OSV | Pope Benedict XVI | Papal Visit 2008

Of Sicily, Cefalu and sunscreen
Head over to Amy Welborn's blog, Via Media, for some wonderful posts about her travels through Sicily this summer. Be sure to catch the photos of the duomo in Cefalu and the prior post labeled "Why Sicily?" Yes, it's about a physical place -- the beautiful Italian countryside -- but it's about an emotional and spiritual place as well -- the landscape of a grief-stricken heart. Beautiful stuff. Go there now by clicking HERE.

Obama & Catholic press: Question 8
How do you plan to restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations?

Obama repeated his stance that Israeli settlements must stop, and acknowledged that Prime Minister Netanyahu is "under his own set of political restraints."

But he also said the Palestinians have an obligation to "clamp down" on violence.

He said the surrounding Arab states also had a role, by recognizing Israel's legitimacy and its right to security.

"And this is a topic that I'm looking forward to speaking with the Holy Father about, because I think that our position is going to overlap greatly with the position of the government of the Holy See. And I think we can be effective partners in trying to move the parties in a closer direction," he said.

Obama & Catholic press: Question 7
Jacqueline Salmon, Washington Post: Have you chosen a home church?

Obama said no. And he and his wife were considering rotating through a number of different churches in Washington, even though they missed being part of a community.

Obama & Catholic press: Question 6
What do you make of the fact that you are a lightning rod of controversy among U.S. Catholics?

Obama: "There's no doubt that I think responses to my administration mirror tensions within the Church as a whole."

He again cited Cardinal Bernadin as both strongly pro-life but also concerned about poverty, how children were treated, the death penalty and foreign policy.

"And that part of the Catholic tradition is something that continues to inspire me. And I think that there have been times over the last decade or two where that more holistic tradition feels like it's gotten buried under the abortion debate.

"Now, as a non-Catholic, it's not up to me to try to resolve those tensions. As I said, all I can do is to affirm how that other tradition has made me, a non-Catholic, I think reflect on how I can be a better person and has had a powerful influence on my life. And that tells me that it might be a powerful way to move a broader set of values forward in American life generally."

Obama & Catholic press: Question 5
Legion of Christ Father Owen J. Kearns, publisher, National Catholic Register: You have spoken against hostility towards religion. But what about the anti-Catholic remarks of some of your advisors [i.e., faith-based advisory council member Harry Knox calling the pope a "discredited leader" and the Knights of Columbus a "discredited army of oppression"].

Obama said this was the first time he was hearing about Knox's comments, "so it's not a defense of incendiary language. You will recall that my first question I strongly defended the rights of American bishops to engage in some fairly incendiary language when it came to me, right? " [Laughter.]

Father Kearns: "Fair enough."

Obama said he could answer only for those on his payroll, which Knox is not. The president said he wanted to bring together in roundtables disparate groups that "historically have been in conflict," but there was a risk because of the issues generate "great passion."

"For the gay and lesbian community in this country, I think it's clear that they feel victimized in fairly powerful ways and they're often hurt by not just certain teachings of the Catholic Church, but the Christian faith generally. And as a Christian, I'm constantly wrestling with my faith and my solicitude and regard and concern for gays and lesbians," he said.

While he said he opposed "knee-jerk" reactions to religion as intolerant, "I think that those of us who are people of faith also have to examine our own beliefs and wrestle with them and assure ourselves that we're not causing pain to others. And I think any of us, of whatever faith, would have to acknowledge that there have been times where religion has been used in the service of not such good stuff. And it's incumbent upon us to -- at least in my own view -- to engage in some deep reflection and entertain a willingness to question whether we are acting in a way that's consistent with not just church teachings but also what Jesus Christ our Lord called on us to do: Treat others as we would treat ourselves. Be our brother's keepers."

Obama & Catholic press: Question 4
Paul D Baumann, editor, Commonweal magazine: What do you expect to accomplish with the "common ground" group you've organized on the abortion issue?

Obama said the group was preparing a memo that would be delivered to him "soon" which would describe areas of common ground and areas of "irreconcilable differences."

