Magna Carta News
Monday, April 11, 2005
resolution honoring Pope John Paul II
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Joe Sweeden
Capitol: (405) 557-7322
Pawhuska: (918) 846-2880
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Honors Pope John Paul II
OKLAHOMA CITY (April 11, 2005) - The Oklahoma House of Representatives
today approved a resolution honoring Pope John Paul II as a lifelong
champion of freedom, peace and human rights.
House Resolution 1021 also recognized several of the pope's key
accomplishments during his 26 years as the pontiff of the Roman Catholic
Church, including his role in the fall of Soviet communism.
In the resolution, the pope is hailed as "a charismatic leader with a
strong moral vision," and "an important influence in the lives of
Catholics and non-Catholics alike."
Rep. Joe Sweeden, who authored the resolution, said it was important for
the state of Oklahoma to officially acknowledge the many contributions
made by the pope, who passed away April 2.
"I asked the representatives to pray for the pope and to pray for the
cardinals that are going to have to select the new Pope," said Sweeden,
D-Pawhuska, a practicing Catholic.
"He was a man who had genuine compassion for all and was respected by
people of all faiths."
HR 1021 also briefly outlines the pope's career of service in the church
before being elected to the papacy. Born in Poland in 1920 as Karol
Jozef Wojtyla, he served as a priest, as the Archbishop of Krakow and as
a cardinal before being named pope in 1978.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Joe Sweeden
Capitol: (405) 557-7322
Pawhuska: (918) 846-2880
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Honors Pope John Paul II
OKLAHOMA CITY (April 11, 2005) - The Oklahoma House of Representatives
today approved a resolution honoring Pope John Paul II as a lifelong
champion of freedom, peace and human rights.
House Resolution 1021 also recognized several of the pope's key
accomplishments during his 26 years as the pontiff of the Roman Catholic
Church, including his role in the fall of Soviet communism.
In the resolution, the pope is hailed as "a charismatic leader with a
strong moral vision," and "an important influence in the lives of
Catholics and non-Catholics alike."
Rep. Joe Sweeden, who authored the resolution, said it was important for
the state of Oklahoma to officially acknowledge the many contributions
made by the pope, who passed away April 2.
"I asked the representatives to pray for the pope and to pray for the
cardinals that are going to have to select the new Pope," said Sweeden,
D-Pawhuska, a practicing Catholic.
"He was a man who had genuine compassion for all and was respected by
people of all faiths."
HR 1021 also briefly outlines the pope's career of service in the church
before being elected to the papacy. Born in Poland in 1920 as Karol
Jozef Wojtyla, he served as a priest, as the Archbishop of Krakow and as
a cardinal before being named pope in 1978.
-30-
