Dolan To Deliver Closing Prayer At Republican National Convention
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan will give the benediction at the Republican National Convention on the night Mitt Romney accepts the presidential nomination.
The appearance is not an endorsement, said Joseph Zwilling, the Director Office of Communications for the Archdiocese of New York.
"He is not going to endorse anyone or any party, he is going simply to pray," Zwilling told 1010 WINS. "The Cardinal made it very clear to the convention organizers that he was only coming to pray and that he would, if he were offered a similar opportunity by the Democratic party, he would also gratefully accept an invitation from them as well."
Zwilling said Dolan is honored to be leading convention delegates in prayer.
"I'm sure he'll be praying for a campaign that addresses the issues, that respects civility and prays for the good of the nation," Zwilling said.
Dolan is the New York archbishop and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The four-day GOP convention begins Monday in Tampa, Fla. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will deliver the keynote address.
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