By Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Newsweek
Tomorrow Pope Benedict XVI and President Barack Obama meet for the first time, an affair much anticipated and in some circles frowned upon by American Catholics in the wake of Obama’s controversial Notre Dame commencement speech in May. Conservatives in the church denounced Obama’s appearance as a nod by the premier Catholic university to a conciliatory politics that heralds the start of a slippery moral slope.
In truth, though, Obama’s pragmatic approach to divisive policy (his notion that we should acknowledge the good faith underlying opposing viewpoints) and his social-justice agenda reflect the views of American Catholic laity much more closely than those vocal bishops and pro-life activists. When Obama meets the pope tomorrow, they’ll politely disagree about reproductive freedoms and homosexuality, but Catholics back home won’t care, because they know Obama’s on their side. In fact, Obama’s agenda is closer to their views than even the pope’s.
It’s fitting that Obama’s visit comes just days after the publication of “Charity in Truth,” a Vatican encyclical that declares unions, regulation of capitalism’s excesses, and environmentalism to be ethical imperatives. The document gives moral credence to Obama’s message and to progressive politics writ large.
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Isn't it ironic that Michelle was allowed to meet with the Pope but not allowed to go to the Mid-East with Obama where if he bowed any lower he would have farted in the guys face behind him. The reason is that he is a muslim and he could not bring his wife with him. Obama is a evil man beyond description and must go one way or the other before we have nothing left of this great country. We once had a great generation that went to fight in WWII to all of Europe and wherever they were needed. Now we sit on our asses and let this country be taken away from us. Our men died to give Freedom to other countries but not our own?? Shame on us, wake up because time is definitely running out, we need Gods help in these perilous times.
Judging by the photo the pope wanted to emulate Christ – being caught on photo between 2 theives.