L'Osservatore Romano recently published an article which was astonishingly favourable to President Obama. The other day, the Editor, Gian Maria Vian gave an interview to Paolo Rodari of Palazzo Apostolico, justifying the article. Catholic News Agency has a report in English. Vian astonishingly says that Obama "is not a pro-abortion president."Concerning the commencement address, he says:
“His speech at Notre Dame has been respectful toward every position. He tried to engage the debate stepping out from every ideological position and outside every ‘confrontational mentality.’ To this extent his speech is to be appreciated.”Vian plays down the opposition of "a few bishops", simple faithful and pro-lifers, presenting them as though they were one of two sides in a debate which is observed impartialy by L'Osservatore Romano.
Here are links to further comment:
Fr Z: Rodari interviews Vian on what he is up to with L’Osservatore Romano
LifeSite News: Vatican Attempting to Build Diplomatic Bridges with Obama Coverage in L'Osservatore Romano: Rome HLI Leader
Fr Z suggests that the reason for the approach of L'Osservatore and its positive approach to seeking "common ground" is pressure from the Secretariat of State in view of the forthcoming visit of Obama to Rome in July.
The LifeSite News report quotes Mgr Barreiro who urges a realistic approach:
"Someone has to ask the question of whether we [as pro-life persons] can speak of a 'common ground' with those who believe that killing a baby in the womb is a right of women? That no authority, no human authority, can force a woman to respect the life of a child? From a logical perspective I cannot see how we can speak of a common ground."He accepts the importance of dialogue in order to slow the advance of Obama's anti-life policies but points out that our ability to negotiate depends on the commitment of Catholics who are ready to defend life.
The L'Osservatore article makes the mistake often made by ecclesiastics in recent times of thinking that a good way of negotiating with politicians is to cosy up to them and play down our distinctive position in the hope that they will be nice to us and make concessions. It doesn't work.
12 comments:
What is Obama going to Rome for? Like Blair, is he about to lecture the Holy Father on getting 'up to speed' with the big wide world?
As for L'Osservatore is it a case of heads buried in the sand so they don't know what's going on, taking up a PC position to appease everybody, perhaps a language barrier problem, the editor has had a relapse and is not thinking straight!
Boy, that Obama is about as open to an 'understanding position to open up dialogue with those having opposing views', as the abortionist is ready to hang up his tool bag when the monthly pay cheque is waved in front of his nose! As they say, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck ......
(my answer to that is ...'it needs another hour in the oven....').
How much 'word fudging' can Obama come up with???? His policies are killing babies in the womb - 'nuff said!
I really want to smack that stupid Vian woman six ways til Sunday. I can almost forgive stupid college kids who don't know any better, but it's depressing the Vatican hires simpletons like this woman. I expect opposition from the lamestreme press in America, they have been leftist proabort whores for years. Ditto the Eurotrash...but this is too much. Does anyone over there give a damn?
Stop trying to "appease" and triangulate and LEAD. If I could reach 6 or 7 thousand miles I'd kick this woman right up the backside.
The doublethink of Obama in his speech was clear for all to see: to reduce unwated pregnacies and abortions is to make abortion more widely available.
What the...?
Here's nore: killing babies is 'compassionate'.
Time for a new editor!
L'Osservatore needs as new editor as much as the Pope needs a new spokesman
While I have been shocked at Professor Vian’s ‘pleasure’ with Obama’s speech and his ignorance of the situation in the US, I’m also struck by the fact that what we in the US view as very serious is frequently not seen the same way in Europe. It used to gall me when Europeans feted and celebrated Bill Clinton while we in the US gritted our teeth at how he debased the office of the Presidency. What we saw as scandalous for one in high office, hardly raised an eyebrow in many European circles. “Beh! Sono peccati di pantaloni. Che vuoi…?”Just as Clinton could ‘charm’ his way through prickly situations, so too with Obama. His seeming ‘fairness’ and engaging rhetoric belie the man’s actions. While giving the appearance of being concerned and open, he forges ahead with his own agenda. That agenda is driven by the people who put him where he is and to whom he is indebted – people like Planned Parenthood, NARAL, ACORN and the Democrat Party of Death machine.
Unfortunately, many Catholics also “drank the Obama Kool-Aid” and failed to see the contradiction in their support of him , which he was happy to exploit with his Notre Dame appearance and in which Fr. Jenkins - wittingly or unwittingly - colluded.
Appearances can be deceptive and perception isn’t always reality. Cardinal George, after his meeting with Obama, stated that he had to continually remind the President: “No, we don’t agree on this!” But that is his modus operandi – talk his way out of things, gloss over the tough issues and try to please everyone.
He obviously succeeded with Professor Vian...
A bit like giving Archbishop Nichols the benefit of the doubt!
The OR isn't the only paper making bad choices about who it publishes, Father...
http://ruthgledhillmonitor.blogspot.com/
The editor (of L'Osservatore Romano) is either woefully ignorant or suffering from moral retardation. Either way, it is not good for a publication associated with the Vicar of Christ.
Gem - Vian is a man.
You might like to check out Parsing the Vatican Newspaper
It doesn't always speak for the pope.
By George Weigel
http://www.eppc.org/publications/pubID.3831/pub_detail.asp
The "Marie" threw me. Then I remember that European men sometimes have "Marie" as a middle name.
Okay, so, I'd like to kick this guy right up the backside. TWICE. HARD.
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