Because Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is, like Barack Obama, the incoming president of the United States, from Chicago, the cardinal was asked Tuesday night about his relationship with Obama.

George said, “The relationship is not very developed. I’ve met him a number of times, and it’s always been a friendly meeting, never substantive. I would hope, since he is a citizen of Illinois, and Chicago, that we could begin a relationship based upon that fact.”

Bishop Roger Morin of New Orleans added his two cents about Obama’s background as a community organizer, a job that’s been a bit disparaged recently. Morin heads the bishops’ subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, an antipoverty program.

“Community organizing is a good thing. Many people have been helped by and through the work of community organizers. I actually took community organizing training myself and I believe we accomplished many good things. My assumption for Senator Obama is that if he was doing community organizing on behalf of the church, he was doing good things.”

You can see a video of the press conference here.

Also, it’s been suggested that, when I reported Friday that the bishops’ discussion on religion and politics was off the agenda, the USCCB was using me to float a trial balloon.

I don’t think that’s the case, since I initiated the conversation, and the USCCB was not thrilled that I was reporting it.

Archbishop Joseph Naumman of Kansas City, Kan., confirmed on Tuesday that the issue was temporarily removed from the agenda, but put back on when the bishops started arriving in Baltimore.

“I think a number of bishops came here feeling that it was very important that we speak about it,” he said.