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George also said that while Catholics should "rejoice" in Obama's election as a sign of racial reconciliation in the U.S., any society that allows legalized abortion cannot claim to value the "common good."

Also on Monday, George and other prelates said Catholics voted for Obama because of the current economic turmoil, not because they support his abortion policies.

"The irony is that Democrats listened closely to the bishops on [Faithful Citizenship]," said Patrick Whelan, president of the Boston-based group Catholic Democrats, "and they addressed the issue of abortion in a constructive way, and conservatives don't seem to like that very much."

Earlier Tuesday, the bishops approved a blessing of a child in the womb, which will be added to the church's Book of Blessings, and includes a prayer that "our civic rulers … may perform their duties with justice and compassion while respecting the gift of human life."

Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., said that the blessing "is obviously a very tangible way for us to witness pastorally and sacramentally to the life of the unborn child."

"It's very consistent with the priorities we've raised," he said.

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The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops site has more on the meeting. EWTN is streaming the meeting online.

John Allen Jr. of National Catholic Reporter has also been following the bishops' meeting and abortion debate, as are reporters from Our Sunday Visitor, Catholic News Service, The Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Times, and other news outlets.

Our Sunday Visitor says Catholic voters did not "shrug off church leaders" who actually spoke out.

Amy Welborn's blog is always busy during these meetings.

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November (Web-only) 2008, Vol. 52