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. Daystar

    You should have asked to be forgiven for your damn lies !

    November 6, 2012 05:17 am at 5:17 am |
  2. Angie

    A real guy with great values. May God bless Romney and Ryan, may He guide this country especially today to vote for them, restoring values and putting God back into our everyday lives.

    November 6, 2012 05:21 am at 5:21 am |
  3. tam

    Was wondering what happened to him. Has been under the radar. Don't know which of them is scarier, Mitt or Ryan.

    November 6, 2012 05:22 am at 5:22 am |
  4. gemcitygemini

    I am Catholic as well, however, people must feel he needs all the help he can get.

    November 6, 2012 05:33 am at 5:33 am |
  5. KBNJ

    The only possible point I can see to publishing this "story" is to highlight Ryan's faith. In Lib-speak I'm pretty sure that's a BAD thing. So the point of the story is....

    November 6, 2012 06:01 am at 6:01 am |
  6. cm

    His blessing will come in the form of not winning this election, God does not like ugly-he is ugly.

    November 6, 2012 06:11 am at 6:11 am |
  7. Don

    What part of "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in VAIN" don't these guts get. Using God as a way to help get elected is terriblre.

    November 6, 2012 06:14 am at 6:14 am |
  8. notea4me

    Boy, that's some real pandering, from a cafeteria catholic...

    November 6, 2012 06:22 am at 6:22 am |
  9. Wire Palladin, S. F

    Would a blessing absove him from his lying and anti Christian acts?

    November 6, 2012 06:56 am at 6:56 am |
  10. Indy

    There is no doubt Ryan needs to pray and pray some more and ask for forgiveness for his tour of lies and hate,maybe karma will give him a kick in the rear and he will be a two time loser very soon in his political career. I did have hope for Paul Ryan but I have never seen a religious politician bear false witness as much as Paul Ryan did from the moment he was picked for the VP slot, it is shameful and its gets worse when he hides behind religion to spew his lies

    November 6, 2012 07:00 am at 7:00 am |
  11. Craig in Pa.

    he needs all the prayers he can get!

    November 6, 2012 07:10 am at 7:10 am |
  12. albert

    Typical Catholic Paganism. Rosaries are not even mentioned in the Bible. This church is far removed from anything found in the Bible. Which basically means that Ryan asked the Devil for a blessing.

    November 6, 2012 07:19 am at 7:19 am |
  13. Elizabeth

    Sweet story. I have been praying for God's blessings on our country. I will confidently vote for Barack Obama.

    November 6, 2012 07:38 am at 7:38 am |
  14. REGinAZ

    Ryan offers little to nothing for the majority and tries to make up for it with demonstrative religion, even while being grossly dishonest – absolutely disgusting.

    November 6, 2012 07:46 am at 7:46 am |
  15. UBS, WILLARD & THE 4000+ AMNESTY DEAL

    Sorry Paul. You can do a hundred hail mary's and you guys are still going to lose. Maybe if ya'll hadn't lied so much you'd stand a chance.

    November 6, 2012 08:04 am at 8:04 am |
  16. RandyF

    If Jesus is real he'd vote for Obama .

    November 6, 2012 08:07 am at 8:07 am |
  17. MrBeenThere

    How transparently shallow can this man be......... sorry ryan but Jesus already voted and it was for the man who really cares about someone other then himself, that man was President Barack Obama.....

    November 6, 2012 08:19 am at 8:19 am |
  18. Pat in IL

    His lies and his ego both show very clearly that this man is not a genuine Christian. He and Romney only hurt themselves by trying to "use" religion to sway people. As ever, actions speak louder than words.

    November 6, 2012 08:19 am at 8:19 am |
  19. Art

    Today's prayer:
    God help me to never be like a politician.

    November 6, 2012 08:26 am at 8:26 am |
  20. Toontje

    What is this voodoo stuff anyway? He has an inanimate object in his pocket and he asks for a priest to bless that object? What will that accomplish? Will it give him super powers (like running a marathon under an hour and a half)? Will the rosary itself be indestructible or something? I will never understand religion, especially Catholics.

    November 6, 2012 08:26 am at 8:26 am |
  21. Kay

    God is very much a part of my daily life....In God, I move and breathe and have my being. I pray often...It seems I stay in a state of prayer, and I seek God's guidance. I will be voting with all my heart and soul for President Barack Obama.

    November 6, 2012 08:32 am at 8:32 am |
  22. Rudy NYC

    The thought of having a vice president who was enthralled as a teenager by an Ayn Rand book of fiction, sought to make that book a reality as an adult politician, makes this election just that more significant.

    November 6, 2012 08:44 am at 8:44 am |
  23. Pepou27

    HE is the reason I vote for Obama. I don't want his religion in my daily life !

    November 6, 2012 08:52 am at 8:52 am |
  24. Critical Thinking

    Paul Ryan will make a Great Vice President, plus he knows what year and century it is.

    Joe Biden, thanks for playing.

    November 6, 2012 09:03 am at 9:03 am |
  25. ER

    THis is exactly what we DO NOT NEED. Religion should not be part of politics.

    November 6, 2012 09:06 am at 9:06 am |
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