“The flip side to that is you’re in a groove, so you just keep going”, said Rogers, who left the White House a few months after the Obamas’ first state dinner for India in November 2009.
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The Vatican has said it is concerned that any photos of Pope Francis posing with the controversial guests could be misconstrued that he endorses their activities, which are against church doctrine.
Pope Francis is welcomed by Cubans during his journey from Jose Marti airport to the Nunciature in Havana, on September 19, 2015.
Brian Williams, a Lackawanna County courtroom administrator, received a ticket to attend the White House’s welcome ceremony for the pope at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Officer Laurie Reyes with the Montgomery County’s Department’s Autism Outreach Program will also be honored with Jake at the White House, making them the only two people from the Montgomery County area.
Dyer came to the White House in 2009 as a 31-year-old unpaid intern, and at one point traveled with the Obamas to manage their lodging and logistics. Those invited to the Pope’s welcome celebration include transgender activists, the first openly gay US Episcopal bishop and an activist nun, Graham notes.
“As one of the LGBTQ faith leaders who will be at the White House on Tuesday morning to welcome the Pope, I want to let the Vatican and the world know that we will be present to offer hospitality and respect to Pope Francis”, said the Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson, Global Moderator of MCC.
Pope Francis will likely not be personally offended.
It’s a guest list that is, in a word, interesting.
There are those who argue images don’t matter. And while that’s been the case of Republicans and Democrats in the White House ever since the watershed debates of 1960, this presidency to its credit and to a degree its detriment has mastered the use of images.
In June, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage will be legal across the country, Graham said Obama is leading the nation on a sinful course.
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As an American, I would expect the sitting president to bring up pressing issues that this nation has with a fellow head of state that has policies that conflict directly with what this nation is pursuing for its citizens.
