Cardinal praises Brownback shortly before he ends presidential bid

Published: 2007-10-23

BOSTON (CNS) -- Boston Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley praised Sen. Sam Brownback as the candidate whose views most closely reflected Catholic social teaching, just days before the Kansas Republican ended his quest for the presidency. "There is no other presidential candidate in the U.S. today that more reflects Catholic social doctrine as you do," the cardinal said after Brownback addressed an Oct. 14 luncheon following the annual archdiocesan Red Mass. "Your words are not from a politician posturing, but a reflection of your faith," the cardinal said. Brownback, who ended his presidential bid Oct. 19, became a Catholic five years ago. After serving two years in the House, in 1996 he ran for and won the seat that Sen. Robert Dole, R-Kan., gave up to run for president. In 1998, Brownback won a full Senate term and was re-elected in 2004. The Red Mass is the popular name for the Mass of the Holy Spirit, in which God's blessings are invoked upon judges, attorneys and all those working in canon and civil law. In his address, Brownback said he is working to expand the role of people of faith in the public square and the acceptance of faith as a legitimate motivation for public acts.

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