Rep. Cliff Bentz - R - Ontario
Oregon – Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz, a practicing Catholic from Ontario, recently participated in the National Prayer Breakfast ceremony in Washington, DC. The National Prayer Breakfast Foundation, led in 2026 by Honorary Co-Chairs Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) and Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), states that its mission to, “promote and share the idea of gathering together in the Spirit of Jesus of Nazareth, adopted by the Senate and House Prayer Breakfast Groups in the United States Congress.”
Congressman Bentz shared the following post on Facebook on February 5 about his special participation in the 2026 prayer breakfast where he joined in a performance of the hymn “I Saw the Light” by Hank Williams:
It was an honor to join the 74th Annual National Prayer Breakfast and take part in this year’s gathering by playing guitar.
The National Prayer Breakfast continues to serve as an important reminder of the value of reflection and fellowship.
Article VI of the United States Constitution is very clear that religion may not disqualify anyone from holding office in America:
“…no religious Test shall ever be Required as a Qualification To any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
On February 6, former North Wasco School Board member Dawn Rasmussen, seeking the Democratic nomination for Congressional District 2, took to Facebook to announce her displeasure with Congressman Bentz’s exercise of Constitutionally protected religious worship:
“Rep. Bentz isn’t only fiddling (guitar playing) while Rome literally burns, he’s also tone deaf to the needs of constituents in this district.
“Shame on you!”
The 2nd Congressional Democratic Committee, currently led by former Senator Ron Wyden staffer Kathleen Cathey, commented directly on the video of Congressman Bentz participating in worship:
“Seriously? Serenading a president so racist that even most Republicans are calling him out?”
Freedom of religion is enshrined in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, and further safeguarded for federal officials in Article VI. The National Prayer Breakfast Foundation is governed by a board of directors primarily consisting of former Democratic and Republican members of the US Senate and House. The late US Senator Mark Hatfield, who also served as Oregon’s Governor and Secretary of State, was the prayer breakfast co-chair in 1984.
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