NY Catholic cardinal to offer prayer at DNC, RNC

NEW YORK (AP) — Cardinal Timothy Dolan says he's now giving the closing prayer at both the Democratic and Republican conventions.

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The New York Roman Catholic leader made the announcement Tuesday through his spokesman.

After GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney announced last week that Dolan would offer the benediction at this week's Republican Convention in Tampa, Fla., some Catholic liberals criticized Dolan's appearance. They said it gave the impression he was endorsing Romney.

Dolan, president of the U.S. bishops' conference, is also an outspoken critic of President Barack Obama's mandate that employers provide health insurance that covers birth control.

Dolan said he was participating only to give a prayer.

Separately, Democrats said Tuesday that Sister Simone Campbell of the Catholic nuns' lobby group NETWORK will give an address at the convention next week.