Catholic bishops congratulate Obama on presidential victory

Washington D.C., Nov 5, 2008 / 05:07 pm MT (CNA).-

Leading Catholic prelates have offered their congratulations to President-elect Sen. Barack Obama, praying for his wisdom in governance. Noting the historic character of his election, the bishops also ask Obama to protect the life and dignity of every human person.

Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago and President of the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), congratulated Obama on behalf of the bishops.

“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.”

Archbishop of Washington Donald W. Wuerl asked the faithful of the archdiocese to pray for President-elect Obama.

“We recognize that this election of the first African-American president is an historic moment in our nation’s history and we rejoice with the rest of our nation in the significance of this time,” he wrote.

“May our nation’s new leaders be guided in their decisions with wisdom and compassion and at the heart of all of their decisions may there be a deep respect for and commitment to the sanctity and dignity of all human life and support for the most vulnerable among us.”