SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Judging by his reception at the annual Southern Baptist Convention meeting, President Bush's popularity remains strong among Southern Baptists, whom he thanked for their support June 13.
Bush was greeted with a standing ovation of sustained applause, punctuated by whistles and cheers, as he spoke via a live satellite feed to messengers attending the SBC meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
Bush expressed appreciation for Southern Baptists' Christian witness, support of religious liberty and work in hunger ministries and disaster relief.
“You've made our nation stronger,” he said. “I also appreciate that Southern Baptists are supporting our brave men in uniform and their families.”
“I appreciate the fact that Southern Baptists understand the importance of fair-minded and impartial judges to our democracy,” he added. “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 had to pause for applause several times before thanking the group for supporting “a culture of life” and reiterating ways in which he has worked to oppose abortion and the destruction of human embryos for research purposes.
Bush also thanked Southern Baptists for their support of a “True Love Waits” effort in Uganda that has been credited with reducing HIV infections, and he highlighted his support of programs designed to reduce malaria and HIV infections in Africa.
The president singled out “my friend Richard Land,” president of the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, for helping draw attention to the Sudan's genocidal actions in Darfur.
“The people of Darfur are crying out for our help,” he said, and Southern Baptists and America “will not turn away.”
“God has blessed our nation with prosperity and great abundance,” Bush said. “I firmly believe, like you, that we should use our resources to help those at need here at home and help those in need abroad.”
The president congratulated Southern Baptists for “meeting the needs of broken souls” with compassion and courage, “living out the call to spread the gospel and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
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