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| Cardinal Timothy Dolan to give Republican benediction | Cardinal Timothy Dolan to give Republican benediction |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The most senior US Catholic cardinal is to give a benediction at the Republican National Convention next week in Florida when Mitt Romney accepts the party's presidential nomination. | The most senior US Catholic cardinal is to give a benediction at the Republican National Convention next week in Florida when Mitt Romney accepts the party's presidential nomination. |
| Cardinal Timothy Dolan will give prayers at the televised event, Mr Romney said in an interview. | Cardinal Timothy Dolan will give prayers at the televised event, Mr Romney said in an interview. |
| The cardinal is suing President Barack Obama over his healthcare plans. | |
| But the cardinal's office says the appearance will not be an endorsement for Mr Romney. | But the cardinal's office says the appearance will not be an endorsement for Mr Romney. |
| Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman for the cardinal, said the agreement had been made within the last two weeks, according to US media. | Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman for the cardinal, said the agreement had been made within the last two weeks, according to US media. |
| The move was not partisan and the cardinal was open to invitations from both political parties, he was quoted as saying. | The move was not partisan and the cardinal was open to invitations from both political parties, he was quoted as saying. |
| 'Playing it down' | 'Playing it down' |
| Mr Romney announced the news in an interview with The World Over Live show on the Catholic EWTN channel, due to air later on Thursday. | Mr Romney announced the news in an interview with The World Over Live show on the Catholic EWTN channel, due to air later on Thursday. |
| Cardinal Dolan leads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York and is also head of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. | Cardinal Dolan leads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York and is also head of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. |
| The BBC's Zoe Conway in Washington says the cardinal's office is keen to play down his appearance, describing it as just a priest going to pray. | The BBC's Zoe Conway in Washington says the cardinal's office is keen to play down his appearance, describing it as just a priest going to pray. |
| But some, she says, will see this as America's most powerful Catholic giving Mitt Romney his blessing. | But some, she says, will see this as America's most powerful Catholic giving Mitt Romney his blessing. |
| The Catholic Church is embroiled in a dispute with Mr Obama over his health law that requires employers to provide free access to birth control through their health insurance. | The Catholic Church is embroiled in a dispute with Mr Obama over his health law that requires employers to provide free access to birth control through their health insurance. |
| Although the law exempts houses of worship, it includes other church-linked employers such as schools and hospitals. | Although the law exempts houses of worship, it includes other church-linked employers such as schools and hospitals. |
| Mr Romney has also come out against the policy, calling it an attack on freedom of religion. | Mr Romney has also come out against the policy, calling it an attack on freedom of religion. |
| The four-day National Convention begins on Monday in Tampa, Florida. | The four-day National Convention begins on Monday in Tampa, Florida. |