Saturday, December 27, 2008

Leading Cardinal Praises Obama's Election



Cardinal Laghi Praises Obama's Election

Cardinal Pio Laghi. a leading Vatican cardinal who was once the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States voiced optimism for relations between the Catholic Church and President-elect Barack Obama. "There are many points on which there will be agreement" with the Obama administration, said the Cardinal during a panel discussion in Rome. His Eminence said Obama's positions on health care and immigration were among the parts of his agenda "in consonance with the social doctrine of the church."

Praising Obama for running a campaign in the "spirit of national reconciliation of Lincoln," Laghi said Obama’s election as the first black president "can be considered as a liberation from that horrendous original sin that for so many years stained the face and nature of the United States, that is, slavery."

Cardinal Laghi said the Vatican is hopeful that under Obama's leadership the United States will return to acting primarily as a force for peace, especially with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It also expects Obama to act on his promise to assist the middle class and the poor, particularly with health care, he said.

The Cardinal also noted that "Obama brings with him to the White House the first Catholic vice president, Joe Biden. And I read today that Obama has put him in charge of a task force on the family. This is a good sign."

Beyond specific policy issues, Obama's election was a sign of renewed hope in "a country of hope," Cardinal Laghi said.

Laghi's comments are similiar to those of Pope Benedict XVI and the Vatican newspaper, each welcomed his victory as an opportunity for a new beginning following the disastrous foreign policy failures of the Bush Administration.

Laghi helped establish full diplomatic relations between Washington and the Holy See in 1984. In early March 2003, Pope John Paul II sent Laghi back to Washington, where he met with President George W. Bush in an unsuccessful attempt to avert the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

OBAMA INVITES PRO-LIFE CLERGYMAN TO GIVE INVOCATION


Pro-Life Pastor Rick Warren to Give Invocation at Obama Inauguration

The Brody Report says that Pro-life pastor Rick Warren will give the invocation at President-Elect Barack Obama’s inauguration.

Brody, a conservative evangelical Protestant writes "It makes a whole lot of sense." [This] "is a signal to religious conservatives that he’s willing to bring in both sides to the faith discussion in this country. Obama has never shied away from that."

The benediction will be led by Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, the noted civil rights leader.


The order of the program will be as follows:

Musical Selections

The United States Marine Band

Musical Selections

The San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus

Call to Order and Welcoming Remarks

The Honorable Dianne Feinstein

Invocation

Dr. Rick Warren, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA

Musical Selection

Aretha Franklin

Oath of Office Administered to Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

By Associate Justice of the Supreme Court

The Honorable John Paul Stevens

Musical Selection, John Williams, composer/arranger

Itzhak Perlman, Violin

Yo-Yo Ma, Cello

Gabriela Montero, Piano

Anthony McGill, Clarinet

Oath of Office Administered to President-elect Barack H. Obama

By the Chief Justice of the United States

The Honorable John G. Roberts, Jr.

Inaugural Address

The President of the United States, The Honorable Barack H. Obama

Poem

Elizabeth Alexander

Benediction

The Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery

The National Anthem

The United States Navy Band “Sea Chanters”

Monday, December 15, 2008

Catholic Health Association Applauds Nomination of Catholic former Senator as Head of HHS


Catholic Health Association Applauds the President-Elect for Naming Tom Daschle and Jeanne Lambrew to Health Leadership Positions in his Administration

Dec. 11, 2008

Sister Carol Keehan, DC, president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), issued the following statement:

The Catholic Health Association welcomes President-elect Barack Obama's official nomination today of former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle to be his secretary of Health and Human Services and the person to oversee a new White House Office of Health Reform. Also, we are pleased that Obama named Jeanne Lambrew to serve as deputy director of the new White House Office of Health Reform.

We applaud the President-elect for choosing these two extraordinary and capable leaders who bring an enormous understanding of health care delivery issues and the need for meaningful reform for American families and businesses.

President-elect Obama has shown with today's announcements that he continues to understand that health care reform is a major domestic policy issue. At the same time, he remains true to his pre-election promises to achieve health care reform that provides affordable, accessible health care for all Americans while building on the existing health care system.

We share the vision that our country will only have a renewed and vibrant economy when we enact health reform designed to create and sustain a strong, healthy national community. The reforms should truly promote the nation's well-being and cover everyone with a reasonable, basic benefits package. To achieve this goal, the Catholic health ministry looks forward to working with the President-elect and with future HHS Secretary Daschle and Deputy Director Lambrew.

The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), founded in 1915, supports the Catholic health ministry's pursuit of the strategic directions of mission, ethics, and advocacy. As the nation's largest group of not-for-profit sponsors, systems, and facilities, the ministry is committed to improving the health status of communities and creating quality and compassionate health care that works for everyone. For more information, visit the CHA website at http://www.chausa.org/.

Friday, December 5, 2008

I JUST LOVE LOOKING AT IT!

WITH NEBRASKA CASTING 1 ELECTORAL VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

OBAMA CAMPAIGNS FOR PRO LIFE CATHOLIC



President-elect Barack Obama has recorded a radio ad that will hit the airwaves today in support of the Pro-Life Catholic Democratic House candidate in a Louisiana runoff.

Caddo Parish District Attorney Paul Carmouche is running for Congress against Republican John Fleming this Saturday for the Shreveport-area seat vacated by Rep. Jim McCrery (R).

It was a major embarrassment to the GOP that a run off was even needed in this historically conservative Republican district.