Chen holds prayer meeting

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday attended the nation's first national prayer breakfast, calling on the clergy to lead the country through economic and political challenges unscathed.

"We know that prayers can quiet one's mind, as many Christians have found amidst stormy circumstances," Chen told the event, organized by reverend Kao Chun-ming (高俊明), a senior advisor to the president.

Although Chen is not Christian, he prayed that God would make him a "peace lover," who might always respond to hatred with love and to harm with forgiveness.

The president has been harshly criticized by foes at home, who maintain that his lack of vision is to blame for the rising unemployment rate and capital flight to China.

"A tranquil mind is a source of joy and the foundation of social harmony and progress," the president said. He urged the nation to seek spiritual nourishment while pursuing material wealth.

Kao, the organizer, said he was inspired by a national prayer breakfast he recently attended in South Korea where thousands of politicians and business leaders set aside their differences and joined together to pray for the country's common good.

Kao said he was deeply moved by the event and decided to host a similar one in Taiwan, a conviction he added was intensified by a sense of insecurity felt by the people over the country's future.

The religious ritual was first introduced by Dwight Eisenhower, US president from 1953 to 1961, and has since become an annual assembly of US political luminaries.

Over 800 prominent figures from the public and private sectors attended Taiwan's imitation of the US custom yesterday.

Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄), a longtime Christian, told the gathering that it is time rival parties replace confrontation with cooperation and mistrust with understanding in order to resolve their feuds.

"Let's work hand in hand in turning our country into a land of peace, righteousness and compassion," he said.

Also in attendance were legislators from across party lines, diplomats based in Taipei and religious heavyweights from the US, Australia, Britain, Canada, Germany, Japan, South Korea and South Africa.

McGill Alexander, the former Taipei-based South African military attache whose family was taken hostage in 1997 by the mass murderer and rapist Chen Chin-hsing (陳進興), also attended the breakfast.

Alexander and his wife returned to Taiwan on Friday for a two-week visit during which the colonel will take part in a series of events aimed at promoting his book on the episode and sharing his message of forgiveness and love.

Alexander reiterated that his family has long since forgiven Chen Chin-hsing, who was executed in 1999.

With the exception of KMT Vice Chairman Vincent Siew (蕭萬長), opposition leaders chose to shun the prayer meeting.

Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), a devout Christian, had promised to attend but had to cancel later due to other engagements, Kao said.