New White House staffers have Catholic, Jewish ties
By David Gibson| Religion News Service, Published: January 10
President Obama on Tuesday (Jan. 10) named an immigration expert with longstanding ties to the Catholic Church as his top domestic policy official, continuing a campaign-year makeover of White House staff.
The hiring of Cecilia Munoz, along with the appointment on Monday of Jacob Lew, an Orthodox Jew, as White House chief of staff, may improve Obama’s sometimes tense relations with two key religious groups: Catholics and Jews.
Lew, who has extensive connections in the American Jewish community, is expected to help Obama build a more friendly rapport with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Similarly, the administration’s relations with Catholic bishops have been tense at times, principally over abortion rights and conscience protections. Munoz has for years worked closely with Catholic groups, including U.S. bishops, on immigration and other issues.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/new-white-house-staffers-have-catholic-jewish-ties/2012/01/10/gIQAplnvoP_story.html
