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Obama and Catholic Bishops' Head Meet At White House

By Howard M. Friedman

Yesterday, President Barack Obama met at the White House with Cardinal Francis George, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Cardinal George is also Archbishop of Chicago. Both the White House and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued short and cryptic press releases about the 30 minute meeting. The releases indicate that the meeting discussed the relationship of the Church in the U.S. to the Administration and opportunities for continued cooperation in solving the nation's problems.

Last November, shortly after Obama's election victory, Cardinal George issued a statement welcoming the opportunity of working with the new administration and Congress, but stating: "If the election is misinterpreted ideologically as a referendum on abortion, the unity desired by President-elect Obama and all Americans at this moment of crisis will be impossible to achieve." (See prior posting.) In their respective releases on yesterday's meeting, the White House said: "The President thanked Cardinal George for his leadership and for the contributions of the Catholic Church in America and around the world." The USCCB said: "Cardinal George expressed his gratitude for the meeting and his hopes that it will foster fruitful dialogue for the sake of the common good."

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 18, 2009 (boomark / email).