[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 177 (Thursday, November 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRATULATING CARDINAL FRANCIS GEORGE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 15, 2007

  Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Francis 
Cardinal George, O.M.I. on his election as President of the U.S. 
Conference of Catholic Bishops.
  On November 13th, Cardinal George was elected by the U.S. Conference 
of Catholic Bishops to the position of president during the bishops' 
November meeting in Baltimore. He is the first cardinal to be elected 
president or vice president of the conference since 1971. Cardinal 
George will serve in this position for the next three years.
  As President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal 
George will act as spokesperson for the Roman Catholic Church in 
America and will represent the U.S. church in meetings at the Vatican. 
Additionally, Cardinal George will accompany Pope Benedict XVI during 
his first papal pilgrimage to the U.S.
  Prior to his election as president of the conference, Cardinal George 
served as Vice President since 2004. Cardinal George also served on 
numerous USCCB committees including Liturgy, Doctrine, Pro-Life 
Activities, and the sub-committee on lay ministry. Since 1990, he has 
been Episcopal Moderator and member of the board of the National 
Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities.
  A Chicago native, Cardinal George has been an exemplary leader for 
Chicago's Catholic community. He currently serves as the Archbishop of 
Chicago, a position he was appointed to in 1997 by Pope John Paul II. 
In January 1998, Pope John Paul II announced Archbishop George's 
elevation to the Sacred College of Cardinals. Cardinal George has been 
an invaluable asset to Chicago's Catholic Community, and his tenure as 
Archbishop has been a successful one.
  Madam Speaker, I congratulate Cardinal Francis George on his election 
as President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and I wish him 
the best of luck in his new role.

                          ____________________