{"id":1355,"date":"2008-12-12T00:10:00","date_gmt":"2008-12-12T00:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/deaconsbench\/2008\/12\/lt-dan-catholic-updated.html"},"modified":"2008-12-12T00:10:00","modified_gmt":"2008-12-12T00:10:00","slug":"lt-dan-catholic-updated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2008\/12\/lt-dan-catholic-updated.html","title":{"rendered":"Lt. Dan, Catholic — UPDATED"},"content":{"rendered":"

A loyal reader alerted me to this news<\/a>, which I found both surprising and heartening. I had no idea Gary Sinise was a convert, did you? <\/p>\n

Read on: <\/p>\n

Two priests were among more than a half-dozen Catholics in a group of 24 people awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal Dec. 10 by President George W. Bush.<\/p>\n

University of Notre Dame professor Father Timothy R. Scully, a Holy Cross priest who directs the Indiana university\u2019s Institute for Educational Initiatives, and Jesuit Father John P. Foley, executive chairman of the Cristo Rey Network of inner-city schools, along with philanthropists, educators, researchers, the librarian of Congress and actor Gary Sinise, received the second-highest civilian honor in a closed ceremony in the Oval Office.<\/p>\n

The citation for Father Scully released by the White House noted that he \u201chas committed his life to strengthening communities through faith-based education that prepares individuals for a lifetime of achievement, service and compassion.\u201d It said he has \u201cdeveloped innovative ways to support under-resourced schools.\u201d<\/p>\n

Father Foley was cited for successfully reaching some of the country\u2019s most vulnerable youths \u201cand instilling in them a love of learning. Through his spiritual leadership of a faith-based education system that partners with the community, he has provided opportunities for young people to achieve their dreams,\u201d the citation said.<\/p>\n

That network includes Baltimore\u2019s Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, which opened in 2007.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Mr. Sinise, known for his roles as the lead investigator in the TV series \u201cCSI: NY\u201d and as Vietnam veteran Lt. Dan in the film \u201cForrest Gump,\u201d was cited as a humanitarian and a patriot.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking alongside our military and reaching out a compassionate hand to Iraqi children, he is helping a society once brutalized by a tyrant to rebuild and realize the great blessings of liberty,\u201d said the citation. \u201cHe has also traveled the world to show America\u2019s gratitude to our service members.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2005, Hollywood-based Catholics in Media Associates honored Sinise with its Humanitarian Award for the same type of work. At that ceremony, Mr. Sinise thanked his wife, actress Moira Harris, for leading the family to embrace their Catholic faith and inspiring him to commit to service projects.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You can read more about the other Catholic honorees at the link<\/a>.<\/p>\n

UPDATE:<\/b>FOB (Friend of the Bench) Tony Rossi notes there’s more about the Sinise family and their journey to Catholicism right here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A loyal reader alerted me to this news, which I found both surprising and heartening. I had no idea Gary Sinise was a convert, did you? Read on: Two priests were among more than a half-dozen Catholics in a group of 24 people awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal Dec. 10 by President George W. Bush.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":365,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-links-r-us","category-media"],"yoast_head":"\nLt. 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