'Humble sinner' Bush testifies to power of faith

LOS ANGELES, April 29 (Reuters) - Declaring "I am just a humble sinner," U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday drew on his personal experience with alcohol abuse to illustrate how faith can help turn lives around.

In the South Central Los Angeles neighborhood ravaged by race riots a decade ago, Bush called on Congress to act on his controversial plan to allow religious groups to share in the federal funds available to deliver social services to the less fortunate, from the homeless to unwed mothers.

"Now, I don't want government to be the church and I don't want the church to be the government, but the government should not fear faith and faith-based programs," he said to murmured affirmations of "Amen" and "Yes."

Bush, who found God and gave up alcohol 15 years ago on his 40th birthday, is one of the most overtly religious presidents of recent times. He starts cabinet meetings with a prayer and often prays in the Oval office.

"Faith is a powerful motivator ... I know first-hand what faith can mean in somebody's life, so I remind people I am just a humble sinner who saw redemption," he said. Stopping himself, Bush added: "I don't want to get too far."

Speaking at a church-sponsored redevelopment program to a mostly African-American audience, Bush said the universal call to love was something "to be nourished, not feared."

"When we fund programs we ought not to discriminate against faith-based programs or cause the faith-based program to have to change its mission in order to receive any money."

Sounding at times like a preacher, Bush called for soldiers to join "the armies of compassion" because "as Martin Luther King said, God isn't gonna do it all by himself."

Hours later, Bush joined forces with some of California's wealthiest Republicans in the first of two events expected to raise as much as $4 million for gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon who is trying to unseat Democratic incumbent Gray Davis.

With key state governorships and control of Congress at stake in November, Bush this week resumed his heavy fund-raising schedule, bringing to more than 20 the number of appearances he has made on behalf of Republican candidates since ending a post-Sept. 11 hiatus on politicking this year.

In New Mexico earlier on Monday, he headlined a $500,000 lunch for Rep. Heather Wilson. On Tuesday in Santa Clara, California, Bush will attend another fund-raiser for Simon, a man the White House quietly opposed in the Republican primary but embraced after his surprise victory over their preferred candidate, Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan.

The congressional stakes are high in the fall. Republicans control the House by just six seats and Democrats feel they have a chance to wrest the chamber away from them. Meanwhile, Republicans hope to regain the Senate, where Democrats hold 50 seats, Republicans 49 and one is independent.

Before flying to California, Bush broke with Republican leaders in the House and urged Congress to confront the stigma of mental illness by forcing health insurers to treat psychiatric and physical disease equally.

"Mental disability is not a scandal," Bush said at the University of New Mexico. "They deserve a health-care system that treats their illness with the same urgency as a physical illness."

Bush promised to work with Republican Sen. Pete Domenici of New Mexico, who was at his side. Domenici, whose daughter suffers from mental illness, has long championed federally enforced parity guaranteeing that insurance for mental disorders is as comprehensive as that offered for other illnesses.

"Some of the greatest health needs and obstacles and stigmas concern mental health," Bush said. "We are determined to confront the hidden suffering of Americans with mental illness."

Bush faces some key opposition from Republican leaders in the House, as well as business groups, who fear legislation would significantly increase the cost of health insurance. Some studies have estimated, however, that premiums would rise as little as 0.9 percent if it was enacted.

"[T}he government should not fear faith and faith-based programs. ... When we fund programs we ought not to discriminate against faith-based programs or cause the faith-based program to have to change its mission in order to receive any money."

Amen!

Bill Simon is also a man of God who believe in our Judeo-Christian values and ethic. We need him as our governor ... Gray Davis -- who supports abortion-on-demand, gay marriage, and contraceptives for children -- needs to go.

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