They still open up the first meeting of the statehouse GOP caucus with unifying prayer "My wife's being operated on at 2 p.m. today, I'd ask you to pray that the Lord guide the surgeon's hands, " "Bob Smith died in a car accident last weekend, please pray for his family" but some people are looking down not only with reverence.

WSJ: The Battle for South Carolina

"I would like to ask you: Pray for me, " the new pontiff said.

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When I was brought up as a Catholic boy, you were supposed to pray to St Jude for hopeless causes, so I've started doing that.

BBC: News Online

"I am writing with deep humility to ask that you pray for me as my own health declines, " McCarrick said, quoting from Kennedy's letter.

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