Obama has first telephone conversation with the Pope

Times Online ^ | December 13, 2008 | Richard Owen

[NYer]

It has emerged that US President-elect Barack Obama held his first telephone conversation with Pope Benedict XVI yesterday, the day a senior Vatican official made clear the Holy See would oppose any changes by Mr Obama in US policy on embryonic stem cell research.

The Vatican said the conversation on Tuesday formed part of the "normal exchanges" between a new American President and other world leaders. Father Federico Lombardi, the Pope's spokesman, said neither the Pope nor Mr Obama had made any reference to the stem cell issue during the call, in which Mr Obama had responded to the Pope's message congratulating him on his election win.

At a press conference on Tuesday the Vatican on infant mortality, Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan of Mexico, the Pope's "health minister", strongly reiterated the Vatican's opposition to using embryos for research purposes when asked about signs that Mr Obama might reverse or relax the Bush administration's executive order banning the use of embryos and limiting federal spending for stem cell research. He said embryonic stem cell research "served no purpose".

Monsignor W. Francis Malooly, the Catholic bishop of Wilmington in Delaware, said he would not ban Joe Biden, the Vice President elect and a Roman Catholic, from taking Communion because of his stand on issues such as stem cell research and abortion. Mr Biden, a Senator from Delaware, lives in the Wilmington diocese.

The bishop was quoted as saying that "the Eucharist must not be politicised". He added that the job of a Catholic prelate was not to "alienate people" but rather to "change their hearts and minds". A number of Catholics in the senior ranks of the US Democratic Party take a liberal pro-choice stand on abortion, including Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, and John Kerry,

[Jaded]

Pope condones? How do you know? There seem to be a great many non-Catholic Christians who are OK with abortion and stem cell research and still participate in their weekly services.

[trisham]

My apologies for my previous post. May God bless you.

[Iscool]

Pope condones? How do you know?

Because he doesn't speak out against it other than in general terms...AND, I don't believe there has ever been a specific repremand directed at any bishop in particular...

There seem to be a great many non-Catholic Christians who are OK with abortion and stem cell research and still participate in their weekly services.

I haven't disputed that, but then again, I don't look at those folks as my spiritual leaders...

[Campion]

I mean this bishop alone sets the example for many thousands, correct?

Wrong.

"The streets of hell are paved with the skulls of bishops" -- St. Athanasius

[mick]

Friend, Catholics bow down to no man. Only the Lord, Our God do we worship. The Pope, the Vicor of Christ on earth, is not worshiped but obeyed in matters of Faith and Morals. It is what makes us Catholics. And our Faith also teaches us that we can never say for certain what is in another man’s heart.The status of his soul is between him and the ALmighty.

And we also believe that the One Holy Catholic Church was instituted by Jesus Christ and that Satan shall not pervail against it.

But this divine institution is peopled my men.....men who are fallen and all to human in their short comings....sinners all.

And I can tell you that Catholics like me are very troubled by the wishy washy response of our Bishops on this issue. Which is why we pray for our Bishops to see the light. And even pray for our wayward brothers on the left to end the killing of the innocents.

[mick]

that would be “Vicar” and not vicor

[Alex Murphy]

It has emerged that US President-elect Barack Obama held his first telephone conversation with Pope Benedict XVI yesterday

Ping to read later. I can guess who initiated the call.

[Camaroguy84]

I don’t understand how the Catholic Church will ostrasize a woman for HAVING a kid out of wedlock, but yet not give so much as a negative peep against pro-abortion big time politicians?

Is the church THAT worried they won’t get their $20 from Biden and Pelosi?

This is one of the reasons why I stopped going to a Catholic service and go to a non-denominational service.

[murphE]

I don’t understand how the Catholic Church will ostrasize a woman for HAVING a kid out of wedlock,

Say what?

but yet not give so much as a negative peep against pro-abortion big time politicians? Is the church THAT worried they won’t get their $20 from Biden and Pelosi?

It's not the Church that is doing this. It is churchmen. And quite frankly I believe that these churchmen, bishops etc. (many, many many) have lost their faith or never had it, and yes these churchmen do seem to value the money, esteem, and dinner invitations from prominent elected officials more than they love God.

[Jaded]

That happens across all denominations. It’s always wrong.

[k omalley]

Wasn't it Archbishop Wuerl who said a couple of years ago that he was using the “pastoral” approach on Catholic pro-abort politicians instead of excommunication? We see how well that worked. Next thing we know she is on national television causing scandal and confusion by telling millions what the Church “really” believes about abortion.

[sitetest]

LOL.

[Salvation]

Pray for LIFE!

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[k omalley]

Oops. “She” meaning Nancy Pelosi.