Charlotte-area members of Congress host visitors for Pope Francis
Charlotte-area members of Congress will welcome a human trafficking activist, the wife of an American pastor imprisoned in Iran, and the chancellor of Belmont Abbey college as special guests for Pope Francis’s visit to Washington.
Antonia “Neet” Childs will be U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger’s guest for the White House arrival ceremony on Wednesday. Childs is a former victim of human trafficking who now runs a Charlotte bakery, “Neets Sweets,” and a ministry supporting women who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Nagmeh Abedini will be the Charlotte Republican’s guest for the pope’s address to the joint session of Congress on Thursday. Abedini is the wife of Pastor Saeed Abedini, an American pastor imprisoned for alleged Christian proselytizing in Iran.
Abbot Placid Solari will be U.S. Rep. Alma Adams’ guest at the joint session. Solari is the chancellor of Belmont Abbey College, the only Catholic college in North Carolina. Adams is a Greensboro Democrat.
Tami Fitzgerald will be U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson’s guest at the joint session. Fitzgerald is the executive director of North Carolina Values Coalition, which opposes abortion and has fought to defund Planned Parenthood.
Email: fordonez@mcclatchydc.com; Twitter: @francoordonez.
This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 4:12 PM with the headline "Charlotte-area members of Congress host visitors for Pope Francis."