The president said that he expected it to be fairly straightforward to achieve consensus on a strategy of helping young people not get pregnant in the first place, on the importance of adoption as an option, and caring for pregnant women so it is easier for them to support children.

But, he added: "I personally think that combining good sexual and -- or good sex and moral education needs to be combined with contraception in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies. I recognize that contradicts Catholic Church doctrine, so I would not expect someone who feels very strongly about this issue as a matter of religious faith to be able to agree with me on that, but that's my personal view. We may not be able to arrive at perfectly compatible language on that front."

Obama & Catholic press: Question 3
Patricia Zapor, reporter, Catholic News Service: What about the conscience clause for pro-life health care workers?

Obama said he has always been a believer in "robust" conscience clauses, but that he revoked the previous administration's "11th hour" change in provisions precisely because they were done at the last minute.

He said his administration had received "hundreds of thousands" of comments from people on his administration's review of the clauses.

"I can assure all of your readers that when this review is complete there will be a robust conscience clause in place. It may not meet the criteria of every possible critic of our approach, but it certainly will not be weaker than what existed before the changes were made."

Obama & Catholic press: Question 2
Father Drew J. Christiansen, editor-in-chief, America magazine: After your G8 meeting, what will you report to the pope on progress toward helping the world's poor?

In addition to trying to get other wealthy countries to match the U.S. commitment to food security around the world, Obama said, "I think what I'll also want to talk to the Holy Father about is the need to initiate some core reforms not just oversees, but here in this country, that assure basic security for individuals in this country not only poor, but also middle class, who are extremely vulnerable to bankruptcy if they get sick, to flat wages and incomes so that -- are making it more and more difficult for them to live lives of dignity and security. So everything from our health care reform agenda to our approach to education I think is geared towards providing greater opportunity.

"I continue to believe that capitalism is the most effective means of generating wealth, but I think one of the things -- areas where the Catholic Church has always been a powerful moral compass is on questions of distribution and how do we make sure that opportunities are extended to everybody. And the invisible hand of the market does not always assure that everybody is able to have enough to eat and have a roof over their heads, send their kids to college. And we want to make sure that we continue to build a society that is not only wealthy in the aggregate, but is also just."

Obama & Catholic press: Question 1
Joseph A. Feuerherd, publisher, National Catholic Reporter: "Outside of your partisan political opponents -- the Republicans -- there's one group that has also been critical of you in perhaps harsh ways -- a number of American U.S. bishops -- U.S. bishops. Is there a point where if you keep getting hammered by the leaders of the American Catholic Church that you write them off as opposition and try to take another approach?"

Obama: "The American bishops have a profound influence in their communities, in the Church, and beyond. What I will say is that although there have been criticisms leveled at me from some of the bishops, there have been a number of bishops who have been extremely generous and supportive even if they don't agree with me on every issue. So in that sense the American bishops represent a cross-section of opinion just like other groups do."

Obama noted he had met with Chicago Cardinal Francis George, and said part of his motivation for wanting to forge a relationship with the bishops was his fond memories of late Chicago Cardinal Joseph Bernadin, who he cited as an example of a bishop who spoke out forcefully on social justice issues.

"I think there are going to continue to be areas where we have profound agreements and there are going to be some areas where we disagree. That's healthy," he concluded.

Obama's courting of Catholic press
Ahead of his July 10 visit with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome, President Barack Obama met this morning with seven reporters, editors and publishers of the Catholic press, and with a religion writer for the Washington Post.

The president made brief remarks, and then each participant was allowed one question. The encounter lasted 46 minutes, according to an internal White House transcript.

No, Our Sunday Visitor, the nation's most-circulated national Catholic weekly newspaper, was not invited (although our friends at the two other lower-circulation Catholic nationals were). I strenuously protested today to the White House Office for Media Affairs, and received an apology. Hopefully that will translate into future concrete proof of amendment.

American Papist, Thomas Peters, flatteringly suggests we weren't invited because the Obama team was afraid of tough questions. Thanks.

In his opening remarks, Obama said his upcoming meeting with the pope was a "great honor."

