10 Most Important Obama Faith Moments
7. Joe Biden's Receiving Ashes on Ash Wednesday
(Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)
Biden pauses while speaking during a Recovery Plan Implementation meeting on Ash Wednesday.
Vice President Joe Biden is only the second Catholic in American history to occupy one of the nation's top two posts. The other was President John F. Kennedy. And Biden's public appearances with an Ash Wednesday smudge on his forehead in February were a sign of how comfortable Catholic politicians have become in expressing their faith. Biden's support for abortion rights has attracted criticism from some U.S. bishops, but the White House has worked hard to cultivate Catholic leaders and groups, including the bishops. President Kennedy was apparently never photographed with an Ash Wednesday smudge, possibly to avoid stirring up anti-Catholic sentiment, which was once much stronger in the American electorate than it is today.
What do you think are the most important "faith moments" in the first 100 days of Obama's presidency?