Obama Picks Catholic Leader as Surgeon General

Dr. Regina Benjamin

President Obama has nominated a Catholic health care leader to serve as Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin. She is a graduate of Xavier University in Louisiana, founded by St. Katharine Drexel.

Whispers in the Loggia writes about her:

Founder of a rural Alabama health clinic for the poor that was devastated three times (twice by hurricanes, once by fire) since its founding in 1990, Dr Regina Benjamin was reelected to a second term on the board of the US' Catholic Health Association at its yearly assembly last month in New Orleans. Even more notably, though, Benjamin's work both at home and nationally were recognized in 2006 when Pope Benedict awarded her the papal cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice ("For the Church and the Pontiff") -- the Roman accolade reserved for laity, religious and permanent deacons who've given distinguished service to the church.

The first African-American woman to lead a state medical association, the 53 year-old nominee -- whose grandmother helped found a Black Catholic parish, its first Masses offered in her living room -- must be confirmed by the Senate before she can become the nation's "top doc."

In the meantime, CHA President Sr Carol Keehan "rejoice[d] for the nation" in a statement released just after this morning's announcement:

In Dr. Benjamin, we have a brilliant physician who understands health care, nationally and internationally; but even more important, she knows the health care needs of the people of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, who she meets on a daily basis.Dr. Benjamin will enrich the nation because she brings competence and integrity to this very important role. This is coupled with the daily experience of trying to meet the health care needs of a very vulnerable community. Our nation will greatly benefit from her leadership and her background in national and international efforts to deliver quality health care.CHA congratulates Dr. Benjamin and looks forward to working with her to improve the health of our great country.

BENEDICT WELCOMES OBAMA

PAPAL GREETINGS FOR THE PRESIDENT

The Pope very much wanted to meet with the President and scheduled an unusual afternoon meeting to accommodate him at the end of his Italian stay for a G-8 summit meeting. In the tradition-conscious Vatican, most such meetings are held earlier in the day. The Vatican also arranged live television coverage of the open session of the meeting after their private talks.

Benedict also broke Vatican protocol the day after Obama was elected by sending a personal note of congratulations rather than waiting and sending the usual brief telegram on Inauguration Day.

The First Lady and their daughters, Malia and Sasha, joined him at the end of the meeting, and gifts were exchanged. The President gave the Pope a stole that is a relic of St. John Neumann, CSSR, an American saint and immigrant. Several senior White House staff members also met the pope, with some either shaking his hand or kissing his ring.

According to the Pope's official spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, the pope was "very impressed" by Obama and that the pontiff was "extremely satisfied" with the talks. Father also said that "Obama told the pope of his commitment to reduce the number of abortions and of his attention and respect for the positions of the Catholic Church."

The pope also gave the president a copy of his latest encyclical, "Charity in Truth," which called for a "world political authority" to manage the global economy and for more government regulation of national economies to pull the world out of the current crisis and avoid a repeat.

Papal Encyclical: Workers’ Rights to Form Unions Must Be Honored

by Seth Michaels, Jul 8, 2009

In a new encyclical released yesterday by Pope Benedict XVI, the leader of the Catholic Church discusses the challenges of a global economy. He notes that workers’ ability to form a union and bargain is at risk and makes it clear it’s a matter of moral imperative to preserve that freedom.
Here’s what the pope has to say on the need for workers to have the freedom to form unions:

Through the combination of social and economic change, trade union organizations experience greater difficulty in carrying out their task of representing the interests of workers, partly because Governments, for reasons of economic utility, often limit the freedom or the negotiating capacity of labor unions. Hence traditional networks of solidarity have more and more obstacles to overcome. The repeated calls issued within the Church’s social doctrine, beginning with Rerum Novarum, for the promotion of workers’ associations that can defend their rights must therefore be honored today even more than in the past, as a prompt and far-sighted response to the urgent need for new forms of cooperation at the international level, as well as the local level.

The Vatican and a wide variety of Catholic leaders have continued to express support throughout the year for workers’ freedom to form unions, and many Catholic scholars and organizations like the Catholic Labor Network and Catholics for Working Families have come out in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.

http://blog.aflcio.org/2009/07/08/papal-encyclical-workers-rights-to-form-unions-must-be-honored/

Independence Day

GOD BLESS AMERICA

GOD BLESS OUR PRESIDENT



GOD PROTECT HIM AND HIS FAMILY
FROM THOSE WHO WOULD DO THEM HARM

Cardinal Praises President Obama

Cardinal George Cottier, former theologian of the papal household under Pope John Paul II, praised the President's "humble realism." Styled as an analysis of two Obama speeches – his May 17 commencement address at the University of Notre Dame and his June 4 speech to the Islamic world in Cairo – His Eminence was overwhelmingly positive, repeatedly arguing that Obama’s “realism”, as well as his commitment to finding “common ground”, resonate with Christian tradition and the social teaching of the Catholic church.

The Cardinal compared Obama’s Notre Dame address to Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Ecclesiam Suam, in its accent on dialogue and common ground, and to the document Dignitatis Humanae of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) on conducting the search for truth in a pluralistic society. Christians, Cottier wrote, “can be in agreement” with Obama’s “way of framing the search for solutions.”

full story here:

http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/former-papal-theologian-praises-obamas-realism-even-abortion

President Obama Accepts Holy Father's Invitation

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has extended an invitation to the President to meet with him on July 10th and President Obama has very graciously accepted the invitation. The Pope and President have had telephone conversations previously but this will be the first face to face meeting. The White House confirmed that Mrs. Obama will join the President when he meets with the Holy Father.

Pope Benedict XVI broke protocol by sending a congratulatory message to Barack Obama after he won the election in November (54% of Catholics supported him). The normal practice is to wait for the swearing-in (at which the Pope also sent greetings). Anxious to meet with Obama, the Pope agreed to an afternoon meeting to accommodate the President's schedule. Typically, popes have such meetings in the morning.

http://www.popeandpresident.org/

Politics Makes Strange Bedfellows: Gay Congressman and Archbishop Chaput Show Political Unity at Catholic Parish

I must admit, when openly gay Congressman Jared Polis sent me the following flyer for a rally he was having at a Catholic Church AND with Archbishop Charles Chaput in attendance, my reaction was "now there is an odd couple."

But, it is a good witness that people of good will can come together on an issue, even when they have profound differences on other issues.

A national movement including businesses, unions, faith-based organizations, civil rights groups, conservatives, liberals, and community activists is forming to advocate comprehensive immigration reform, and I would like to invite you to take part in that overwhelming support for comprehensive immigration reform by attending our HUGE event:

When: Saturday, June 13th, 2009 12:30 PM-2:00 PM (doors open at 11:30 AM)

Where: Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Parish Center 11385 Grant St., Northglenn, CO

Our June 13th event is part of the United Families tour. United Families is a nationwide tour led by Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez to encourage Congress to pass just and humane immigration reform in 2009! In over 20 cities, families that suffer under our broken immigration policies have told their stories to thousands of onlookers, the media, and elected officials. I am honored to bring Congressman Gutierrez to Colorado.

You have the opportunity to be a part of this historic tour and a part of the solution! Colorado families will tell their stories of how our broken immigration system has impacted them. Archbishop Chaput, Father Ames, Rabbi Firestone, Reverend Simpson, and Imam Ali will help us to understand how our faith calls us to action.

Finally, Representatives Gutierrez and I will explain what action Congress can take and how YOU can help. Please join us Saturday for this momentous event as faith leaders, community members and congressional champions for immigration reform join to demonstrate the urgency of fixing our broken immigration system.