"Hopefully coming out of this meeting we will be able to continue to find areas where we can cooperate on everything from Middle East peace to dealing with worldwide poverty, climate change, immigration, a whole host of issues in which the pope has taken extraordinary leadership," he said.

Then he went around the Roosevelt Room table for a question each. Here they are in list form. I'll also post longer on each one, and identify the questioner when the transcript makes it clear; the hyperlink will be active once they're up (momentarily).

1) Some U.S. bishops have "hammered" you. Do you write them off?
2) After your G8 meeting, what will you report to the pope on progress toward helping the world's poor?
3) What about the conscience clause for pro-life health care workers?
4) What do you expect to accomplish with the "common ground" group you've organized on the abortion issue?
5) You have spoken against hostility towards religion. But what about the anti-Catholic remarks of some of your advisors?
6) What do you make of the fact that you are a lightning rod of controversy among U.S. Catholics?
7) Have you chosen a home church?
8) How do you plan to restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations?

Had you been in the room, what question would you have posed to President Obama?

Obama promises 'robust' conscience clause
In a meeting with eight religion writers at the White House today, President Obama said he favors strong federal protections for health care workers who object to performing some medical procedures on moral grounds, although he admitted that he would roll back President Bush's expansion of such protections.

According to the Washington Post, President Obama "said he is a 'believer in conscience clauses' and that a new policy would 'certainly not be weaker' than what existed before Bush expanded it late in his administration." For the full story, click HERE.

Conscience protections for health care workers have existed in the law for decades. The problem was they were not publicized (so workers didn't even know they had the right to refuse) and they were not enforced. At the end of his administration, President Bush issued regulations, through the Department of Health and Human Services, that required publicizing these rights, and enforcing the laws. So what President Obama is promising is a return to the days when workers did not know they had these rights and when no one was required to enforce them. Not sure how that's "robust."

In other news at the same meeting...CNS, which had a representative at the round table meeting, is reporting that the president said he "continues to be profoundly influenced by the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago, whom he came to know when he was a community organizer in a project partially funded by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development." For the full CNS story, click HERE.

In addition to CNS, other publications represented at the White House meeting were the National Catholic Register, National Catholic Reporter, America magazine, Catholic Digest, Commonweal magazine, Vatican Radio, and one secular reporter from The Washington Post also participated.

President Obama will have his first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI on July 10.

Who's your favorite priest from literature?

It might be tough to top the nameless "whiskey priest" from Graham Greene's great novel, "The Power and the Glory," for iconic priests from literature (an exercise to which we were inspired by the Year for Priests).

But go ahead and try. Who's your top pick?

Sisters react to Vatican investigations
News that the Vatican will conduct two investigations of women's religious communities in the United States is making secular headlines, including a front page story in today's New York Times that looks at what the move might mean for American nuns.

One sister featured in the story suggests that women religious should refuse to participate in the Apostolic Visitation and the doctrinal assessment of the Leadership Conference of Religious Women, fearing that the plan is to, among other things, require women religious in the United States to return to community life, "order their schedules around prayer" and work for Catholic organizations. It's somewhat sad that some sisters would feel such a request is so outrageous as to warrant a boycott. I kind of thought that's why women became religious sisters, to dedicate their lives to Christ by working for his Church, centering their lives on prayer, and living in community.

From the New York Times story:

“They think of us as an ecclesiastical work force,” said Sister Sandra M. Schneiders, professor emerita of New Testament and spirituality at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, in California. “Whereas we are religious, we’re living the life of total dedication to Christ, and out of that flows a profound concern for the good of all humanity. So our vision of our lives, and their vision of us as a work force, are just not on the same planet.”

Read the full story by clicking HERE.

Women religious have had such a profound impact on the life of the Church in the United States through the generations. Here's hoping the visitation is a source of renewal for them because the Church needs them -- their talents, their dedication, and their prayers.

Pope's first social encyclical due July 7
Pope Benedict XVI's long-awaited first social encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, or "Love in Truth," is expected on July 7.

"The pope said his letter would look at modern problems in the field of promoting development, and he asked for prayers for 'this latest contribution that the church offers humanity in its commitment for sustainable progress in full respect for human dignity and the real needs of all,'" CNS reported today.

