Posted on 07/11/2009 7:55:58 PM PDT by TaxachusettsMan
One word jumped out at me from the official communique issued by the Holy See after the meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and President Barack Obama: The exchange of views was described as cordial.
My colleague John Allen strikes a similar note in his post here when, after an excellent analysis of the differences between the Vatican’s approach to Obama and that of some of his more vocal Catholic critics stateside, he poses the issue thusly: “Perhaps the truly interesting question now is whether that spirit of generosity will make its way across the Atlantic, and help shape the domestic debate in America too.”
I think the thing that most galled many of us Catholics who support Obama was precisely the lack of “generosity” evidenced in so many of the statements about him in the run-up to his appearance at Notre Dame.
This lack of generosity was perhaps especially obvious and troublesome to me because I worship occasionally at a mostly black parish here in Washington, St. Augustine’s. The pain these loyal Catholics felt at the barrage of criticism, some of it incendiary, was palpable. To them, understandably, it was just another instance of beating up on the black guy. Going forward, I wish Obama’s critics would be mindful of how black Catholics view their harsher attacks.
Lord knows, everyone has a right to criticize the President. I have done so when I disagree with him. Indeed, argument and disagreement is the very rockbed of our democracy. But, venom is another matter. So is disrespect.
The Holy Father clearly had no qualms about stating with his quintessential clarity the Church’s teachings on life issues but he did so with respect and he did so by actually showing up to meet the President.
Is that too much to ask of the President’s domestic critics?
We are planning to be every bit as respectful to President Obama as all of you and your liberal friends were to President Bush!
How's that work for ya?
Ya think the Pope really believed Barry when he told him he wanted to stop abortions? Smoking pope??
No.
***We are planning to be every bit as respectful to President Obama as all of you and your liberal friends were to President Bush!***
Let’s see. We had the Marxist empty suit (notice that David Axelrod was there making sure that the TOTUS was speaking correctly) instructing BXVI on things like morality and such.
I’m sure that BXVI will quickly come out with a new encyclical that supports whatever the heck the Democratic backroom is coming up with now. We know that Obama making the speeches, but he is not trustworthy (or good) enough, so that when any new direction is made, Axelrod or Emmanuel is on the Sunday news shows. That way, however it swings, TOTUS is ready with the script.
I have to give David Gregory grudging semi approval. He ain’t nuthin’ to his predecessor, but he’s attempting to be real and honest and not a Democratic shill like he was as correspondent. If he keeps this up, he just may turn Republican after a few decades...
Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:
Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of interest.
Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment
Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”
I am praying to understand the Holy Father’s ....ahem.....subtle, nuanced approach to the likes of Pelosi and Zero.
You mean, like when 0bama covered the cross at Georgetown? So respectful that no Catholic dare speak the Truth of Jesus Christ?
They will be just as respectful as Obama and his supporters like David Letterman
**The Holy Father clearly had no qualms about stating with his quintessential clarity the Church’s teachings on life issues but he did so with respect and he did so by actually showing up to meet the President.**
In other words, Pope Benedict gave Obortion Obama a spanking!
Come on! It’s easy. Obama and Pelosi came out of their meetings with the Pope saying everything was dandy.
Then the truth started to come out. I, personally, think it’s hilarious!
Winters really has the holier-than-thou thing going on. It strikes me that these high, shrill notes are only hit when a European-American presumes to play the race card on behalf of African-Americans. Some men obsessively take racial compensation to its maximum level of selfishness by rebuking others to assuage their own guilt. Getting to combine this with religious piety must be a rush.
“Obama and Pelosi came out of their meetings with the Pope saying everything was dandy.”
#####
And to a significantly large portion of American Catholics, that is the lingering impression.
Sad to say.
Not only NO, but HELL NO!!
This is the same reason that you do not meet with Chavez, Achmadinajad, or Qaddafi., it lends them legitimacy and it limits your moral authority.
The Pope could say anything to Obama in a meeting, but the pictures tell people that the Pope finds him and his policies acceptable.
I think the thing that most galled many of us Catholics in name only who support Obama...
Fixed it. Everyone needs an editor.
Well the liberals were not so nice to GWB when he was President, why do they expect the conservatives to be so nice to PBO.
?.
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.