A Library of Quotations on Religion and Politics by George W. Bush

Continued from page 3

Catholicism and Other Faiths (back to index)
On the Catholic Church:
Q: Governor, I'm a member of the Catholic Church, what's this business I hear about you not liking Catholics?

Bush: Yeah, I appreciate that. Don't believe it. Here's what happened, let me explain what happened to you. I went to a university in South Carolina to give a speech, and I talked about much of what I talked about here, bringing America together to bring out the best in our country. I talked about education, I talked responsibility. I missed an opportunity, in retrospect, I missed an opportunity to remind people we're all God's children. I missed an opportunity to say, don't condemn the Catholic Church. I missed the opportunity to say the Catholic Church is a great church, it's one of the avenues to be able to be--to hear the word of the Father. I missed that opportunity. I wish--if I had to do it over again I would have gone back and reminded people of the great hope and promise of the Catholic faith. I'd remind people the governor of Florida, my brother, is a Catholic. I would have reminded people that as governor of Texas I have been an inclusive governor. I brought people together.

And then what happened was there's something in American politics called guilt by association. It's where people try to ascribe sentiments to my heart that aren't true. Opinions to me that just are not valid. And it got a little carried away at one point where there were phone calls implying and some phone calls flatly stating that I was an anti-Catholic bigot. America rejects that kind of politics. America can't stand that. I appreciate you giving me a chance.
Campaign Rally, San Diego, California, March 6, 2000

On the role of religion in the Oval Office:
Q (Tim Russert): What role would religion have in the Oval Office with George W. Bush? 15 million atheists in this country, 5 million Jews, 5 million Muslims, millions more Buddhists and Hindus. Should they feel excluded from George W. Bush because of his allegiance to Jesus?

Bush: No. I was asked what influenced my life. And I gave an unvarnished answer. It doesn't make me any better than you, or make me better than anybody else. But it's a foundation for how I live my life. Some may accept the answer, and some may not. But Tim, I really don't care. It's me. It's what I'm all about. It's how I live my life--it's just a part of me.

Russert: Would you take an expression like "What Would Jesus Do?" into the Oval Office?

Bush: I would take an expression into the Oval Office of "Dear God, help me!"

Another debate participant: So would we, Governor

Bush: Now, that wasn't very Christian of you. [Laughter]

Russert: In 1993, you suggested unless you accepted Jesus Christ as your lord and savior, you couldn't go to heaven.

Bush: No, no. What I said was my religion teaches--my religion says that you accept Christ and you go to heaven. That was a statement that some interpreted that I said that I get to decide who gets to go to heaven. Governors don't decide who gets to go to heaven. No, sir. God decides who gets to go to heaven, Mr. Russert.

Russert: Even non-Christians?

Bush: God decides. And far be it from the politician who tries to play God.
Televised Republican Debate. Durham, New Hampshire, January 6, 2000

On proselytizing
Q: If you believe that the way to the Kingdom of God for you is Jesus Christ, in a sense don't you have a moral obligation to try to urge other people to follow the same path?

Bush: Not in my line of work I don't. My line of work is political. My line of work [my job] is to walk the walk, and respect others, and respect their religions. And secondly, I'm not so presumptuous as to play God. There are many great religions in the world.

God is all-powerful and all-knowing, and, you know, we'll never know until we get to heaven the ultimate answers to many of the religious questions. But the president of the United States' job is not to try to convert people to religion. The president of the United States' job is to set an example, to make sound decisions, to respect religion, and, if asked, to herald religion. But the key is not to hold out, you know, my religion is better than yours.
Beliefnet.com editor-in-chief Steven Waldman's interview with Bush, October 2000

On message to Jews:
Q: What is the special message for us as Jews with regard to compassionate conservatism that you've been talking about around the country?
Bush: It starts with what I said earlier, the universal call to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. That's common to all religions....Compassion exists in the hearts and souls in people from all faiths, and so the great challenge for our country is how to interface the call to love the neighbor like you'd like to be loved with yourself with people in need.
Speech to Republican Jewish Coalition, Washington, DC, December 1, 1999

On role of synagogues, churches and mosques:
"Each of us is responsible...to love and guide our children, and help a neighbor in need. Synagogues, churches and mosques are responsible...not only to worship but to serve."
Acceptance Speech, Philadelphia, August 3, 2000

"Our nation is chosen by God and commissioned by history to be a model to the world of justice and inclusion and diversity without division. Jews and Christians and Muslims speak as one in their commitment to a kind, just tolerant society."
Speech to B'nai B'rith, August 28, 2000

On diversity:
Q: Do you think that all major religions are equally true?

Bush: I think that we're all God's children, and far be it from me, as a lowly sinner, trying to decide who gets to go to heaven and who doesn't, for example. I mean at one time, in 1994, I said, "My faith says you must accept Christ to go to heaven." And there was a significant backlash because, as typical in politics, the full story wasn't told. And there was a typical backlash amongst, you know, some Jewish people in Texas that basically felt I had said that they can't go to heaven. I worked hard to make it clear to people, far be it from me to tell you I get to decide who goes. I'm working on myself. I'm focused on me.

