Catholics vow to make their presence felt at Republican convention

Published: 2004-08-30

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Catholics coming to New York to attend the Republican Party convention expressed a commitment to taking a role in the party's life and making their presence felt as Catholics. Although the head of their party's ticket, President George W. Bush, is a United Methodist, Catholics interviewed by Catholic News Service contended that he was closer to Catholic values than was their fellow Catholic heading the Democratic ticket, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. On Aug. 29, the day before the convention was to open, many Catholics who were delegates or planning to participate in other ways gathered for a 5 p.m. Mass at Our Saviour Church in midtown Manhattan. Other events of special interest to Catholics during the convention were to include a "Family, Faith and Freedom Rally" at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel Aug. 31, with Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, who became a Catholic in 2002, as a featured speaker. And the Archdiocese of New York announced that Cardinal Edward M. Egan had accepted an invitation to give the benediction at the close of the convention following Bush's acceptance speech Sept. 2.

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