Harris' Prayer Call Stirs Concerns

By WILLIAM MARCH The Tampa Tribune

Published: Nov 4, 2006

TAMPA - U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, who has made past comments that raised questions about her religious sensitivity, prayed in a telephone prayer service recently that God would "bring the hearts and minds of our Jewish brothers and sisters into alignment."

A Harris spokeswoman said Friday that the Longboat Key Republican, who has advocated electing Christian officeholders, was talking about converting Jews to vote Republican, not to Christianity.

In a conference call prayer service sponsored by a religious conservative group on Oct. 3, Harris expressed the belief that Florida will lead the nation in a spiritual reawakening. She said that will include changes in government, including prayer in schools and changes in tax regulations on churches and charities.

"We just decree and declare there will be a shift for this nation, that there will be an enormous revival, even a revolution as we speak," she prayed. "Once again, we'll rejoice, rejoice with your Son and bring this nation into alignment with your government with your kingdom principles and authority."

Harris' comments elicited concern from the head of a national Jewish organization on governmental policy who has tracked her campaign.

Jeffrey Pasek, president of the Jewish Social Policy Action Network, said he couldn't tell what Harris meant, but said he is troubled by her comments.

"Harris appears to be asserting the country should be governed by religious law" and advocating "an alignment between American law and what she interprets as biblical law," he said.

When told of Harris' explanation that she meant aligning with Republicans, Pasek said: "There is room to read her statements as being extremely insensitive. I can't know what she meant. I can only look at them and say they continue to trouble me."

In August, Harris told interviewers from the Florida Baptist Witness, "If you're not electing Christians, then in essence you are going to legislate sin."

In her debate Wednesday night with opponent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson of Orlando, when moderator Tim Russert questioned her about that, she said she meant that "everyone should be involved, everyone should vote, and everyone should run for office if they wish."

"I never said you have to be a Christian. I was distinguishing myself between Bill Nelson and how he says he votes versus how he actually votes," she said to Russert, even though the comment didn't mention Nelson.

Awaken Nation Prayer Service

Her Oct. 3 comments about Jews took place during an "Awaken the Nation" conference call prayer service held by Ken Malone, senior pastor of Lighthouse World Outreach in Davenport.

His Web site says the ministry has an "apostolic governmental" role and seeks to "shift the government and courts of our nation." Florida, he says, is a "forerunner to the nation" in that mission.

Malone's organization has set up a series of telephone prayer services that involve people he refers to as "prophetic intercessors" and "prophetic teachers."

The recording of the one involving Harris has disappeared from the site since The Tampa Tribune asked her campaign about it Friday.

In a short speech and later a prayer on the conference call, Harris said, "Florida is key with regard to a shift in this nation, and no doubt these elections in Florida are key as well. That is why there is such spiritual warfare."

She Asks God's Help

In a prayer at the end of the conference call, she sought God's help to bring those goals about.

"And Father, awaken our churches now," she prayed. "Treat the pastors' hearts so that those who think there's no place for government, have them understand kingdom government, and how they need to be involved in the governance on this earth because God is our governance."

She added, "And Father God, right now on the day after the Jewish new year, Father, after the day after atonement, as they enter into their new year, Father God, I just pray that you would bring the hearts and minds of our Jewish brothers and sisters into alignment." She prayed for the safety of Israel, "your sacred nation, Father."

She closed by saying that after the coming "shift" or revival, "Once again we'll rejoice, rejoice with your Son and bring this nation into alignment with your government with your kingdom principals and authority."

Campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Marks said Harris' reference to alignment of Jews meant that "the Jewish community historically voted Democratic. She was expressing her hope that the Jewish voters will recognize that she shares their ethics and values."

Reporter Kevin Begos contributed to this report. Reporter William March can be reached at wmarch@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7761.