This photo released by the Vatican's press office shows Pope Benedict XVI greeting President Barack Obama prior their meeting at the Vatican Friday July 10. (AFP/VPO-HO) There's not much to be discussed between the leader of the free world and the head of the guilt ridden that would accomplish anything, if you ask me, but there's always protocol and photo-ops. They have to play the game or millions would complain...they have to strike a pose to keep photographers employed...
U.S. President Obama and Pope Benedict XVI met Friday after the G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy, and they reportedly talked about abortion, embryonic stem cell research, Middle East peace efforts, helping the poor, and world financial markets.
The election of the 47-year-old African-American Democrat wasn't good news to the Vatican after eight years of common ground on abortion and stem cells with former President George W. Bush. Obama ended Bush's restrictions on government funding for embryonic stem cell research and for family planning groups that perform or facilitate abortions overseas when he took office in January.
For those who don't know, the Vatican is against abortion (even though millions of Catholics get abortions every year...) and embryonic stem cell research (even though whoever chooses to end a pregnancy is going to whether stem cell research exists or not...), and favors Middle East peace and ending the Iraq war.
During the meeting, the 82-year-old leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics reportedly expressed the church's opposition to abortion and embryonic stem cell research. Well...duh. The Vatican's stand on these issues is based on religious beliefs and, as a result, not one that is negotiable. End of story.
The 30-minute visit (what controversial topics can be "discussed" in 30 minutes?) was described by both sides as "positive." Well...duh again.
As it's customary, the leaders exchanged gifts after the meeting. The Pope gave Obama a copy of a Vatican document on bioethics that stresses the church's opposition to using embryos for stem cell research, cloning and in-vitro fertilization.
"Yes, this is what we had talked about," Obama said, telling the Pope he would read it on the flight to his next stop, Ghana...or use it as toilet paper there should he find himself moved by a force of nature in a hut without TP.
The pope's secretary, Rev. Georg Ganswein, told reporters the document would "help the president better understand the position of the Catholic church." But here's the thing: Obama et al understand the church's position; they just don't agree with it. If the Catholics are not to be persuaded to accept abortion and stem cell research, what makes them think they can persuade those in favor to switch sides?
Pope Benedict also gave Obama a mosaic depicting St. Peter's Square with one of its fountains in the foreground, and Obama gave Benedict a stole that had covered the remains of S.t John Neuman, a 19th-century missionary who was the first American bishop to be canonised.
After the meeting, Benedict reportedly said that Obama pledged to seek to reduce abortions. And how exactly does Obama plan to do that? Cutting access to abortion services is out of the question as far as pro-choicers (mostly liberal Democrats) are concerned, so other than boosting safe-sex campaign efforts, how else could he shrink the number of abortions in the U.S.?
Ironically, even though he's a protestant, polls show Obama received a majority of Catholic votes. But when he was invited to receive an honorary degree at Notre Dame, the leading Catholic university in the U.S., in the Spring, dozens of bishops blasted the university, and the local bishop declined to attend the ceremony.
About Middle East peace efforts, Benedict appears to agree with Obama's two-state solution and has issued the Vatican's strongest call yet for a Palestinian state. But unless those directly involved agree...
I often wonder why the concept of "you can't please everyone" is so difficult for us human to understand when there's no escaping it. It's simply impossible--regardless of what, who, where, when, why--to make decisions, speak and act in a way that will please every human being on Earth.
Religious groups, above all others, tend to operate on the premise that what they deem right is right, what they deem wrong is wrong. The way I see it, anyone or any group that takes that stand is just plain arrogant. But that's just me...
So what is there for Obama and the Pope to discuss? What is there to negotiate?
Sources: AP, CNN, AFP
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