Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
7345249
label
Remarks of the President to the Eucharistic Congress [Ford Speech or Statement]
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
7345249
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Remarks of the President to the Eucharistic Congress [Ford Speech or Statement]
citationUrl
collections
White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
7345249
levelOfDescription
item
productionDates
day
8
logicalDate
1976-08-08
month
8
year
1976
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
8dbd53472506873e
ocrText
Digitized from Box 29 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 8, 1976
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
THE WHITE HOUSE
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
TO' THE
EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS
JFK STADIUM
4:43 P.M. EDT
Your Eminence Cardinal Knox, Papal Legate for
His Holiness Pope Paul, Your Eminence Cardinal Krol,
distinguished clergy from all over the world, dear friends:
I am deeply honored by your invitation to be with
you at the conclusion of this 41st International Eucharistic
Congress and to reiterate on behalf of all of the people
of the United States of America our most heartfelt welcome
to our many guests from all over the world.
It is an inspiring demonstration of all the world's
hunger for peace and understanding these Congresses are
able to unite citizens of more than 100 nations in common
purpose and common prayer.
It is fitting that you gather here in the City
of Brotherly Love where 200 years ago my country declared
its national independence with a firm reliance on the
protection of Divine Providence. That reliance has never
failed us and has been reinforced by the equally firm
devotion of Americans to freedom of worship and freedom of
conscience from all who have come to us throughout the
centuries.
These fundamental freedoms are not only written
into our Constitution and our laws but they are written in
our hearts as well.
On this occasion we celebrate the Church's
contribution to building a more peaceful world. We salute
you for giving depth and direction to the world community
in every age. For millions of men and women the Church
has been the hospital for the soul, the school for the mind
and the safe depository for moral ideals,
It has given unity and purpose to the affairs of
man. It has been a vital institution for protecting and
proclaiming the ultimate values of life itself. We are
rightly concerned today about the rising tide of secularism
across the world. I share your deep appreciation (apprebension)
about the increased irreverence for life.
MORE
Page 2
The supreme value of every person to whom life
is given by God is a belief that comes to us from the holy
scriptures confirmed by all the great leaders of the Church.
Our commitment to the unique role of the family
relationship is also basic to our faith. There are no adequate
substitutes for father, mother and children bound together
in a loving commitment to nurture and protect. No government,
no matter how well-intentioned, can ever take the place of
the family in the scheme of things. The family circle
suggests a oneness similar to that of the Church family
in that which we strive to achieve in the human family.
I remember a poem that my mother tought me as a
young boy, byrthe great American poet Edwin Markham, which
beautifully expresses the determination that we must move
towards tolerance to love. It goes like this: "He drew
a circle that shut me out; heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win, we drew a circle that took
him in."
I am moved that you have brought me in, within
this great circle today, and by the spirit of love and service
that animates it, I hope that we all, whatever our country
or creed, will continue to draw larger and larger circles
until that day in His good time when all God's people are
one.
As we work together for a better world where our
brothers and sisters are free from hunger and fear, let us
keep our hearts free from pride and hate in the spirit of
this old familiar prayer of the good St. Francis: "Lord,
make me an instrument of Thy peace. Where there is hatred,
let me so love; where there is injury, pardon; where there
is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is
darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy."
God bless and may you have a safe journey to
your homes.
Thank you.
END
(AT 4:52 P.M. EDT)