Religion
Related: About this forumIn face of faith-based attacks, Obama campaign hires faith outreach director
May 15th, 2012
03:46 PM ET
By Dan Gilgoff, CNN.com Religion Editor
Washington (CNN) Just as it confronts fallout with some religious communities over President Barack Obamas newly expressed support for same-sex marriage, the Obama re-election campaign is hiring a religious outreach director, it confirmed Tuesday.
Michael Wear, who currently serves as executive assistant to the executive director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, will join the Obama campaign in Chicago as faith vote coordinator, a campaign official said.
Wear, who was raised a Catholic but now attends a nondenominational, evangelical-style church in Washington, has spearheaded White House outreach to evangelicals and has focused on policy issues like adoption throughout Obamas first term.
A source close to the campaign said the decision to hire a faith-focused staffer was provoked largely by continuing criticism of the administration from Americas Roman Catholic bishops and conservative Catholic organizations.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/15/in-face-of-faith-based-attacks-obama-campaign-hires-faith-outreach-director/