Joint US-Holy See Communique (following private meeting between B16/Bush)

WITL ^ | April 16, 2008 | Rocco Palmo

[NYer]

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Following their private meeting in the Oval Office, a joint communique was released by President Bush and Pope Benedict.

Fulltext:

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and President George W. Bush met today in the Oval Office of the White House.

President Bush, on behalf of all Americans, welcomed the Holy Father, wished him a happy birthday, and thanked him for the spiritual and moral guidance, which he offers to the whole human family. The President wished the Pope every success in his Apostolic Journey and in his address at the United Nations, and expressed appreciation for the Pope’s upcoming visit to “Ground Zero” in New York.

During their meeting, the Holy Father and the President discussed a number of topics of common interest to the Holy See and the United States of America, including moral and religious considerations to which both parties are committed: the respect of the dignity of the human person; the defense and promotion of life, matrimony and the family; the education of future generations; human rights and religious freedom; sustainable development and the struggle against poverty and pandemics, especially in Africa. In regard to the latter, the Holy Father welcomed the United States’ substantial financial contributions in this area. The two reaffirmed their total rejection of terrorism as well as the manipulation of religion to justify immoral and violent acts against innocents. They further touched on the need to confront terrorism with appropriate means that respect the human person and his or her rights.

The Holy Father and the President devoted considerable time in their discussions to the Middle East, in particular resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict in line with the vision of two states living side-by-side in peace and security, their mutual support for the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon, and their common concern for the situation in Iraq and particularly the precarious state of Christian communities there and elsewhere in the region. The Holy Father and the President expressed hope for an end to violence and for a prompt and comprehensive solution to the crises which afflict the region.

The Holy Father and the President also considered the situation in Latin America with reference, among other matters, to immigrants, and the need for a coordinated policy regarding immigration, especially their humane treatment and the well being of their families."

[NYer]

Catholic Ping
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[OpusatFR]

This is definitely sending a message to Islam.

Although many others do not acknowledge the pope as their religious head, to Islam he represents Western Christianity.

It is a very strong visual.

[marshmallow]

......and their common concern for the situation in Iraq and particularly the precarious state of Christian communities there and elsewhere in the region.

I'm glad this issue was discussed.

I'm certain that our president never imagined that one of the consequences of the invasion of Iraq would be the current suffering and upheaval among Christians in that country.

[Kimberly GG]

Anyone know what Neil Cavuto was referring to on his show today. He said that the Pope would be addressing our ‘immigration’ issue and that the Minutemen are outraged after learning something about the church supporting/funding something in Mexico regarding our illegal aliens?

[baa39]

I spoke with someone about this finally tonight. It’s nonsense.

[Kimberly GG]

“I spoke with someone about this finally tonight. It’s nonsense.”

Depends on what you mean by “nonsense”. It’s about to hit the fan. The useless, noneffective raids yesterday will produce an outcry of sympathy from supporters of illegal aliens... perfectly timed with the Pope’s expected message on compassion for illegal aliens. And all just in time for the protests on May 1. Coincidence, I think not.

Vatican Enters Illegal-immigration Debate

“The Vatican is helping to pay for construction of a shelter for Central Americans traveling to the United States, angering immigration-control advocates. The Pontifical Commission for Latin America donated at least $20,000 in January to help erect a $120,000 building for the Brothers on the Path refuge in the southern city of Ixtepec. The number of Central Americans crossing illegally is high. Critics accused the Vatican of fostering illegal immigration to enrich the church. Guatemalans, Hondurans, Nicaraguans and other Central Americans are becoming a larger percentage of the migrants crossing the U.S. border. The Brothers on the Path charity owns two warehouses and adjacent land on the isthmus, where it provides food, bathrooms and a place to rest for as many as 1,000 people a night, said Alejandro Solalinde, a priest and project director. Pope Benedict has said he intends to discuss immigration issues with President Bush and empathizes with families split by migration. But immigratiion-control advocates said the refuge encourages migration, and they called it an affront to Americans worried about illegal border crossings.”....

....”It’s not only provocative, it’s sinful,” said Al Garza, executive director of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corp. “What they’re really saying is, ‘Look, even though the United States has laws, we’re going to help you break the laws to realize your dream.’ By funding the refuge, the Vatican is “undertaking policies that had the effect of facilitating illegal immigration into this country,” said Jack Martin, director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform. “There is definitely a particular interest on the part of the Catholic Church that derives from the fact that the majority of illegal immigration into the country is from Catholic countries,” Martin said. “It helps fill the pews, it helps fill the coffers, it helps fill the recruits to the priesthood

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2002785/posts