Benedict XVI Offers Life Lessons to Obama (at Vatican meeting today)

Zenit.org ^ | JULY 10, 2009 | Aenit.org

[Salvation]

Benedict XVI Offers Life Lessons to Obama

US President Makes 1st Visit to Vatican

VATICAN CITY, JULY 10, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Abortion, conscience protection and bioethics took center stage as Benedict XVI and U.S. President Barack Obama met for the first time today.

The Pope received the president, who was in Italy for the Group of Eight summit that end today in L'Aquila, for about a half hour in a private, closed-door meeting.

In a communiqué issued shortly after the meeting concluded, the Vatican reported that the "conversation turned first of all to questions which are in the interests of all and which constitute a great challenge for the future of every nation and for the true progress of peoples, such as the defense and promotion of life and the right to abide by one's conscience."

"Reference was also made to immigration with particular attention to the matter of reuniting families," the note added. "The meeting focused as well upon matters of international politics, especially in light of the outcome of the G-8 Summit.

"The conversation also dealt with the peace process in the Middle East, on which there was general agreement, and with other regional situations. Certain current issues were then considered, such as dialogue between cultures and religions, the global economic crisis and its ethical implications, food security, development aid especially for Africa and Latin America, and the problem of drug trafficking.

"Finally, the importance of educating young people everywhere in the value of tolerance was highlighted."

Reading material

Benedict XVI gave to the U.S. president a copy of his recently published encyclical, "Caritas in Veritate," and a copy of the 2009 letter of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith "Dignitas Personae" (The Dignity of a Person), which deals with questions of bioethics.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, told Vatican Radio after the audience that the Pope's gift of the letter "Dignitas Humane" was "very significant."

"In the United States," he explained, "there is currently a great debate on the fundamental value of the defense of life, and in this the perspective of the Church and the politics of President Obama show differences, at time quite significant."

Father Lombardi revealed that the president confirmed that "he has every intention, with the commitment of the government, to reduce as much as possible, the number of abortions."

The two also discussed "moral values in international politics, immigration and the Catholic Church’s contribution in developing countries," added Father Lombardi, and the "the importance of the education of tolerance in every country."

Obama gave to Benedict XVI a stole that had been placed on the remains of St. John Neumann (1811-1860), a Redemptorist who is currently the only canonized bishop of the United States.

An honor

Upon meeting Benedict XVI, Obama told that him that it was a "great honor" to meet him.

The Pontiff asked Obama how the G-8 meetings had gone, and Obama answered that they were "very  productive."

After the private meeting, the Holy Father greeted Obama's wife, Michelle, and their two daughters, Malia and Sasha.

Michelle and the two Obama daughters arrived to the Vatican an hour before the president to visit St. Peter's Basilica.

After the audience with the Pope, the family visited the Vatican Grottoes and the Sistine Chapel, which is currently closed to the public.

[Salvation]

Bravo, Pope Benedict XVI, a true follower of Jesus Christ.

Sounds like the Pope read Obortion Obama the riot act on the issue of life today(in a polite way)!

[Salvation]

Discussion Ping!

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[El Cid]

Sounds like the Pope read Obortion Obama the riot act on the issue of life today(in a polite way)!

eh, he should've just thrown some holy water on him and seen what happened...

[nmh]

Heck, he'll never read that stuff.

He'll zoom in on “social justice” and that will be the end of it.

What he should do is just SHOW Obama a picture of an abortion and a PBA. Let him SEE what that is that he is so cavialier about -

“I wouldn't punish my daughters with a baby”.

[lewislynn]

What a fraud!

Did Obama throw up in his mouth at the thought of visiting a Pope?

Unfortunately the only thing they agree on is world governance...Why are Catholics such liberals?

[Salvation]

**What he should do is just SHOW Obama a picture of an abortion and a PBA. Let him SEE what that is that he is so cavialier about -

“I wouldn’t punish my daughters with a baby”.**

Excellent observation!

[Salvation]

REAL Catholics are not liberals.

Only CINOs like Pelosi, Kennedy, Kerry, etc. are liberals! They have actually excommunicated themselves by supporting abortion.

Remember how the Pope dissed Pelosi because she tried to correct him on abortion? He did not allow a photo op for her.

