According to
AP, the
Fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, being held from Nov. 14-17, is focused heavily on religious freedom and the perceived infringement of Catholic religious liberty by various policies of federal and state governments. (See
prior posting.)
AP reported in part:
Archbishop Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the bishops are not just reacting to Obama's policies, but to a broader society in a "drive to neuter religion" and "push religion back into the sacristy."
... But Dolan said he discussed the church's concerns with Obama when the two men met last week in the Oval Office. The archbishop said Obama was "extraordinarily friendly" and "very ardent" in reassuring Dolan that the administration would look into the problems.
"I left there feeling a bit more at peace with this issue than when I entered," Dolan said.
However yesterday the USCCB issued the
following statement:
The meeting between President Obama and Archbishop Dolan on November 8 at the White House was very cordial and included pertinent moral concerns arising in foreign and domestic policy, issues of both agreement and disagreement. Both President Obama and Archbishop Dolan agreed that this was a private meeting, so no further details will be discussed.
