US bishops met with Obama yesterday. Here’s what they talked about.

Last updated on: November 14, 2015 at 9:45 pm by CNA Daily News

US bishops met with Obama yesterday. Here’s what they talked about. 2015-11-14T21:45:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., Nov 14, 2015 / 02:45 pm (CNA).- Leading Catholic bishops met with President Barack Obama at the White House on Friday and had a discussed a number of issues including religious liberty, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops confirmed.

“The bishops are grateful for this opportunity for candid, cordial dialogue with the President and Vice President of the United States,” the conference said in a written statement after the meeting.

The conversation “continued the good will evident during the visit of Pope Francis,” the statement added.

Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, the president of the U.S. Bishops’ Conference; and Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C. attended the meeting in the Oval Office, joined by Monsignor Ronny Jenkins, the general secretary of the conference. They met with President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

Among the issues discussed were religious liberty, the refugee crisis in Syria and the Middle East, religious persecution, immigration reform, and prison reform, the U.S. bishops’ conference said.

The White House confirmed that the meeting was held “to follow up on Pope Francis’ visit to the White House earlier this fall.”

Press secretary Josh Earnest noted in the White House daily press briefing that “it was the president’s intent” to talk about “the wide range of areas where there is common ground” with the “priorities” of both parties.

“Those priorities include things like climate change, immigration reform, certainly our diplomatic efforts in Iran and Cuba,” Earnest noted. “Broader issues related to social justice are priorities of the Catholic Church and are priorities shared by the administration.”

The meeting came just days after the Supreme Court decided to hear multiple challenges to the administration’s contraception mandate, including one by the Archdiocese of Washington and an appeal by the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Pope Francis visited the White House and met with President Obama on Sept. 23 during his visit to the U.S. In an address to the president and a crowd of 20,000 on the White House lawn, he insisted that religious freedom “remains one of America’s most precious possessions.” He also stressed the “urgency” of responding to climate change and recognized the administration’s effort to fight air pollution.

He also made an unscheduled visit of support to the Little Sisters of the Poor home in Washington, D.C. later that day at their Jeanne Jugan Residence. “This is a sign, obviously, of support for them” in their court case, the director of the Holy See Press Office Fr. Federico Lombardi confirmed in a press conference that evening.

Photo Credit: solomonjee via www.shutterstock.com

Previous Post

November 14, 2015

What Pope Francis has to say about Dostoyevsky and Guardini

Next Post

November 15, 2015 A new look into the Vatican's stunning museums

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

According to 1 Peter, what covers over a multitude of sins?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Love Prayer Faith Repentance