take care of drug addicts and the homeless.

Aides said that Bush was not trying to impose religion on anyone, but felt that faith had the power to change lives because he believed that it had changed his own life.

"The President recognises the power of faith but it has to be found by every individual for themselves. The Government can never impose it on anyone," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer.

But critics said Bush had crossed a line.

"This is truly an over-the-top intrusion of religion into public policy," said the Rev Barry Lynn, director of the group Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

"Here is a man who seems to believe he was elected as the national pastor along with being elected to the presidency."

Yesterday, Bush sat down with leaders of the Catholic Charities organisation to promote his faith-based programme. He called them "folks that have heard the call from the Lord."

"There is no way the Government can create love. Love comes from a higher calling. Love is inspirational," said Bush.

"But what Government can do is fund and welcome programmes whose sole intent is to change lives in a positive way," he said.

A mix of Bush's faith and desire to solve social ills in Texas led him to adopt the cause of faith-based programmes.

Bush aides say that in 1995 Bush, as Governor of Texas, became frustrated that faith-based groups, such as Teen Challenge and Victory Outreach that help substance abusers, were being frustrated by state regulations.

He set out to make it easier for them to operate.

Now, he would like to expand the programme nationwide.

- REUTERS

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