And so to answer your question, there are great religions in the world, and it's important to recognize that there are great religions in the world. And there are many shared tenets of the great religions. "Love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself." And there are some wonderful callings. I just happen to be a Christian.
Beliefnet.com editor-in-chief Steven Waldman's interview with Bush, October 2000

"My parents are Episcopal, I'm Methodist, my brother Jeb's a Catholic. It's a religious blend of diversity, and I respect the religious nature of our country."
Catholic News Service interview, September 20, 2000

"A truly welcoming culture must recognize that every person is created in the image and likeness of God. We must appreciate the dignity...in all people."
Speech to B'nai B'rith, August 28, 2000

"People who belittle people of faith are exhibiting bigotry. That bigotry comes in the form of anti-Semitism, anti-Catholicism--in some movies recently produced--, and anti-Southern Baptist. It's religious bigotry pure and simple. Our nation is founded on religious freedom--the principle that people ought to be able to practice religious freedom and speak their mind, freely."
Interview with the Baptist Press, the national news service of the Southern Baptist Convention, Sept. 13, 2000

The Death Penalty (back to index)
On the death penalty:
Q: Many Christians believe the death penalty is supported by Scripture, while others believe it isn't. How have you applied your faith to this issue?

Bush: It's a very difficult issue for a lot of people. And it's not easy being the governor in a death penalty state. But nevertheless my job is to uphold the laws of our land. When I swore on the Bible at my inauguration as governor of Texas, I swore to uphold the laws.

I also believe that it is important to focus on the innocent victim when it comes to crime. If the death penalty is administered surely, swiftly and justly, it will save lives because people will know that there is going to be a consequence to crime.
From "God and the Governor," Charisma Magazine interview, August 29, 2000

"The death penalty obviously is an emotional issue for a lot of people, and I understand that. I support the death penalty because, when it's administered swiftly and justly and surely, it saves people's lives. I'm sworn to uphold the laws of my state. I review every case. I take it seriously. I believe every person that we have put to death in the state of Texas has been guilty, and I know every person has had full access to courts of law."
Catholic Digest interview, Aug. 11, 2000

"I believe when the death penalty is administered surely, swiftly and justly it saves lives, it sends a chilling signal throughout our society that we will not tolerate ... the ultimate violent act of taking somebody's life."
Catholic News Service interview, September 20, 2000

Q: What would Jesus think of the death penalty?

Bush: Listen, I'm a lowly sinner. I'm not going to put words in Jesus' mouth.
Televised Republican Debate, Michigan, January 10, 2000.

On Abortion (back to index)
Q: We have readers who used to vote solely on whether a candidate was pro-life, but now they say the issue of abortion doesn't matter because the courts will never restrict it.

Bush: The battle has not been lost. The battle for life begins with changing the culture. We need to convince people of the preciousness of life. If we do get a better understanding of the preciousness of life, then people will start making better choices.

And I don't mean just the life of the unborn. I'm talking about the life of the elderly. I'm talking about teaching our children the value of life. The 1999 Columbine massacre was really an issue of teen-agers who didn't value life--kids who would walk into their school and take somebody's life. That was a clear sign that this country needs to have a renewed understanding of the preciousness of life.

But there are some practical things that can happen. I will sign a ban on partial-birth abortions. That's a bill that can make it to my desk that will save lives. Also, I can encourage parental notification laws. In the debate on this issue in Texas, our position was that parental notification will save lives. Also, we can herald adoption as a beautiful alternative to abortion.
From "God and the Governor," Charisma Magazine interview, August 29, 2000

Q: How would you propose to lead our nation to value the life of the unborn?

Bush: "Well, first it's how I talk...the emphasis I can place on the values of life and to remind people that when crises of life arise, what the core question is. After Columbine, there was a lot of focus on the issue of law...pertaining to guns. But there was a bigger law violated, and that was the law of the preciousness of human life. These were men [the Columbine killers] whose hearts were taken by evil. And to me, it was a struggle of good and evil. Now, sure we need laws that will work and be effective, but the president can and should set a tone.

"Secondly, there are some practical things that the president can do. Sign a ban on partial birth abortions. Encourage parental notification laws. These are laws that will help reduce abortion in America. Encourage adoption. Adoption is such a beautiful alternative to abortion. Visit crisis pregnancy centers. These are places of love. I remember going to one in Iowa during the course of the primary caucuses. It was such a beautiful experience to see the love and tender affection there. There were not scolding people or angry people that were running this center. These were loving people. They were willing to be involved with a person who had a tough situation on her hands. They were following the guidance of the Christian principal 'love your neighbor.'"
Interview with the Baptist Press, the national news service of the Southern Baptist Convention, August 31, 2000