Posted on 07/10/2009 4:24:34 PM PDT by presidio9
Pope Benedict XVI gave President Barack Obama a Vatican document on bioethics, he was trying to be clear with him about church teaching and open a path to further dialogue, the Vatican spokesman said.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the spokesman, told reporters after the meeting between the pope and the president that, in giving Obama the document July 10, "the intention was not to be divisive or political, but for clarity and objectivity; to say that, for us, this is extremely important."
Pope Benedict gave Obama the document "Dignitas Personae" ("The Dignity of a Person"), which was published in December by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
In discussing issues such as abortion, artificial fertilization and stem-cell research, the document started with two fundamental church teachings: that the human being is to be respected and treated as a person from the moment of conception and that responsible human procreation occurs in an act of love between a man and a woman in marriage.
"There was no intention to be polemical," Father Lombardi said. "I do not agree with the idea that the pope was trying to point out their differences."
"It is important to talk about these things and to find a path to dialogue," he said.
The spokesman said Pope Benedict told him after the meeting that he felt Obama listened carefully, and the pope said that "the president explicitly expressed his commitment to reducing the number of abortions" and demonstrated his attentiveness to the church's concerns on a variety of moral issues.
In a briefing aboard Air Force One for reporters accompanying Obama to Accra, Ghana, Denis McDonough, deputy national security adviser for strategic communications, said the president and the pope had an extensive conversation about bioethics and abortion.
McDonough said the president emphasized his interest in finding common ground on reducing abortion and that Obama said he was looking forward to reading "Dignitas Personae."
Father Lombardi said the Vatican is very well aware of and supports the U.S. bishops in their efforts to try to convince the Obama administration to respect human life.
But, he said, the Vatican did not consult with the bishops in preparing for the visit, which the pope had been looking forward to for months.
"The election of Obama had an impact of global importance" and his policies have been known and followed "by everyone, including the pope and the (Vatican) secretary of state," Father Lombardi said.
"I think here we are talking about a level of attention and knowledge that I would say is very broad," he said.
>This openly accepting of Obama into the Vatican causes confusion in the already confused flock of the Church.
The best way to have dealt with him would have been to close the door in his face.
This is spot on. What was it, 53% of the Catholic vote went to 0bama. You could almost say that the Catholic vote DELIVERED 0bama.
I always keep a lookout for bumper stickers on cars at church and never saw an 0bama sticker. Lots of McCain/Palin stickers but then again I am in the midwest.
But after the election I couldn’t help but to look at others with suspicion.
I agree though, the Pope should have cited 0bama’s record on abortion and called him out on it.
I read a long time ago that infidels should be lied to as much as possible to achieve the goal of islam, the take-over of the world. To lie is the very most gentle of their tactics. Beheading being on the other end of the scale.
They don’t ask if the infidel voted for Bush or not before they saw of the head of the infidel. The libtards don’t get that yet.
O sent M home so he would not offend his muslim brothers. He knew that most Sheeple would just think M wanted to shop some more in France on her way back to the USA. He ditched her PDQ and even grew facial hair (what little he could muster in a few hours) to appear more acceptable to his muslim audience.
I don't think it takes being Pope to know when life begins.
Why this dialogue on life issues? Render unto Ceasar that which belongs to Ceasar and unto God that...
But also remember that nothing belongs to Ceasar unless it is approved by God. Geez, why make things so complicated when they are not.
How does anyone of any religion lie to the Pope?
I wish the Pope good luck, the current squatter soiling the Whitehouse has not spoken one word of truth since entering office.
Nope. Brain waves have been measured in the womb at 28 weeks. Therefore even an unborn child knows at some point that he or she is alive, just like he or she knows discomfort. Last I heard, unborn children have an even lower paygrade than popes.
Nope. Brain waves have been measured in the womb at 28 weeks. Therefore even an unborn child knows at some point that he or she is alive, just like he or she knows discomfort. Last I heard, unborn children have an even lower paygrade than popes.
Perhaps you would be more comfortable with a pope that acted less like Jesus and only hung out with the virtuous?
LLS
I don't know where you go the idea that anybody thought the Pope was Jesus. Most likely from some ingnorant person with a deep hatred of Catholicism I suppose. The Pope takes his direction from Jesus (no, not literally professor), as all honest Christians do. He just happens to be a lot better at it that you or I. That's how he got to be Pope. A lot better than you, I guess, because he still knows the difference between Satan and a sinner. Jesus Christ reached out to the men who played dice at His feet. He led by example, and he would have called Barak Obama a friend.
LLS
Do yourself a favor: If you can't think of anything interesting or relevant to say, just keep your mouth shut. Your mama should have told you that a long time ago. My post contained nothing that any sane person might find profound or controversal. You wanted to insult me, but you couldn't think of a single intelligent rebuttal, so you posted the lamest cop-out I have ever seen in my ten years on FR. Every bit of what I posted to you was fair and honest. I took pains to keep it that way. Your response to it was uncalled for, making the desperation obvious. You should have gone with your first inclination to not respond at. But since we're past that point, and you've already called me insane and stupid I think you owe me an example from my post that justifies your sudden uncristian reaction. Whatever hateful denomination it is that you belong to, I'm sure glad I missed it.
All kidding aside, this thread really attracted some charmers, didn't it?
Who claimed otherwise?
Anyone?
It is because of jerks like this, and the moderators who enable them, that I run in to Catholic Conservatives now and then who say things like “Free Republic? Isn’t that place filled with Neo-Nazis who hate the Church?” OK, maybe that’s an exageration, but this place HAS had a reputation among Catholics who blog.
I confess that I am mystified at the numbers of posters of other faiths who feel compelled to visit threads that involve Catholicism and then behave as many of them do.
Perhaps they are drawn to the Church somehow, in ways that cannot be easily explained. I don't know.
I do know that we are fortunate to have some truly dedicated and seemingly almost tireless defenders of the faith whom I respect greatly. I count you among them.
Thanks, friend.
LLS
You were the one that compared the Pope to Jesus... see what I mean about your cognitive skills.
LLS
Presidio9 did. You can bank on one thing... I will NEVER grace another one of these threads. I am not anti Catholic in any way... my own brother and his family are Catholic and I attend Church with them at times and enjoy it very much... I am ALWAYS welcomed... but not here... many of these threads contain major anti Christian actions and words.
LLS
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