I must admit that I've been pretty apprehensive about what I've been hearing from L'Osservatore Romano, particularly regarding Obama, who has been accumulating a very pro-abortion, pro-death track record. I've been waiting for the right time to respond.Two Catholic commentators are lamenting the “sorry ignorance of recent American history” displayed by L'Osservatore Romano—the newspaper published by the Vatican—in its favorable reaction to President Obama's recent commencement speech at Notre Dame. However, they caution, readers should not make the mistake of thinking that the newspaper speaks for the Catholic Church. Excellent point. That would be like saying that the New York Times speaks for New York City or the state of New York.
Pope John Paul II's official biographer, George Weigel, wrote in an article for National Review Online that the pieces published by L'Osservatore Romano have caused pro-administration American journalists and activists to leap with “barely concealed glee” on the chance to trumpet the claim that “the Vatican” believes the U.S. Catholic bishops overreacted to Notre Dame’s award of an honorary doctorate of laws to President Obama.
Furthermore, Weigel says, journalists are writing that “the Vatican” is “taking a wait-and-see, so-far-so-good attitude toward Obama after the horrors of the arch-demon Bush.” Shameful. The liberal "mainstream" media can't stop adoring Obama, and attacking Bush.
Pope John Paul II's official biographer, George Weigel, wrote in an article for National Review Online that the pieces published by L'Osservatore Romano have caused pro-administration American journalists and activists to leap with “barely concealed glee” on the chance to trumpet the claim that “the Vatican” believes the U.S. Catholic bishops overreacted to Notre Dame’s award of an honorary doctorate of laws to President Obama.
Furthermore, Weigel says, journalists are writing that “the Vatican” is “taking a wait-and-see, so-far-so-good attitude toward Obama after the horrors of the arch-demon Bush.” Shameful. The liberal "mainstream" media can't stop adoring Obama, and attacking Bush.
The newspaper enjoys a degree of editorial independence, especially under its new editor, Giovanni Maria Vian, so its opinions cannot be read as formal Vatican policy statements.
But it describes itself as "at the service of the thinking of the pope" and in practice works closely with the Vatican Secretariat of State. If its myriad front-page articles on Obama were going in the wrong direction, one can be sure that the editors would feel a swift tug on the reins.
5 comments:
Okay. I am officially confused. If the paper is published by the Vatican, why would they publish an article that seems to support Notre Dame's invitation of Mr. Obama?
The Vatican is a city-state, and L'Osservatore Romano is the paper of that city-state.
Also see the article "Vatican Clarifies Obama Stance" that I linked to in the post.
Just read it. Thanks. I imagine the distinction will never be well understood.
check the latest story I linked:
The newspaper enjoys a degree of editorial independence, especially under its new editor, Giovanni Maria Vian, so its opinions cannot be read as formal Vatican policy statements.
But it describes itself as "at the service of the thinking of the pope" and in practice works closely with the Vatican Secretariat of State. If its myriad front-page articles on Obama were going in the wrong direction, one can be sure that the editors would feel a swift tug on the reins.
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