Cardinal George reveals details of conversation with Obama

Let's get right into it (underlining mine):

Cardinal George offered a candid assessment of his 30-minute meeting with the president at the White House March 18.

"I think on the life issue he's on the wrong side of history," the cardinal said. "I think he has his political debts to pay, and so he's paying them."

Cardinal George said his conversation with the president was polite but substantive.

"It's hard to disagree with him because he'll always tell you he agrees with you," he said. "Maybe that's political. I think he sincerely wants to agree with you. You have to say, again and again, 'No, Mr. President, we don't agree (on abortion).' But we can agree on a lot, and we do, and that's why there is so much hope. I think we have to pray for him every day."

Cardinal George said he told the president he was concerned about his decision to rescind the Mexico City policy, which resulted in providing taxpayer money to fund abortion overseas.

"He said we weren't exporting abortion," the cardinal said. "I said, 'Yes we are.' He would say, 'I know I have to do certain things here. ... But be patient and you'll see the pattern will change.' I said, 'Mr. President, you've given us nothing but the wrong signals on this issue.' So, we'll see, but I'm not as hopeful now as I was when he was first elected." (CNS)

Photos: Chicago Cathedral Fire & Cleanup

This story began my reporting today. It seemed appropriate to bookend with these:

[Photos 1-3: AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast. Photo 4: AP Photo/Chicago Sun-Times, Brian Jackson]

The cause? Still unknown:

About a dozen fire trucks responded to the church at State and Superior streets, near Northwestern University. Firefighters did an "excellent" job keeping the fire from spreading, Langford said, adding that the cause of the blaze was under investigation.

Archdiocese officials said the five cardinals' hats, or galeros, suspended from the ceiling were drenched but remain intact. Each hat had been raised after a cardinal's death.

The fire started in an attic area where major repairs were being made. The cathedral had been closed for six months to undergo major structural repairs and had reopened at the end of August, church officials noted. The current work was being done on support beams. (CNN)

Perhaps I'm being overly dramatic, but after covering the Marciel and SSPX stories so intensly over the last couple days, this Catherdral fire struck me as a metaphor for the trials the Church is currently undergoing. Cardinal George, when asked about his reaction to the fire, said today:

"Chicago has always bounced back from fires, and I think we'll bounce back from this one," he said.

Well, the Church has always bounced back from fires, too, and I know she'll bounce back from this one.

Breaking: Chicago Cathedral in Flames

Fox News:

The Chicago Fire Department is battling an early morning fire at Holy Name Cathedral, one of the city's landmark churches and the seat of Cardinal Francis George.
Flames could be seen at three points of the building, including on the roof of the church.

Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford says the fire hasn't yet spread from the roof to the church's sanctuary but there's a lot of water inside the building.

Langford says no injuries have been reported as firefighters continue to try to extinguish the blaze on a bitterly cold Chicago morning.

More:

The fire was raised to a still-and-box alarm at 5:39 a.m. and further escalated to a 2-11 alarm at 5:55 a.m., according to Rodriguez, who said no injuries have been reported as of 6:10 a.m., but the roof was still burning.

Flames are coming from the roof of the church, according to a witness on the scene. At least six fire department engines -- three with ladders -- and two ambulances are on the scene .... The rectory is being evacuated, according to police, who said a CTA warming bus is being requested. Police and fire remain on the scene.

No comment until we have more info.

update: visit this link for the latest news reports on this story.