In a letter sent to the White House on the morning after the election, Archbishop Timothy Dolan sent his congratulations to President Barack Obama, and included a promise to “continue to stand in defense” of life, marriage and religious freedom.

The letter reads:

Dear President Obama:

In my capacity as President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I write to express my congratulations on your re-election as President of the United States. The people of our country have again entrusted you with a great responsibility. The Catholic Bishops of the United States offer our prayers that God will give you strength and wisdom to meet the difficult challenges that face America.

In particular, we pray that you will exercise your office to pursue the common good, especially in care of the most vulnerable among us, including the unborn, the poor, and the immigrant. We will continue to stand in defense of life, marriage, and our first, most cherished liberty, religious freedom. We pray, too, that you will help restore a sense of civility to the public order, so our public conversations may be imbued with respect and charity toward everyone.

May God bless you and Vice President Biden as you prepare for your second term in service to our country and its citizens.

Sincerely yours, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York and President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

It’s interesting to note the emphasis the Cardinal put on the words “our first, most cherished liberty” of religious freedom, a clear indication that the battle over conscience rights is far from over.

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