He had said in the presidential campaign that Jesus was the philosopher-thinker who had most influenced his life. And in 1993, in his first campaign for governor of Texas, he told an Austin reporter that only those who had accepted Christ as their Savior could enter the kingdom of heaven. But since taking office in January, he has met criticism that his religious language was exclusionary and that his religion-based initiatives were breaching the wall separating church and state. This weekend he made a point to include references to Jews and others with beliefs different from his. We hope this Passover has been a time of reflection and renewal.
Renewal is the hope of every person, and the promise of many religions.
The president, who was raised an Episcopalian and became a Methodist when he married in 1977, was surrounded by family here for Easter weekend. The Canaan Baptist Church was established by German settlers about 110 years ago. Shortly after the service began at 7 a.m., the sun rose, leading to the first fog-free morning since the president arrived here Thursday night. When the service was over, the president and the former president and their wives shook hands with other worshipers. At one point, Barbara Bush wandered over to a nearby sport utility vehicle in the presidential motorcade and rapped on the tinted window.