News Articles from the 2007 National Catholic Prayer Breakfast

April 14, 2007

Funding Urged for Catholic Schools

President Bush yesterday said he will try to prevent an increasing number of inner-city Catholic parochial schools from closing by adding funding for them in the upcoming renewal of the No Child Left Behind law.

America's Catholic schools "have given millions of Americans the knowledge and character they need to succeed in life," Mr. Bush said during a short speech at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast.

"Today, these schools are also serving thousands of non-Catholic children in some of nation's poorest neighborhoods," the president said. "I am worried that too many of these schools are closing, and our nation needs to do something about it."

The fourth annual breakfast -- established in 2004 in response to Pope John Paul II's appeal for a "new evangelization" -- attracted political and religious leaders, including Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., and the Most. Rev. Pietro Sambi, the Vatican's envoy to the United States.

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April 13, 2007

Bush calls for 'culture of life'

President Bush preached to the choir at the National Catholic Prayer breakfast Friday, promoting the "dignity of life," and stressing his opposition to easing restrictions on federally funded embryonic stem cell research — a reference to a bill he's threatened to veto.

"In our day there is a temptation to manipulate life in ways that do not respect the humanity of the person," Bush said Friday. "When that happens, the most vulnerable among us can be valued for their utility to others instead of their own inherent worth."

The Senate on Wednesday voted 63-34 to pass the measure that it hopes will lead to new medical treatments. The vote, however, fell short of a veto-proof margin needed to enact the law over Bush's objections. The House, which passed similar legislation earlier in the year, is expected to adopt the Senate's version in the weeks ahead.

"We must continue to work for a culture of life where the strong protect the weak and where we recognize in every human life the image of our creator," Bush said.

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April 13, 2007

Bush Defends, Promotes 'Culture of Life'

President Bush, at the national Catholic prayer breakfast, stressed his opposition to easing restrictions on federally funded embryonic stem cell research, a reference to a bill he's threatened to veto.

"In our day there is a temptation to manipulate life in ways that do not respect the humanity of the person," Bush said Friday. "When that happens, the most vulnerable among us can be valued for their utility to others instead of their own inherent worth."

The Senate on Wednesday voted 63-34 to pass the measure that it hopes will lead to new medical treatments. The vote, however, fell short of a veto-proof margin needed to enact the law over Bush's objections. The House is expected to approve a similar measure in the weeks ahead.

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