c. 2003 Religion News Service

WASHINGTON _ Hundreds of religious leaders joined politicians at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast on Thursday (May 15) and heard messages from President Bush and congressional leaders congratulating Latino clergy on their commitments to faith, community and family life.

“In the Book of James, we are reminded that faith without works is dead,” the president told the crowd at the Capital Hilton, referring to the New Testament book. “By loving a neighbor as you’d like to be loved yourself, you prove every day that faith is alive.”

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson also took turns at the podium of the second annual event.

About 600 people dined on croissants, muffins and fruit between prayers, musical selections and speeches. Sponsored by Nueva Esperanza, a Philadelphia faith-based organization, the breakfast is a new gathering point for Hispanic clergy from a range of denominational and geographical backgrounds.

As he has with other religious audiences, Bush thanked those gathered for their prayers for him.

“There is no greater gift that a president can receive,” he said. “I have felt the comfort of those prayers. And I am really grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Bush and other leaders mentioned their gratitude for Hispanic military members who gave their lives in the recent war in Iraq.

“Because of their sacrifices, the world will be a more peaceful place,” he said. “And because of their sacrifices, people who had lived in bondage under the strong arm of a brutal dictator are now free.”

That mention of the recent hostilities garnered Bush a standing ovation.

Many of the prayers _ for the nation, political leaders and Hispanic community _ were in Spanish and the political speakers offered Spanish greetings while giving the bulk of their remarks in English.

Like Bush, Frist returned for the second annual event and remarked on the faith of those in attendance.

“I’m back today with you because it’s obvious that your prayers are so powerful,” the majority leader said. “Hispanic clergy are in good with the Lord.”

He also weighed in on the ongoing filibusters on Capitol Hill that have slowed confirmation of some of Bush’s judicial nominees, including Hispanic Miguel Estrada.

“A religious test on the confirmation of our judges directly or indirectly is simply unacceptable,” he said, prompting a vocal “Amen” from the crowd.

“I ask you as men and women of faith and leaders of congregations and parishes … to work closely with this United States Congress. We must find new ways to remind Washington that our Constitution calls on government to maintain neutrality among religions but not hostility to religion itself.”

Pelosi told the religious leaders of her belief in the links between faith, hope and charity.

“In order for people to really have hope, faith is an essential part of it,” she said.

But Thompson, speaking of medical problems that particularly plague Hispanics, was the most emphatic in seeking the assistance of faith leaders.

“I need your help,” he said. “I go all over the country preaching about diabetes, but it really impacts the Latino community disproportionately.”

Thompson held up a pedometer and suggested faith leaders and their congregants should use such devices to ensure they are walking enough each day. He asked the clergy to also suggest that worshippers eat better, stop smoking and consider being organ donors.

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Immediately after the breakfast, Thompson and the Rev. Luis Cortes Jr., president of Nueva Esperanza, jointly announced a new partnership that will increase education about AIDS within the Hispanic faith community.

During his breakfast speech, Thompson called opposition to federal funding of faith-based programs “absurd,” drawing applause.

“How are we going to change America if we don’t team up with you and other faith-based organizations across America?” he said. “That’s where the action is. That’s where the results are.”

Cortes announced Esperanza USA, a new Hispanic organization that is an extension of his Philadelphia faith-based community development corporation. He pledged to use the new group to help Hispanic congregations in a variety of outreach efforts.

“The Hispanic faith community has a lot of work in front of us,” he said. “Our mandate is not a political mandate. It is a spiritual mandate. It is a justice mandate. It is a moral mandate.”

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