Paul Ryan asks for blessing day before election
November 5th, 2012
07:13 PM ET
10 years ago

Paul Ryan asks for blessing day before election

Johnstown, Colorado (CNN) - Mitt Romney's running mate Paul Ryan, a Roman Catholic, asked a priest he met at a restaurant Monday to bless a rosary he carries with him.

The Republican vice presidential nominee was in the middle of a five-state battleground blitz through Nevada, Colorado, Iowa, Ohio, and Wisconsin, the day before Election Day when he met Father Greg Ames prior to his second rally in Johnstown, Colorado.

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At Johnson's Corner, a truck stop restaurant and gift shop that's been in business for 60 years and is renowned for its cinnamon rolls, Ryan walked up to the counter with wife Janna and three kids and said, "Can I order two dozen cinnamon rolls, regular size, but can we see one just so we can like stare at it for a little bit before we eat it?"

The fitness fanatic who prefers healthy food to sweets marveled at the size of the 12-ounce cinnamon roll his server Kelly handed him in a plastic container. He held it up next to his 10-year-old son Charlie and 7-year-old son Sam.

"Look at that, it's about the same size as your head, Sam," he said.

While he waited for his to-go order of cinnamon rolls Ryan turned to a nearby booth and met Ames, who introduced himself to the vice presidential hopeful as "Father Greg." Ryan noted the Catholic priest, who is from Immaculate Heart of Mary with a parish of 5,000 in Northglenn, was dressed casually in a white long sleeve shirt, pants, and a gold necklace with a cross.

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With his wife nearby Ryan asked Father Greg to bless his Rosary that he pulled from his jacket pocket. The Wisconsin lawmaker, who takes his children to Sunday mass at home in Janesville, has said since he joined the Republican ticket on August 11 he's been really moved by the number of people who offer him rosaries on the campaign trail.

After the candidate received his blessing Ryan was asked how he was feeling about the presidential election and he said, "I feel very good."

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Filed under: 2012 • Colorado • Faith • Paul Ryan
soundoff (60 Responses)
  1. Expat American

    Paul Ryan hides behind his ‘faith’ to justify his hatred of minorities, women and the poor.

    November 5, 2012 07:34 pm at 7:34 pm |
  2. USA

    Ryan & Mittens you have my vote : )

    November 5, 2012 07:38 pm at 7:38 pm |
  3. Debbie

    Pharisee. God has the sun rain and shine on both the good and the evil. News alert God is a-political.

    November 5, 2012 07:40 pm at 7:40 pm |
  4. nina

    i thought paul ryan followed the teachings of that athiest ann or whatever her name is ....the readings he encouraged or made his staff view?

    November 5, 2012 07:42 pm at 7:42 pm |
  5. Celeste

    Why would God bless someone who lies to promote his own gain? Ryan and Romney will get in bed with a rattle snake if it will get them one step up or down! Stop playing the GOD CARD, it’s not working.

    November 5, 2012 07:57 pm at 7:57 pm |
  6. Paul

    And brown-noser Ryan had bought that rosary how long ago? He is as phony as alexithymic Mitt.

    November 5, 2012 08:03 pm at 8:03 pm |
  7. Martha in CF

    Another photo op, how nice!!!! Did he help with dishes there too?

    November 5, 2012 08:27 pm at 8:27 pm |
  8. Dnick47

    Kids read Oliver Twist... Ryan's blessing is like that of the old Church Warden heading the orphanage... "No you will not get anymore gruel but you get 40 less one for asking!" The 19th Century British Poor Laws are a true reflection of the current Republican Party: harsh, cruel, and mean spirited administered by out and out hyprocrities.

    November 5, 2012 08:28 pm at 8:28 pm |
  9. Observer

    Its nice to a have a good day with your kids, the priest is just a bonus for him at this time. Politics are over Mr. Ryan enjoy your time with your family.

    Good luck to both parties

    Just a little more for Mr. Obama and Biden though. Enjoy

    November 5, 2012 08:40 pm at 8:40 pm |
  10. Christie 2016?

