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WASHINGTON, September 12, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Republican Senator Rand Paul, son of Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, presented one of the more sobering and thoughtful of several speeches of concern for America at the Values Voter Summit  today in Washington, D.C. Challenging his audience, Paul proclaimed that America is in a moral and spiritual crisis which he said calls for national reflection and spiritual renewal.

Paul related that he often tells his audiences that “political parties are empty vessels unless we imbue them with values” and that the purpose of today’s conference was “to talk about what we believe those values should be.” The conference, sponsored by the Family Research Council and several other prominent traditional values American organizations, included a veritable who’s who of prominent US politicians and other personalities dedicated to America’s founding principles and traditions.

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The Kentucky Senator was not shy to state that he is “a Christian, a husband and a father”, is faithful to his wife and family, takes seriously his oath to defend the Constitution and tries “to fight for truth and my values regardless of the political outcome, regardless of how popular or unpopular they may be.”

Known, like his father, to be a critic of the many wars that the US has become involved in, Paul thoughtfully presented that, “I’m not a pacifist, but I do think it unacceptable not to hate war.” He continued that, “Any leader who shows glee or eagerness for war should not be leading any nation.” 

Paul related the war culture and other aspects of “the coarsening” of American culture “towards violent death” to the massive killing of the preborn child that has taken place in the United States since Roe v Wade.

“This same culture”, said Paul, “has led to the death of 50 million unborn children in the last 40 years.  I don’t think a civilization can long endure that does not have respect for all human life, born and not yet born.”

Acknowledging that the US has “a great many problems” to solve, the junior Paul placed the life issues at the top proclaiming, “I believe there will come a time when we are all judged on whether or not we took a stand in defense of all life from the moment of conception until our last natural breath.” He continued, to cheers and applause, “I believe, as our founders did, that primary among these powers and duties is the protection of life, that government cannot protect liberty if it does not first protect life.”

The depth of his personal concerns led Paul to conclude that, “I think there is a crisis in our country.  It’s not just a fiscal crisis.  I think it’s a moral crisis.  I think it’s a spiritual crisis.” The Value Voter’s audience wholeheartedly concurred with strong applause. 

Paul stated he did not think that “any politician” or “any particular law” was the answer to America’s real crises. The answer for Paul is elsewhere.

He concluded, “I think the answer really is that we need to somehow find our way back to God, find our way back. And I think we find that by taking the time from our busy lives, from everything around us, taking the time to reflect what are the important things. I hope we will find that out, I hope we will reflect, and I hope we will find spiritual renewal as a country and a people.”