[antceecee]

Had the Vatican been more rigorous in the past, they would have ex-communicated most of the Kennedy family. It would have taken great moral courage to do this, but it should have been done. Instead, today we deal with this family of CINOs who claim to represent American Catholics and disparage the Pope.

[Jim from C-Town]

REAL Catholics are not liberals.

Only CINOs like Pelosi, Kennedy, Kerry, etc. are liberals! They have actually excommunicated themselves by supporting abortion.

Remember how the Pope dissed Pelosi because she tried to correct him on abortion? He did not allow a photo op for her.”

I must take exception to this entire posting. I am not picking on you, I simply believe it is time that the Catholic Church found it's stones.

The idea of self excommunication is nice, but it is a cop out of the highest order. The Church has decided that the poperotunity to meet with other heads of state trumps the innate responsibility it has to it's members. When a politician can claim that they are Catholic and flaunt their disdain for the major tenants of the faith they must be publicly removed from the Church. They must be denied the path to salvation until they PUBLICLY recant their heresy.

The fact is that the Church doesn’t do this at their own peril. They have inadvertently lead many of their flock away from the path to God by their mixed message. This lack of strong moral fiber in the hierarchy and in the local Diocese has lead to the absolute disintegration in the Church in Europe and is doing the same to the American Catholic Church. Already less than half of self proclaimed Catholics attend Church every week. It is only getting worse.

Too much “God is Love” Not enough “Hell Fire and Brimstone”

I can not remember the last time priest delivered a sermon about the wages of Sin, or the existance of Hell.

[Jim from C-Town]

Thank you very much.

It is never too late to change course. They can start by excommunicating Edward “Teddy” Kennedy and denying him a Catholic burial unless he publicly disavows his heresy.

It may take courage for the Church to act, but that is what is expected of them.

[Yooper4Life]

Yup.

[Salvation]

You need to hear some of my priest’s sermons. He has several, one on the sin of pornography that was a fire and brinstone — you would have liked it.

[Salvation]

What if he repents on his deathbed and confesses all his sins?

Christ always waits for us to ask for that repentance.

Are you familiar with the Sacrament of the Annointing of the Sick?

[MissDairyGoodnessVT]

anything said by obummer to the Pope was a d@@n lie and obummer’s a liar

[element92]

two heads of state, from countries with diplomatic relations
....
I wouldn’t read anything more, into this

[IIntense]

What if he repents on his deathbed and confesses all his sins?

Therefore, due to that possibility, the Church has no authority to excommunicate anyone. That is precisely what you said.

Are you familiar with the Sacrament of the Annointing (sic) of the Sick?

Really, I don't know how that question fits into this discussion. First of all, it's quite apparent that Jim's knowledge of the Catholic Church includes this sacrament, previously called Extreme Unction. If a person sincerely repents on his/her deathbed for any sins committed, I believe he will be forgiven, even if a priest is not present.

It appears we first have to believe that the Church does have the power and the right to excommunicate Catholics for good reason. If so, why don't they exercise this power? Why does the Church do nothing when those in public life, currently Edward Kennedy and Nancy Pelosi, for two, openly and publicly take anti-Catholic positions on moral issues?

Do you agree with the Church's hands-off position, or do you disagree?

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Why does the Church do nothing when those in public life, currently Edward Kennedy and Nancy Pelosi, for two, openly and publicly take anti-Catholic positions on moral issues?

Probably because not enough of the grassroots faithful are whacking out on a daily basis, demanding the the church hierarchy (all the way to the Pope) exorcise said political demons.

I'm sure you saw changes with the treatment of the boy-raping priests for that very reason.

[stevie_d_64]

But guess which book Obama will keep handy???

The Pope’s book, or the book Hugo Chavez gave him a while back...

[A.A. Cunningham]

Unfortunately the only thing they agree on is world governance...

Obviously written by a stooge who hasn't read Caritas in Veritate but relies instead on the leftstream media to tell them what they want you to think it says.

[Mr Rogers]

“”Reference was also made to immigration with particular attention to the matter of reuniting families,” the note added.”

So - did the Pope recommend we deport all illegals, or did he advocate open borders with Mexico?