Pence to Catholics at Prayer Breakfast: ‘This President Stands with You!’

At the 13^th annual event, held this year at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C., Vice President Pence assured the people of faith gathered that the Trump administration supports religious freedom around the world and the dignity of human life.

 “Since 2004, the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast has brought together leaders in the Church, leaders in public life, leaders from around the globe to live out Saint John Paul II’s call for the ‘New Evangelization,’ rekindling the faith that gives comfort to the weary and lights the world with it’s glow,” said Pence.

Reflecting on his Catholic upbringing, Pence also remarked on the “Church and it’s rich contributions to the fabric of American life.”

“The truth is, Catholicism is woven deep into that fabric,” he said.  “It gives America a vitality and vibrancy that inspires everyone that sees it to this very day.”

He went on to attribute the foundation of America, in part, to Charles Carroll, the Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Catholic immigrants, and all the American Catholic families who built America.

He also saluted the Catholic men and women who have served in the United States Military.

“Let me assure you,” promised Pence, “American Catholics have an ally in President Donald Trump.”

“President Trump stands for religious liberty of every American and the right of our people of faith to live out your convictions in the public square,” he said.

The vice president mentioned the recent executive order “to restore religious freedom.”

He also said the president wants Americans of faith to continue to contribute their voices and their values to the beautiful tapestry of America’s national life.”

Pence continued by saying that the current administration stands for religious freedom around the world, and that the president condemns “the slaughter of Christians across the wider Arab world.”

While he recognized all the deadly actions of terrorism, Pence described the Muslim-targeting of Christians as “nothing short of genocide.”

He stressed the sadness that the Christian faith is being persecuted “in the land where it was given birth.”

“America will continue to condemn persecution of any faith in any place at any time,” he said.  “We will confront it with all our might.”

He promised that America would “stand without apology for persecuted people of faith across the globe.”

“We will continue to stand with our allies and take the fight to the terrorists on our terms, on their soil until we drive the cancer of terrorism from the face of the earth,” said Pence.

Along with religious freedom, Pence expressed his pride in serving with a president who “stands without apology for the sanctity of human life.”

He listed actions of the administration that promote the dignity of life: the reinstatement of the Mexico City policy, the permission to the states to defund Planned Parenthood, and the nomination/confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.

“Life is winning in America,” said Pence.

Pence ended by telling the crowd, “I urge you to… continue to be the hands and feet of Our Savior, reaching in with love and compassion, embracing the dignity of all people of every background and every experience.”

But he also urged American Catholics to “bow the head, and bend the knee, and pray.” He said not to pray for a particular agenda, but just pray and “pray with confidence.”

“Just pray for America,” said Pence.

He concluded by saying, “As the Old Book says, ‘You’ll hear from Heaven, and he’ll heal this land,’ this ‘one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’”

www.cnsnews.com/news/article/theresa-smith/pence-catholics-prayer-breakfast-president-stands-you