Posted on 07/09/2009 7:53:09 PM PDT by presidio9
Tomorrow Pope Benedict XVI and President Barack Obama meet for the first time, an affair much anticipated and in some circles frowned upon by American Catholics in the wake of Obama's controversial Notre Dame commencement speech in May. Conservatives in the church denounced Obama's appearance as a nod by the premier Catholic university to a conciliatory politics that heralds the start of a slippery moral slope.
In truth, though, Obama's pragmatic approach to divisive policy (his notion that we should acknowledge the good faith underlying opposing viewpoints) and his social-justice agenda reflect the views of American Catholic laity much more closely than those vocal bishops and pro-life activists. When Obama meets the pope tomorrow, they'll politely disagree about reproductive freedoms and homosexuality, but Catholics back home won't care, because they know Obama's on their side. In fact, Obama's agenda is closer to their views than even the pope's.
It's fitting that Obama's visit comes just days after the publication of "Charity in Truth," a Vatican encyclical that declares unions, regulation of capitalism's excesses, and environmentalism to be ethical imperatives. The document gives moral credence to Obama's message and to progressive politics writ large.
Even more intriguing is the pope's support for political activism, which he refers to in the encyclical as "the institutional path … of charity,
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
I’m not a Catholic...but I think I’m more of one than Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.
Sadly the title of the thread might be correct they voted for him so he is their representative. BTW It is not the Pope’s job to represnt Americans or ayone else for that matter - his job is to represent God! How can people get this so screwed up - well they probably don’t go to church, read anything at all truely spiritual, read the Bible, pray or do anything else associated with being a Catholic - hey they were baptised though so they get to call themselves Catholics but do nothing about it!
Mel
Nope, you need to take a vow of poverty like the Kennedys....
Don’t you just love it when people who deny central tenets of Catholicism start defining who’s a Catholic for us?
When I start making a top ten list of the greatest Kennedys (in order, the ones who died youngest) none of my liberal friends find me at all credible.
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend speaking about Catholic belief is kinda like Uncle Teddy lecturing us all on driving safety.
He might, but that is an indictment of most American Catholics.
Where’s the barf alert?
A major step down on the respect scale for the Pope in my mind... He is going to meet with one of the most pro-infanticide politicians in the world. But the Pope will do what the church as a whole has been doing - talk a big game, then ignore the elephant in the room while making back-door deals and playing nice.
Again, it depends on how you define a Catholic. According to the Church, a Catholic is baptised, confirmed (accepted ALL Church teachings), obeys the commandments, attends Mass weekly and on Holy Days (where he re-testifys to his beliefs), and enters the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly and when necessary. The liberal press has defined “Catholics” as anyone who calls himself a Catholic.
Polls showed that about 80% of those who attend Mass weekly voted against Obama.
Well, no, not quite....
Yeah, like he did with Nancy Pelosi. The Pope made a deal with her. Right.
And waht exaxtly would Kathleen Kennedy Townsend know about being Catholic other than it’s a nice thing to call yourself? GGGGRRRR I hate all of these so called Catholic’s that support everything that the religion doesn’t!
I'm not following you. Just what do you think the Pope should be doing (other than to spread Christ's message, of course)? And what are those back-door deals you refer to?
Only One comment:
Of Course DEAR LEADER represents the views of Sinners Better than the Pope!
Yes, I love it! Especially if it's the state-run media. :-)
When I start making a top ten list of the greatest Kennedys (in order, the ones who died youngest) none of my liberal friends find me at all credible.
Gee whiz, I wonder why! LOL!
Indeed, many had criticisms of Christ for eating and associating with sinners. Something about him coming for the sick and not the healthy...
As a Catholic I don’t find myself so easily deceived.
Why does that august religious body have to plug liberal causes like unions that have special privileges in law and can force people to join in order to work? I would wager the carpenter Jesus would not have cared a whit for a Local 101.
Another profound pronouncement from the woman who gushed while being interviewed following the Ravens’ Super Bowl game “It was just so exciting—first they scored a football and then we scored a football!” Every rock in my yard is at least as smart as she is.
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