    I think Paul Ryan genuinely believes what he says. I completely disagree with his ideological beliefs. I think a Christie/Ryan ticket would have been better. Romney's constant shifting to the opinions of others, and "anything goes approach" makes me uneasy. Christie and Ryan are like Obama, Bush, Biden, Clinton in that they have core beliefs you can clearly identify. They're not wushu washy.

    November 5, 2012 09:02 pm at 9:02 pm |
  11. REDFIRESTORM

    the democrats can do things in secret - like write donation letters during the storm -they can say one thing in public and plan evil in private - but guess what? God sees and knows all (wink)

    November 5, 2012 09:04 pm at 9:04 pm |
  12. stars

    Thou shall not worship in idol put no god before me.

    November 5, 2012 10:29 pm at 10:29 pm |
  13. Ex-GOP Con

    He's blessing for victory? Instead of helping the needy and poor of this country? What a phony Christian.

    November 5, 2012 10:38 pm at 10:38 pm |
  14. usa/canada

    they would have cricified JFK for such a thing 50 yreas ago. their shall be no religouse test for the office of presidency of USA

    November 5, 2012 10:42 pm at 10:42 pm |
  15. Romney Hood's a FRAUD

    Hmmm. You mean it wasn't blessed BEFORE he started carrying it around with him?? That might explain alot about Lyin Ryan. My 85 year old mother wouldn't use a rosary given to her as a birthday gift until it blessed. Just sayin.... He's Catholic??? Really?

    November 5, 2012 10:49 pm at 10:49 pm |
  16. LouAZ

    If he does not win the Election will he throw the rosary in the trash ? If not, what is the point of getting some voodoo hoodoo doodoo priest to "bless" it ? Nonsense !

    November 5, 2012 10:54 pm at 10:54 pm |
  17. Me

    Not sure why, but I thought there would be more to this story. Not exactly newsworthy... He's a man of faith, that's what they do.

    November 5, 2012 10:55 pm at 10:55 pm |
  18. SensibleJoe

    Sadly, Paul Ryan is an admirer of Ayn Rand's philosophy of egotism and greed, which sees altruism and the common good as heresies to be avoided - which is in direct contradiction of Jesus Christ's ethics of loving neighbor, loving enemy and treating others the same way we want to be treated. God won't contradict Jesus and bless Randism.

    November 5, 2012 11:43 pm at 11:43 pm |
  19. fastrack1

    What a photo-op. Lying hypocrit gets priest's blessing in a truckstop, cinnamon roll in one hand, rosary in the other. What's missing is real humility; God willing, you'll get a healthy dose of it after tomorrow.

    November 5, 2012 11:59 pm at 11:59 pm |
  20. Getoverit

    OMG! He can't do that! Separation of church and state! Waaaaaaaah!!!!!

    November 6, 2012 12:03 am at 12:03 am |
  21. Meatloaf

    I think its a great story. He's a good guy.

    November 6, 2012 12:38 am at 12:38 am |
  22. Marry

    The good Lord would be working overtime to tent to all the desperate prayers landing on his desk from all over the world if those two liars got into the White House!
    I think he rather look at the bright side of life and will support truth and decency and help President Obama retain the White House to work FOR the people! The benefits of that the Lord knows are just like the sun going to shine on good and bad!

    Go out and VOTE!

    November 6, 2012 02:56 am at 2:56 am |
  23. MOCaseA

    He said "I feel good."

    He should have said "I feel that the American people will pick the best person for the job. If they choose my friend, Mr. Romney, then of course I will be ecstatic. If they choose President Obama, then I will wish him the best, and ask for blessings on him and his next four years as president."

    But unless he has someone scripting his "lie"nes for him, he doesn't know what to say.

    November 6, 2012 03:18 am at 3:18 am |
  24. Augie10

    I too am a Catholic, but a liberal Catholic, and I pray fervently every day for President Barack Obama. I pray that Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney become just a bad memory. God speed President Obama!!!

    November 6, 2012 04:42 am at 4:42 am |
  25. Cam Spurgeon

    UGH! This guy is scarier than Romney

    November 6, 2012 04:43 am at 4:43 am |
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