The story by Carol Glatz concludes:

"Pope Benedict also said the publication of the document was delayed by the eruption of one of the worst global economic crises in decades. He said he wanted to update what he had drafted so the document would deal thoroughly with the current crisis and offer 'a more adequate response' to the world's financial woes."

For the full CNS story, click HERE.

The USCCB's blog post on the subject says that the English translation of the title will be "Charity in Truth," as opposed to "love." For that story, which predicts that the pope will address the "economy, ecology and personal and corporate ethics," click HERE.

Last chance to vote for OSV
Today is the last day you can vote for OSV Daily Take in this year's Catholic New Media Awards. OSV was nominated in the "Best Written Blog" category. Click HERE to vote. Registration requires nothing more than an email address. They'll email a password back to you. Come on, that's not so bad, right? While you're there, you can also vote for Our Sunday Visitor in the "Best Overall Website Category." What else do you have to do on a Tuesday afternoon?

Bone fragments belong to St. Paul, pope says
As the Year of St. Paul comes to a close and in time for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul celebrated by the Church today, Pope Benedict announced that a scientific analysis of bone fragments taken from the tomb of St. Paul in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome are in fact those of someone who lived between the first and second century. The bone fragments were retrieved by a probe inserted into a small hole in the tomb.

"That seems to confirm the undisputed, and long-held view that the tomb contains the remains of Paul the Apostle," the pope said. For the full story click HERE and HERE.

Pro-life ad hinges on president's own words
The Family Research Council has produced a great new ad that asks President Obama: "If fatherhood begins at conception, when does life begin?" The question and ad was sparked by the president's own plea for fathers to take responsibility for their children. Only problem is, his fatherhood theory contradicts his pro-abortion policy theory.

Take 30 seconds to watch the ad. And h/t to American Papist for the lead on this.

Live from New York...
Father Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York tackle everything from vocations to the priesthood to orthodoxy in the Church to Twinkies in purgatory during a June 21 interview on Sunday Night Live, Father Benedict's weekly show on EWTN. (An encore performance will air Saturday at 5 p.m.)

In the informal and chatty interview, which includes lots of laughter, Archbishop Dolan talks about the need for people to see joy in their priests and about the importance of the Year of the Priest, which began last week. It's a great interview and worth your time. There are some wonderful moments where the archbishop usurps the role of interviewer and gets Father Benedict to talk about his own vocation. Click HERE to see the show, although the last two minutes are cut off for some reason. That means you'll miss the line about Hostess Twinkies. Is that enough to get you to tune in on Saturday? I should think so.

At the Vatican's Arizona observatory
Interesting story in the Science section of today's New York Times on the Vatican's observatory in Arizona. To be honest, I didn't even know -- or maybe I just forgot -- that the Vatican had an observatory on U.S. soil. I'm used to hearing about the observatory at Castel Gondolfo, but this one is on Mount Graham out in the western darkness and is run by Jesuit Father Christopher J. Corbally.

Click HERE to read the full story, which includes this passage about the Vatican's celestial searching:

"In the Vatican Observatory’s annual report, at the point where a corporation might describe its business strategy, is a section delineating the difference between creatio ex nihilo (creation from nothing) and creatio continua: “the fact that at every instant, the continued existence of the universe itself is deliberately willed by God, who in this way is continually causing the universe to remain created.”

A fun and spiritual summer read

Ever since I read the hardcover version of My Cousin the Saint: A Story of Love, Miracles, and an Italian Family Reunited by Justin Catanoso, I have been recommending it to friends who are Catholic, friends who are Italian, friends who like adventure travel stories because it is a spiritual pilgrimage and tour of Italy rolled into one. It is the story of the author's search for the history behind Padre Gaetano Catanoso, his grandfather's cousin who was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI. In beautiful prose, Justin Catanoso's quest for faith and knowledge opens up before you like a feast for the senses. You will feel like you can taste the food and feel the heat. You will wonder how it is possible that Padre Gaetano, who founded an order of nuns and spent his life serving the poor, was not known worldwide long before this book was published. And you will want to get on a plane bound for Italy and experience it all for yourself.