The Vatican’s official newspaper called President Obama’s commencement speech at the University of Notre Dame on Sunday (May 17) part of his “search for common ground” with opponents of legalized abortion.
“The search for common ground: this seems to be the path chosen by the president of the United States, Barack Obama, to face the delicate question of abortion,” said an unsigned article in the Monday (May 18) edition of L’Osservatore Romano.
The paper said that Obama’s Notre Dame speech “confirmed what he expressed at the press conference marking his first 100 days in the White House,” when he said that the Freedom of Choice Act, which would remove restrictions on abortion, was “not my highest legislative priority.”
Common ground for murder? Why is the Vatican punting on this issue? Where is the compromise of GOD’S WORD….thou shall not kill?
Intercessor
It was my understanding that the President is looking for common ground..not the Vatican.
It is good to see that at least someone in the Vatican (although this can’t be inferred to be an official position) is not thrown in to histrionics over an honorary degree.
Common ground = “you listen to my views, and be quiet when you disagree and we’ll get along fine on the issue.”
This is yet another embarrassment for the Holy See. There have been more than a few communication and PR fiascoes since +Benedict XVI was elected Pope. Someone really needs to be put in overall charge of communications over there and he/she needs to make whatever personnel changes are required to get everyone in the Vatican on the same page, which of course should be the Pope’s page.
Christ is risen!
John
You can be sure that Abp. Raymond Burke had nothing to do with this.
I don’t know that there is a huge difference in substance here. The rhetoric is surely more open to President Obama’s plans the the US Bishops have thus far been. In this, one suspects, the US Bishops may be closer to the actual views of the Curia. Nevertheless “wait and see” is a fair diplomatic position – let the US Bishops take the heat and wait to see what the President’s rhetoric amounts to. It is nevertheless slightly ironic to see some folks positively quoting L’Osservatore Romano. If one were to be fair one might quote the highly critical article about the stem cell research in the same issue.