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POTUS to meet members of Catholic Press on Friday
From National Catholic Register:
President Obama Meets With Catholic Press Tomorrow
Posted by Tim Drake
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 3:39 PM
Tomorrow morning at 10:45 Eastern time the president is hosting a roundtable at the White House for members of the Catholic press.
The National Catholic Register’s publisher, Father Owen Kearns, will be among eight religion reporters and editors in attendance at that gathering.
The purpose of the gathering, according to Chris Hensman, press secretary with the National Security Council, is a “preview of the president’s upcoming visit with Pope Benedict XVI.” The president is meeting with the Pope on July 10.
Father Kearns just received the invitation to the meeting yesterday via e-mail. At this point, there isn’t a complete list of the media who will be in attendance, but our understanding is that it’s strictly Catholic print media, not radio or television.
According to Father Kearns, the meeting is unprecedented. He has not previously met a sitting U.S. president, nor has he been previously invited by the president to a White House gathering for members of the Catholic press.
When Father Kearns asked the purpose of the roundtable, he was told, “It’s for the president to inform us, to listen to concerns, and to answer questions.”
The meeting is not a press conference.
“It sounds like what we would call a listening session,” said Father Kearns.
We’ll have an update about the meeting on the blog tomorrow.
This would be a wonderful time to pray a novena for President Obama – to have a change of heart on the abortion issue. There is no other person in the world who can do more, in a practical way, to save the lives of the unborn – by nominating pro-life justices to the Supreme Court. Pray for his conversion.
Comment by Peter B. Nelson — 2 July 2009 @ 8:55 amWhy do I have a bad feeling about the way this dog-and-pony show will be conducted, and an even worse feeling about the impact it will have?
Comment by Vox Borealis — 2 July 2009 @ 9:03 am“Won’t you come into my parlor,
Comment by Not Getting Creaky Just Yet — 2 July 2009 @ 9:13 amSaid the spider to the fly”
Another attempt to split the Catholic Church in two. I gotta admit, he’s very very good at it. Let us pray that he does not succeed.
Comment by JML — 2 July 2009 @ 9:20 am“Listening Session”: Obama talks, Catholic press listens.
Comment by ThomasB — 2 July 2009 @ 9:25 amVB: Precisely. What a seducer this man is! One can almost smell the brimstone.
Comment by TomG — 2 July 2009 @ 9:28 amGlad to see Fr. Kearns and the Register will be there, but I would be curious to know who the other seven, so-called, Catholic print media representatives will be. Will our (ahem) friends from America be there, I wonder?
Peter, you’re right…I’ll pray.
Vox B…me too.
Not Getting Creaky, JML and TomB…sad to say I think you are dead on.
Let’s pray really hard for Mr. Obama…it is the only force he is powerless to resist, and it is the rightest thing to do.
Thanks to Father Z and MGRBYou all!
Comment by Patrick McNally — 2 July 2009 @ 9:29 amIt is not President Obama’s fault that Catholics vote for him, nor that exploiting Catholic fault lines is even possible.
That fault lies with Catholics themselves. Notra Shame, etc. – none of it is possible without the active participarion of Catholic wills. So, by all means pray for the President, but don’t forget all the stray sheep….
Comment by Allan — 2 July 2009 @ 9:49 amObama is the ultimate chameleon. This is his opportunity to guage the color that he should assume for his Catholic followers, and those Catholics he wishes bring into his flock. He will then present that color on the world stage with the Holy Father.
Comment by Matt — 2 July 2009 @ 9:58 amThe article is from yesterday, so wouldn’t this be going on right now?
We can rule out: The Remnant, Catholic Family News, Latin Mass Magazine, From the Houstops, Fatima Crusader, Angelus…
I would hope, though, that Inside the Vatican makes the cut in advance of the trip.
Comment by Ken — 2 July 2009 @ 10:00 amSorry for being cynical but look out for a trick. I’m always for giving one the benefit of the doubt, but very difficult with this president. What does he really care about the Catholic media thinks or wants? Look out when you discuss strategy with your opposition. It will be used against you.
