L’Osservatore Romano Corrects Itself
Good news: L’Osservatore Romano has corrected its mistaken ideas about Obama ESCR policy: (From a Catholic News Agency article).
In addition to the puff-piece editorial on Obama at Notre Dame (which praised the president for seeking “dialogue,” and saying very little about the Christian witness of the student and faculty protesters), OR has an article that, from the summary anyway, looks as if it is correcting the impression of that earlier editorial that Obama’s ESCR policy wasn’t as bad as thought. THIS story quotes Cardinal Rigali’s and Archbishop Chaput’s strong criticisms of Obama policy. It’s about time!
In my reply to the earlier article, I actually sent them Cardinal Rigali’s remarks! (So did many other people I’m sure).
I haven’t been able to find any trace of these articles in Italian on the OR part of the Vatican website, though.
Update: evening of May 22:
The Osservatore Romano article that I called a “puff piece” on Obama has been causing a firestorm in the last few days. Here’s a translation (thanks to Joey on Fr. Z’s blog-I’m too overwhelmed with work to do more than correct it a bit):
Obama in a Search for Common Ground
The search for common ground: it appears that this is the path chosen by US President Barack Obama in affronting the delicate question of abortion. Putting aside the heated tones of the electoral campaign, Obama affirmed as much on the occasion of the press conference for his [first] hundred days in the White House, when he affirmed that the launch of the new law on abortion is not a priority of his administration. And to reaffirm this position, the president chose the ceremony for the conferral of a doctorate of law honoris causa from Notre Dame in Indiana, the most prestigious Catholic college in the United States.
Increasing controversies have marked the weeks following Obama’s invitation from university president John Jenkins. And also yesterday—as was predictable—protests were not lacking. But from the podium prepared in the basketball stadium, the president invited Americans of all faiths and ideological conviction to “hold hands in a common effort” to reduce the number of abortions. “I don’t want to say that the debate concerning abortion will disappear: the opinions of Americans concerning it are complex and, at certain levels, irreconcilable,” the president said, exhorting those present to defend their opinions with passion and conviction, but “without reducing to caricature those who don’t think like us.”
In his speech Obama reaffirmed the line of the task force assembled “to reduce the number of abortions, diminishing unwanted pregnancies, facilitating adoptions, and assuring assistance and support for those who decide to keep the baby”. The president also proposed a conscience clause for doctors and paramedics who disagree with the practice of abortion. “But”—he added—“let us work so that our health policies are founded on clear scientific and ethical criteria, such as respect for the equality of women”.
In his speech the president reminded the students the challenges posed by the economic crisis and by violent extremism, by nuclear proliferation and pandemics. But the attention was completely focused on the issue of abortion. “Even if they do not agree”—he said—“we can agree that it is a painful decision for any woman”.
