Cardinal George:

Bishops Congratulate Barack Obama on Historic Election;Urge Him to Defend the Weak, Heal Divisions

Dear President-elect Obama,

I write to you, in my capacity as President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, to express our congratulations on your historic election as President of the United States. The people of our country have entrusted you with a great responsibility. As Catholic Bishops, we offer our prayers that God give you strength and wisdom to meet the coming challenges.

Our country is confronting many uncertainties. We pray that you will use the powers of your office to meet them with a special concern to defend the most vulnerable among us and heal the divisions in our country and our world. We stand ready to work with you in defense and support of the life and dignity of every human person.

May God bless you and Vice President-elect Biden as you prepare to assume your duties in service to our country and its citizens.

Sincerely yours,
Francis Cardinal George, OMI
Archbishop of Chicago
President
US Conference of Catholic Bishops

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Sorry Cardinal George, there are some good things in what you said, but this comes across as a wee bit wimpy to me. If you don't have to coraggio to challenge him on his abortion stand, then 4 years from now we will still be standing on the sidelines & things will only have gotten worse. There are times to be pragmatic, this is not 1 of them. I suspect you are doing so because of the many other "peace & justice" issues like immigration. However, may I reminder what Pope John Paul pointed out, without protection for the rights of the unborn, there will never truly be justice. The rest won't matter if the basic right to life isn't there.

Cardinal George, we need strong leadership in the face of the most anti-life, pro-"culture of death" president ever elected. Nice words won't cut it. As shepherd of your diocese, your role is to lead in proclaiming the Gospel message. As a prince of the Church & as head of the USCCB, that responsibility is even greater. Yours is a prophetic role. & like the prophets of old, you must call sin sin & challenge the political leaders to repent & return to God.

I say this, not to criticise you. Rather I say it out of concern for the unborn. I also say ity out of concern for your soul. If you fail to take the strong stand needed, you will have to stand before God & give an accounting of your failure to do so. & not wanting to offend someone just won't cut it.

Cardinal George, I pray that God will give you the courage, the strength, the wisdom & power needed to fulfill your vocation.