.- Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry met with Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop of Washington, for the first time yesterday.
The meeting between the pro-abortion politician, who claims to profess his Catholic faith, and the cardinal, had been planned for months and was requested by Kerry, reported the Associated Press.
The senator and the archbishop declined to comment after the 45-minute meeting. A spokesperson for the senator reportedly said the meeting was "completely personal and private," according to AP.
Diocesan spokesperson Susan Gibbs said the meeting was an opportunity for the two men to get to know each other.
The meeting came just days after the cardinal spoke on national television about the consequences being considered for Catholic politicians, who do not act in accordance with Church teaching regarding abortion and stem-cell research.
Cardinal McCarrick is heading a task force for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which is examining whether there should be sanctions for politicians who profess to be Catholic but who clearly advocate legislation that is against Church teaching.