Comment by Matt Q — 2 July 2009 @ 10:08 amListening Session….mmmmmm, so nice….Oops! I just threw-up in my mouth a little.
Semper Fi!
Comment by jarhead462 — 2 July 2009 @ 10:12 amSo I guess “The Wanderer” wasn’t a part of this?
Comment by LCB — 2 July 2009 @ 10:14 amWednesday, July 01, 2009 3:39 PM
Tomorrow morning at 10:45 Eastern time…
So wouldn’t that be… today? Half an hour ago?
Comment by Jeff Pinyan — 2 July 2009 @ 10:16 amListening Session? Listening to what? Scary. Time to pray.
Comment by Kimberly — 2 July 2009 @ 10:43 amNote that it wasn’t said who would be listening to who. For a true conversation to take place, two (or more) people have to agree to exchange information and are open to at least considering that the other side has something valid to say. I’ve seen no indication that the other side is really interested, other in a passive way so as to give the appearance of at least saluting diversity of thought, that this is what they want to have happen. They just want it to be seen that way.
Not being a conspiracy theorist, just a dumb old taxpayer who used to work for the MSM, and was in the roiling horde of journalists at these things in the WH a few times, but I have fear that this was:
1. Photo op in some manner.
2. A chance for the opposition to ‘size up their opposition’ so that ‘talking points’ which disarm the same can be developed and floated.
3. A sham.
Pray hard. I’ve really come to the conclusion that our Church leaders really aren’t of bad intentions per se, just incredibly naive due to their insular education, training, and life experiences, and the other side knows this and uses it to their benefit.
Comment by bryan — 2 July 2009 @ 11:14 amBryan: “I’ve really come to the conclusion that our Church leaders really aren’t of bad intentions per se, just incredibly naive due to their insular education, training, and life experiences, and the other side knows this and uses it to their benefit.”
I think you are right. I have dealt with this insularity a lot, being a convert. Talking to a priest is very different than talking to a Protestant pastor in that respect. Even removing the “worldliness factor.”
Christians really do need to be wise/crafty as serpents and harmless as doves.
Comment by Ohio Annie — 2 July 2009 @ 11:22 amAn Obamamercial on how he’s going to be “Catholic” ...great….(sarcasm off)
Comment by Joe of St. Thérèse — 2 July 2009 @ 12:15 pmSounds to me like a BULL season. B as in B and S as in S.
Comment by ssoldie — 2 July 2009 @ 1:10 pmmeant ‘Bull Session’
Comment by ssoldie — 2 July 2009 @ 1:41 pmI’m a Canadian! During your election campaign a conservative Catholic radio and TV commentator up here said, “Obama’s record on abortion is appalling but to ask people to vote Republican after the past eight years….?
His coment trailed off! He is still very outspoken in his views on abortion but the point is, especially after the Bush years (Bush was very unpopular in Canada), to expect people to vote GOP was asking a lot. Personally, not being an American citizen, I was glad I didn’t have to make that decisison. I know other Pro-life people who felt the same as I did.
I think that Obama’s elction marked a much needed turning point in American history. Since the assasination of JFK, the U.S. has really been through a rough time. At best, McCain was “the same old same old” talking about his days in Viet Nam which was not one of America’s more shining moments.
Last November the deck was shuffled and the cards were dealt. You might not like the hand you were dealt but those are the cards with which you have to play. I know from experience it’s not easy but it is reality.
So, as some of the comboxes advise you, pray! Pray very hard! I don’t expect Obama’s mind to be changed over night but perhaps with God’s grace the beginning of a change might be made. Remember! Brick by brick!
Comment by David O'Rourke — 2 July 2009 @ 1:55 pmSince the assasination of JFK, the U.S. has really been through a rough time.
Why is the assissination of JFK the starting point? It seems to me that the election of JFK is a better starting point.
Comment by wsxyz — 2 July 2009 @ 2:20 pm