By John-Henry Westen
SAN ANTONIO, June 13, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – U.S. President George W. Bush addressed the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention via satellite this morning telling attendees that he very much appreciated their prayers and strong voice in the public square. Bush was received warmly and made to wait through several bursts of lengthy applause and standing ovations as he addressed the crowd of 8,500.
“Southern Baptists have committed to building a culture of life, and my administration shares that great goal,” said Bush. “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.
To sustained applause, he added, “I used my first veto on a bill that would have compelled American taxpayers to support the deliberate destruction of human embryos. And I will veto any bill Congress sends me that violates the sanctity of human life.”
The President continued, “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.”
Earlier in his address he spoke of his appointments of pro-life Supreme Court Justices. “I appreciate the fact that Southern Baptists understand the importance of fair-minded and impartial judges to our democracy,” he said. “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.”
The President also thanked Southern Baptists for their “Christian witness” and their “defense of religious liberty.”
During his address, the President noted his friendship with Richard Land, the president of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), the public policy entity of the Southern Baptist Convention. Land has been one of the strongest Christian voices in the United States speaking up for the sanctity of life.
In 2003 LifeSiteNews.com reported that Land apologized on behalf of Southern Baptists that their convention at one time supported abortion. In 2005 Land noted that abortion, rather than poverty was the number one “inhumane” problem afflicting the United States.
Concluding his remarks on the right to life for unborn children, President Bush said, “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.”
See the full address of the President here:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jun/070613a.html
See related coverage:
Abortion, Not Poverty, Is the Greater Tragedy Says Southern Baptist Leader
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/nov/05112506.html
Southern Baptists Repudiate and Apologize for 1970s Pro-Abortion Stance
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/jun/03061903.html