Rev. Al Sharpton Speaks During Mass

CHICAGO TRIBUNE, Feb. 10 — Black activist Rev. Al Sharpton — who became famous touting the false claims of Tawana Brawley, who said she had been assaulted by a New York state prosecutor — is again running for president.

One of his first campaign stops was the annual dinner for the National Abortion and Reproduction Rights Action League. There he pledged full support for abortion on demand.

One of his next stops was the Chicago church St. Sabina's, according to the Chicago Tribune, a mostly black parish overseen by the controversial Father Michael Pfleger, a white priest who emulates a “black” gospel speaking style in his sermons.

Sharpton spoke during a Mass at the parish, denouncing the Bush administration on a wide variety of issues.

Chicago's Cardinal Francis George opposed the speaking engagement. Archdiocesan spokesman Jim Dwyer said Sharpton's endorsement of abortion upset Cardinal George.

“It's only logical that the leader of the Catholic Church in Chicago wouldn't want people in the churches speaking against the beliefs of the Church,” Dwyer said.

According to the Tribune, Sharpton's speech began as a talk but developed into a fiery sermon, “with the church's band at one point emphasizing Sharpton's points with impromptu riffs.”

Ohio Catholics Mourn Bishop

TOLEDO BLADE, Feb. 9 — Bishop James Hoffman, bishop of Toledo, Ohio, since 1981, died of cancer Feb. 8. He was 70.

As the sixth bishop of Toledo, he served for longer than his predecessors, according to the Toledo Blade.

The son of a shoe-store owner, Bishop Hoffman had previously served as chancellor of the diocese.

He was renowned as an advocate of lay activism in the Church, appointing laymen to top administrative roles in the diocese and encouraging lay involvement at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

President Bush Speaks at National Prayer Breakfast

CNN, Feb. 6 — President Bush attended the annual National Prayer Breakfast in mid-February, as is traditional for chief executives, according to CNN.

“It is fitting that we have a National Prayer Breakfast,” the president said. “It is the right thing to do because this is a nation of prayer.

… The thing I hear the most … from our fellow citizens regardless of their political party or philosophy is, ‘Mr. President, I pray for you and your family and so does my family.’ That's what I hear. I turn to them without hesitation and say, ‘It is the greatest gift you can give anybody … to pray on their behalf.’ I especially feel that because I believe in prayer. I pray. I pray for strength. I pray for guidance. I pray for forgiveness. And I pray to offer my thanks for a kind and generous almighty God.”

Bush asked attendees to pray for the astronauts who died on the space shuttle Columbia and for America's men and women in uniform.