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Rand Paul says U.S. needs a reawakening from "spiritual crisis"

(CBS News) Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul says the United States is in the midst of a "spiritual crisis" and "we need a reawakening."

"I think our problems, though, are worse and deeper and more profound than just political leaders can correct. I think we really are in a spiritual crisis as a country. And we need a reawakening. We need a revival," Paul said in a speech to the Faith and Freedom Coalition in Washington.

The libertarian lawmaker said the United States is at "a crossroads."

"I think we are wavering. And there are many moral issues that confront us," he said as he vowed to press for the Senate to take up legislation that would make it harder to get an abortion.

Paul touted his past efforts to push for the Life at Conception Act, the Protect Life Act, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, and the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act.

"I will continue to fight for these, not just passively, but we will fight and hopefully get a vote on at least one of these pieces of legislation this time around," said the son of Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

He said that he left his church in Kentucky because they were too passive in the fight against abortion.

"I think we will be ultimately be judged on whether we participated, whether we tried to defend life," he said.

Presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney is scheduled to speak via satellite to the annual gathering Saturday.

Other speakers include Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former presidential candidate Herman Cain, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

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