Perry invites nation's governors to "prayer and fasting" event in Houston

Just a few weeks after urging Texans to pray for rain in response to severe drought conditions and wildfires, Gov. Rick Perry announced today that he was helping organize a "prayer and fasting" event in Houston and inviting the nation's other governors to attend.

Perry's office confirmed that the governor would participate in The Response, "a non-denominational, apolitical, Christian prayer meeting" at Reliant Stadium on Aug. 6 hosted by the American Family Association.

In an open letter on the event's website, Perry writes, "Right now, America is in crisis: we have been besieged by financial debt, terrorism, and a multitude of natural disasters. As a nation, we must come together and call upon Jesus to guide us through unprecedented struggles, and thank Him for the blessings of freedom we so richly enjoy."

Perry also used his power as governor Monday to declare that Aug. 6 would be an official "Day of Prayer and Fasting" in Texas. He urged the nation's other governors to make similar declarations in order to encourage  "their constituents to pray that day for unity and righteousness for our states, nation and mankind."

The announcement comes ten days after Perry revealed he is "thinking about" running for president. While Perry's office described the event and the announcement as "apolitical," Perry’s framing of the event as a response to problems with the nation’s current direction is likely to be interpreted by some as a slap at the leadership in Washington, D.C. 

"...I believe it will take a great amount of prayer, and a renewed commitment to spiritual principles, to get our nation back on track," Perry wrote in the letter to his fellow governors.

Kirsten Gray, a spokesperson for the Texas Democratic Party, sent out the following statement in response to Perry's announcement:

"Governor Perry is the last person who should be talking about what’s right for our country. When campaigning, he claims he will fully fund our schools, protect the elderly and balance the budget, but the deficit state GOP budget broke every one of those promises. A budget is a moral document about our priorities, but it’s obvious the Governor is a shameless opportunist whose real priority is whatever furthers his own career ambitions."

-Aman Batheja

 

 

“Governor Perry is the last person who should be talking about what’s right for our country. When campaigning, he claims he will fully fund our schools, protect the elderly and balance the budget, but the deficit state GOP budget broke every one of those promises. A budget is a moral document about our priorities, but it’s obvious the Governor is a shameless opportunist whose real priority is whatever furthers his own career ambitions.” 

Comments

[Lee]

If its 'apolitical' why is he inviting ELECTED OFFICIALS? Perry is such a rube. I know one governor who will support him,John Kasich here in Ohio. He is a Perry clone.

[DigitalHowie]

American Family Association, which is the American wing of the Taliban, strikes again at the horrid morals of all Americans. "If only the heathens prayed we'd be a-okay." What a crock of crap. This is just another way for Gov. Get Out Of Here Will Ya to get more money into his campaign account. The way Perry uses Jesus' name in this way is appalling and blasphemous.

[Alberto Knox]

Kirsten Gray said it best: "...the Governor is a shameless opportunist whose real priority is whatever furthers his own career ambitions."

Wow. That's exactly right. I wish our papers would have been this blunt during the elections. So much expense has been pushed back onto counties and cities we are certain to see property taxes go up, and even that won't be enough. our state is falling into decay to put Perry on the national stage.

[yakami]

Oh yea, Let's see that privalidged 10,000 a month fast and pray all day long. 24 Hours?

[Carolyn Meehan]

To quote Anne and A.L. Gaylor, "Nothing fails like prayer".
Have already made a note on my calendar to pig out on August 6.

And now, for your parody pleasure (cue the music to Carly Simon's "You're So Vain":

You're So Vain – Texas Style

You walked into the Capitol like you were runnin’ for President
Your hair strategically quaffed and we know why
Your gun it was holstered, yet…
You had one eye on the White House as you watched The Newt repent
And all the pols dreamed that they'd be your partner
They'd be your partner, and...

You're so vain, you probably think D.C. is your bullpen
You're so vain, I'll bet you think our votes are a Shoo-in
Don't you? Don't you?

You had us Texans years ago when we were still quite naive
Well you said that we made such a pretty pair
and that you would NEVER leave!

But you shot a ‘yote and then you said, “Adios, Mo’fo!”
We had some dreams they were clouds in our Shiner, clouds in our Shiner and...

You're so vain, you probably think D.C. is your bullpen
You're so vain, I'll bet you think our votes are a Shoo-in
Don't you? Don't you?

Well I hear you went up to ol’ Iowa, and your voice naturally spun
Then you flew on Texas taxes on to Quantico, VA to scout the cabin of Marine One
Well, you're where you should be all the time
And when you're not you're with
Some donor dude vying for your largesse
Tithes for your campaign chest...

You're so vain, you probably think D.C. is your bullpen
You're so vain, I'll bet you think our votes are a Shoo-in
Don't you? Don't you?

[Randy Shackelford]

I hope every Muslim, Atheist, and Hindu in Texas show up at this farce.

[yakami]

Oh that would be a funny sight. A bunch of artificial crocadile tears falling. Will they speak in tongues and pass rattlesnakes around? What a sight to see.

[legal beagle]

just how is this any different than groups wanting to remove a prayer from graduation services, pep rallies - Perry is nothing more than a two-faced hypocrit jerk who really needs to find another state to call home and take all that cash in his pocket from the big businesses and dole it out to his new friends. GET THE HECK OUT OF TEXAS PERRY - YESTERDAY COULD NOT BE SOON ENOUGH. I REALLY DISPISE YOU. Hopefully, you're final resting plot will be right next to that thug, Clements...you two deserve each other.

[Delbert M Thomas]

I have very carfully waded through all of these comments, and I am not able to find a single suggestion for the solution of any of our myriad of social problems. This is your opportunity to show your maturity, thoutfulness, psychological prowess, or just native common sense. I do hope this collection of postings is not the sum total of your collective intelligence. Lead, follow, or be an obstruction else where.

[Keith]

The utter hatred for anything Christian on this thread is appalling.

[Niki]

I don't really consider Governor Perry's prayer meeting "Christian". I believe it is political.

[Russell]

Let's see if i understand. Perry is a "rube" because he wants to pray that rain falls on everybody whether they are Christian or not, pray for those effected by natural disasters, Christian or not. Pray for people to make good choices whether Christian or not and see if he can bring people together for a common good by practicing a tenent of several different faiths, fasting and prayer.

So we make fun of him and those who share his beliefs, the 60,000 or so who will show up. You people that scream for the rights of all people to have their rights upheld are sure hypocritical sometimes. I think you are about to see just how much the minority you are still in. God will bless this event and it will make a difference in what happens to the future of this country. We will pray for you whether you like it or not.

[Karen]

How about a day of Asking and Giving? Post and email your friends and urge them to send aid to starving people (instead of Praying for something to happen) and Giving (instead of Fasting because ... well, I don't know why they are fasting - in solidarity for starving people?) the food they're not eating to someone who needs it.

[Beth Ann]

Dear Gov. Perry,

"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." (I John 5:14&15)
The ear of the Lord is leaned unto the crys of his children.

God speed, Governor Perry

[Beth Ann]

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray,and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
II Chronicles 7:14

Thank you, Gov. Perry, for leading this nation before the throne of the Almighty for mercy, forgiveness, restoration and direction.

[Beth Ann]

"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption." (II Peter 2:9,10&12)

[Beth Ann]

Governor Perry,

"Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
(Matt 18:18,19&20)

I'm fasting and praying with you, Gov. Perry.

[Beth Ann]

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you: that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matt 5:44&45)

It is the mercy of our God....