Two Members of Congress to Speak on Catholic Democrats Press Conference Call
on Obama's Meeting with Pope
Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Conference call will also cover Pope's Encyclical,
Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth)
Thursday, July 9, 2009, 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. EDT
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WHAT: Catholic Democrats will hold a press teleconference to discuss the meeting between President Obama and Pope Benedict XVI to take place at the Vatican on Friday, July 10th. The meeting provides an historic opportunity to address immense and historic challenges affecting the global community.
The meeting occurs after the issuance of the long awaited social encyclical, Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth). This document - an authoritative letter from the pope that becomes part of the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching - focuses on the injustices in the global economy. It is a significant basis for the meeting, given the global economic crisis and a recent United Nations report that world hunger is at record levels. The encyclical calls for a 'Christian humanism' for the global economy that will serve the 'common good'.
In support of the meeting Catholic Democrats launched the Pope Greets Hope Campaign, including a Web site, www.popeandpresident.org that features a Letter of Solidarity with the President and the Pope that Catholics can sign. With a tag line of 'When popes and presidents meet, great things can happen' Catholic Democrats is urging Catholics in the United States and people of good will around the world to lend their support and prayers to the president and pope for this meeting.
Both leaders have indicated the importance of the meeting. The pope will be meeting with the president at 4:30 p.m., breaking a tradition of meeting in the morning, to accommodate the president's schedule. Last week, President Obama held an unprecedented roundtable discussion with eight reporters, seven of whom were from Catholic media outlets.
The president and the pope share common ground on a number of issues that are of concern to both the Vatican and the Obama Administration: the global economic crisis and poverty, climate change, and world peace.
WHO:
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro, D-CT
The Honorable Jim McGovern, D-MA
Dr. Patrick Whelan, President, Catholic Democrats (calling in from Rome)
Steve Krueger, National Director, Catholic Democrats
WHERE:
Conference Call Press Conference
Call in phone number: 800-862-9098
Conference Title: Pope Greets Hope
Conference ID: CathDems
WHEN:
Thursday, July 9th
1:30 p.m., EDT
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About Catholic Democrats
Catholic Democrats is an association of state based groups representing a Catholic voice within the Democratic Party, and advancing a public understanding of the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching and its potential to help solve the broad range of problems confronting all Americans. For more information about Catholic Democrats please go to www.catholicdemocrats.org
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To schedule an interview with Catholic Democrats please contact Steve Krueger at [email protected] or by phone at 617-817-8617. To Schedule an interview with Representative Rosa DeLauro, please contact Adriana Surfas, at [email protected] or by phone at 202-225-3661. To Schedule an
interview with Representative Jim McGovern, please contact Michael Mershon, at [email protected] or by phone at 202-225-6101.
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