I grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota in a proud Catholic family.

Preventing radicalization that leads to violence here in America is part of our larger strategy to decisively defeat al Qaeda.

President Obama understands that, as a nation founded by those who fled religious persecution, freedom of religion is central to who we are as Americans. Our rights are not given to us by government, they are endowed by our Creator.

Being religious is quintessentially American.

Sunday afternoons at a parish center - or a community center - is familiar territory for me.

We're happy to see, obviously, the resounding support for Judge [Merric] Garland, an unbelievable - unbelievably strong, unquestioned excellence as a judge for the last 18 years on the second highest court in the land and somebody who's dedicated his life to the law.

I’m indebted to the teachers who shaped me - from the Sisters of St. Joseph at St. Croix Catholic elementary to the monks of St. John’s in Minnesota to my professors at Georgetown.