Jenkins' August 30 entry on The Bishop's Blog said that people of faith "stand together in our fight to recognize and cherish the dignity and worth of every citizen of this city, and we believe how the citizens of this city are treated says who we really are as a nation."

Bush visited New Orleans August 29 and 30 as part of the commemorations of the second anniversary of the days when Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath decimated parts of the Gulf Coast. Bush and his administration's handling of the hurricane response have drawn criticism from many quarters.

"The people of this country still honor the social contract between citizens," Jenkins wrote. "We need to see clear evidence that our President shares this humanity, conscience, and sense of moral duty."

Jenkins urged Bush to "think about the relationship between greed, policy and human suffering" and gave a number of examples where he sees that relationship working against New Orleanians.

"We can be reconciled, Mr. President," Jenkins concluded. "New Orleanians are a long-suffering and forgiving people. But to be so you must show us that you see and value our humanity before it is too late."

The complete blog entry is available here.