Posted on 11/12/2008 2:11:08 PM PST by NYer
The Vatican has fired a warning shot over the bows of Barack Obama in response to the President-elect's intention to lift the US ban on embryonic stem cell research.
Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan of Mexico, who acts as the Vatican health minister, said that stem cells taken from human embryos and involving the destruction of the embryos "serve no purpose".
Asked whether the Vatican was concerned about reports that Mr Obama might reverse the Bush Administration's ban, the cardinal said that embryonic stem cell research had not resulted in any significant health cure so far and was "good for nothing".
Research on adult stem cells and umbliical cords had been shown to have "positive value", by contrast, although even that was not "a panacea for everything."He said the Vatican would seek clarification of the new administration's position on stem cells, and he himself was not "fully aware" what it was.
Aides to Mr Obama indicated this week that he will reverse Mr Bush's stand on stem cell research. The US Senate voted in July to remove restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, but the President vetoed the legislation the following day.
Mr Obama has supported stem cell research to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's. His views are supported by Joe Biden, the Vice-President-elect, who is a Roman Catholic.
John Podesta, who is handling the President-elect's preparations to take over in the White House on January 20, said Mr Obama wanted "all the Bush executive orders reviewed".
He added: "I think across the board, on stem cell research, on a number of areas, you see the Bush administration even today moving aggressively to do things that I think are probably not in the interest of the country."
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
“Humanae Vitae”
Even knowing the meaning, it sounds like something on a shampoo bottle.
Can’t figure out why these things can’t be translated into English. There is nothing spiritual or godly about speaking about these things in English and then throwing in Latin words. It’s like using trade terms to make the common man think the user is extra smart or more spiritual.
No, you probably haven’t heard a consistent pro-life message from your parish priests and your local bishop because, unfortunately, many of the bishops and priests in this country avoid talking about issues like abortion, contraception, and divorce because they don’t want to upset anyone. Some of them don’t want to say anything about abortion at election time because they claim (falsely) that they might lose their tax-exempt status by doing so. However, the universal Church, the Vatican, has consistently and very publicly condemned these things. Moreover, throughout history, there have been bishops and priests who have failed to uphold the Church’s teachings, who have passively stood by during scandals and heresies. The Church is a hierarchy, not a dictatorship or a totalitarian state. The pope does not have absolute control over the bishops and clergy. They must choose to obey him and if they don’t, oftentimes they can get away with it.
Here it is in “English” for you:
May you have clean hair.
Catholics use the Latin titles of papal documents because they are originally published in Latin. Latin is still the official language of the Church. Moreover, people are more familiar with the Latin titles of these documents than with their English titles. It is entirely proper to use the Latin, there is nothing “ungodly,” “unspiritual” or snobbish about it. Anyone who would complain about something like this must be ready to offense at the slightest thing.
No. The pope is first among equals. He appoints and can ask for resignations, but he really cannot control the bishops unless he's got a really strong personality. The major problems all were put into place by the Paul VI group and there is a whole conspiracy theory on that that may well be true.
Without the backing of the Vatican, no American cardinal would dare take on the Kennedys for their pro-choice policies.
The Kennedys aren't the only family, but there's more to it than simple politics. Wealthy people spend a lot of time and money ingratiating themselves with the hierarchy. The other thing to remember is that the wealthy are a big source of funding for big projects like hospitals and new gyms. You don't want to tick them off too badly. Not saying this is right, but the way it is. This is how a lot of cathedrals were built including St. Peter's. Little known fact, but modern fundraising is a Catholic invention.
Once the laity saw that famous Catholic politicos like Ted K. were not held to account for their apostacy, it told every other Catholic dem that they could be pro-choice and get away with it.
This one I won't argue with, but it doesn't stop there. This is the most visible and objectionable, but there's any number of other sinful and apostate things going on that are ignored.
One thing about being Catholic you have to remember: we trust God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit to keep the barque aright. The church in the flesh has different faces all the time and every generation has had some of the same problems - rich apostates trying to buy their way to Heaven among them. At heart, Catholicism is very individual and you really have to concentrate more on yourself and pray for those who put themselves outside of God. It's been that way since the Last Supper when Judas left early.
“It is entirely proper to use the Latin, there is nothing “ungodly,” “unspiritual” or snobbish about it.”
Oh, help yourself. It’s y’alls outfit.
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