Posted on 11/24/2013 2:21:20 PM PST by marshmallow
The United States is scaling back its diplomatic mission at the Vatican—making plans to close its Vatican Embassy headquarters, and instead conduct its operations in a smaller building within the walls of the U.S. Embassy to Italy.
The Obama Administration cites “security concerns” following the attack in Benghazi, and claims that they can better protect embassy staff in a consolidated compound. According to government authorities, once construction is completed in 2015, the Vatican Embassy will have a separate entrance and it will be apparent that it is a completely separate operation.
But many Catholics—among them five former U.S. Ambassadors to the Holy See—strongly disagree, calling the plan a “massive downgrade” in U.S./Vatican relations.
Former U.S. Ambassador James Nicholson, who served as Secretary of Veterans Affairs under George W. Bush and as chairman of the Republican National Committee, said, “It’s turning this embassy into a stepchild of the embassy to Italy.” Speaking to National Catholic Reporter’s John Allen, Ambassador Nicholson said:
“The Holy See is a pivot point for international affairs and a major listening post for the United States, and to shoehorn [the U.S. delegation] into an office annex inside another embassy is an insult to American Catholics and to the Vatican.”
(Excerpt) Read more at patheos.com ...
The Vatican is a city/state. It has embassies.
True, but they’re not likely to attack the US embassy with their modern gear, either. The Vatican just simply isn’t a dangerous place on the level with Benghazi.
The Christian European West barely escaped destruction at the hands of the Moslems. At one point they were stopped near Tours and at another point, later on in time, outside the gates of Vienna. The Church throughout northern Africa was practically destroyed by Moslem power, and at the present hour, the Moslems are beginning to rise again.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Mary and the Moslems, Chapter 17 of The World’s First Love, 1953
Used to open CH 1 of Babylon’s Covert War - Amazon Book Store
Right on.
Muslims, especially jihadists hate Catholics.
OK. Let’s review.
Zero and 0bamunists have left the Israelis swinging in the wind; even to the point of aiding and abetting an avowed enemy of Israel (Iran).
Zero and 0bamunists have trampled on the Christian faith in venues as far flung as Iraq and Afghanistan, and as close as Main Street, USA.
So...why would we expect otherwise for the Catholics?
Simple fact is that Zero still finds the muslim call to prayer to be the most beautiful sound on earth.
‘Nuff said.
Wise post, thank you.
I was always under the impression the importance of the Vatican in international affairs is because it has clergy/laity in practically every country in the world, hostile or not, and information does flow to the Vatican, hence, intelligence. I would think after the fall of Eastern Europe from communist control, partly credited to the influence of John Paul II, would’ve made the argument for a continued embassy placement their crucial for the survival of Judeo-Christian Western Civilization...unless you don’t want that to survive, eh Barack?
Yeah ... you know those crazy Catholics ... Always rioting and stuff during Lent and Advent.
Went to my local gun shop yesterday ... the Knights of Columbus had a guy out front selling raffle tickets. At stake: a Remington in .270, a Ruger 10-22 and something else.
You're darn right I bought a few tickets.
Yes—but does he have to be the POTUS?
Went to my local gun shop yesterday ... the Knights of Columbus had a guy out front selling raffle tickets. At stake: a Remington in .270, a Ruger 10-22 and something else.
You're darn right I bought a few tickets.
America will officially put it’s show of reverence to the catholic church on hold for now. Not a big shock, considering what is now acting as our president. This and other details (Winston Churchill’s Bust)can be promptly reversed after the O hits the door. My faith is not at all affected.
Bingo!
The Vatican is known to have both major stockpiles of Holy Water and a huge capacity for its production. Protecting the U.S. government and personnel from its effects is a major concern for this administration.
Actually, the Vatican is not sovereign by its own proclamation: in 756 Pepin the Short, who was sovereign over (among other things) the portion of the Italian peninsula that included Rome granted Pope Stephen I sovereignty over Rome and its environs, a grant that was confirmed by Pepin’s son Charlegmagne in 774. The size of the Papal States have ebbed and flowed since then, but the sovereignty is by grant, not by self-proclamation. Very few states have such ancient roots.
Not every Catholic, or even every cleric, is a citizen of the Vatican—very few are. Conversely, if one were born in the Vatican, one could (at least potentially—I’m not sure what the rules are on citizenship) be a Vatican citizen without being a Catholic.
Ping
CC
“to shoehorn [the U.S. delegation] into an office annex inside another embassy is an insult to American Catholics and to the Vatican.
Perhaps that’s the objective.”
Bingo. Barack Insane Obama hates the church. For those who think “no big deal” it’s important to remember how much the Vatican was used by RR to free eastern Europe from the yoke of communism. This same channel could be used to help Christian churches under attack by radical Islam world wide, but Obama doesn’t want to be bothered, because he thinks “the Muslim call to prayer is the prettiest sound in the world.” Here is an excellent article from time re: Vatican/Reagan/Solidarity movement and the instrumental part it played in bringing down the Soviet Union. http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,159069,00.html
The Vatican is quite a unique city-state. Let’s not forget it’s been around for 2000 years and packs more diplomatic punch than its 109 acres would indicate. May I remind you of the instrumental role it played in helping RR bring about the fall of the Soviet union, by Reagan’s use of Vatican intelligence to funnel money to Solidarity to the right places and people. http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,159069,00.html
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.