Noteworthy: Obama meets with Catholic press today

Fascinating, noteworthy news from National Catholic Register's Tim Drake:

[Today] at 10:45 Eastern time, the president is hosting a round table at the White House for members of the Catholic press.

The National Catholic Register’s publisher, Father Owen Kearns, will be among eight religion reporters and editors in attendance at that gathering.

The purpose of the gathering, according to Chris Hensman, press secretary with the National Security Council, is a “preview of the president’s upcoming visit with Pope Benedict XVI.” The president is meeting with the Pope on July 10.

Father Kearns just received the invitation to the meeting yesterday via e-mail. At this point, there isn’t a complete list of the media who will be in attendance, but our understanding is that it’s strictly Catholic print media, not radio or television.

According to Father Kearns, the meeting is unprecedented. He has not previously met a sitting U.S. president, nor has he been previously invited by the president to a White House gathering for members of the Catholic press.

When Father Kearns asked the purpose of the round table, he was told, “It’s for the president to inform us, to listen to concerns, and to answer questions.”

The meeting is not a press conference.

“It sounds like what we would call a listening session,” said Father Kearns.

This move provokes many questions for me. What are the other eight organizations invited? Why did the Obama team think this would be a good move? How is the Obama team preparing for his meeting with the Pope in eight days? Does he see these organizations as a resource to prepare for that meeting and to ensure he says the right things?

And why just print organizations (and not widely-read Catholic blogs - *cough, cough*)? Could it be because some of Obama's most staunch defenders are liberal print publications such as National Catholic Reporter and America magazine? I'm surprised, if they were invited, that they have not trumpeted the fact yet. 

On the other hand, this was done under extremely short notice.

Well, time will tell, so check back here later in the day.

And PS - for future reference, I'm just right up the street from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and can pass CIA clearances. 

I'm just sayin'...