Obama's First Meeting With Pope Could Yield Economic Common Ground
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
It's official: President Obama will have his first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI on July 10, while in Italy attending a G8 summit. While Obama's May appearance at the University of Notre Dame has strained his relationship with many U.S. bishops, Rome has been more conciliatory toward his administration.
For Obama, his first papal sit-down probably couldn't have been better timed; it comes shortly after the long-scheduled release of Benedict's encyclical "Caritas in Veritate" (Charity in Truth), which he says will focus on "the extensive issue of the economy and labor." Encyclicals are letters from the pope to the Roman Catholic hierarchy on key church matters.
If Benedict's encyclical argues that moral shortcomings precipitated the world economic crisis, as seems likely to be the case, it could line up with Obama's own interpretation of the recession. The president outlined his views on how the abrogation of values led to the financial crisis in his commencement address at Arizona State University:
The economy remains in the midst of a historic recession, the result, in part, of greed and irresponsibility that rippled out from Wall Street and Washington, as we spent beyond our means and failed to make hard choices. . . .
In the face of these challenges, it may be tempting to fall back on the formulas for success that have dominated these recent years. Many of you have been taught to chase after the usual brass rings: being on this "who's who" list or that top 100 list; how much money you make and how big your corner office is; whether you have a fancy enough title or a nice enough car.
You can take that road—and it may work for some of you. But at this difficult time, let me suggest that such an approach won't get you where you want to go; that in fact, the elevation of appearance over substance, celebrity over character, short-term gain over lasting achievement is precisely what your generation needs to help end.
I want to highlight two main problems with that old approach. First, it distracts you from what is truly important, and may lead you to compromise your values, principles and commitments. Think about it. . . . It was in pursuit of gaudy short-term profits, and the bonuses that come with them, that so many folks lost their way on Wall Street.
The leaders we revere, the businesses that last—they are not the result of narrow pursuit of popularity or personal advancement, but of devotion to some bigger purpose—the preservation of the Union or the determination to lift a country out of depression; the creation of a quality product or a commitment to your customers, your workers, your shareholders and your community.
The trappings of success may be a by-product of this larger mission, but they can't be the central thing. Just ask Bernie Madoff.
The second problem with the old approach is that a relentless focus on the outward markers of success all too often leads to complacency. We too often let them serve as indications that we're doing well, even though something inside us tells us that we're not doing our best; that we are shrinking from, rather than rising to, the challenges of the age.
And in his economic speech at Georgetown University, Obama invoked the Bible in calling for reform of the economic system:
There's a parable at the end of the Sermon on the Mount that tells the story of two men.
The first built his house on a pile of sand, and it was soon destroyed when a storm hit. But the second is known as the wise man, for when "the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock." "It was founded upon a rock."
We cannot rebuild this economy on the same pile of sand. We must build our house upon a rock. We must lay a new foundation for growth and prosperity: a foundation that will move us from an era of borrow and spend to one where we save and invest; where we consume less at home and send more exports abroad.
Up until now, the news media's focus on Obama's relationship with the Roman Catholic Church has revolved around the abortion issue. But headlines out of the president's first meeting with the pope may be about economic common ground.
- See photos of Obama abroad.
- Follow Dan Gilgoff on Twitter.
- Read more about Barack Obama.
Tags: Barack Obama | Pope Benedict XVI | religion | Catholicism
Tools: 
Share
|
| Comments (21) | Print
Reader Comments
THE SATANIC ROMAN-"CATHOLIC" CULT (THE SATANIC-VATICAN) STARTED IN HELL; AND APPEARED ON EARTH VIA THE PAGAN ROMAN EMPEROR "CONSTANTINE" IN 313 A.D.--NOT BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST OR PETER HIS APOSTLE IN 26 AD OR THEREAFTER ! ! !
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS THREAD:
..."14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
16 And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." REVELATION 18:14-24
NO OTHER HELLISH & EARTHLY SYSTEM, INSTITUTION, ORGANIZATION, CULT, RELIGION AND-OR "CHURCH-STATE"--"POLITICAL-RELIGIOUS"--GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD; IN THE ANNALS OF HUMAN HISTORY; HAS EVER BEEN MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BLOODSHED, CARNAGE & GENOCIDE OF OVER 1 BILLION HUMAN BEINGS: AS THE SATANIC ROMAN "CATHOLIC" CULT OF POPISH "NICOLAITAN"--NOW "JESUITIC"--VATICANISM, OR "ROMAN-'CATHOLICISM'") HAS BEEN !
AND THE SATANIC VATICAN IS STILL, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, PLANNING & PREPARING (EVEN AS I WRITE THIS COMMENT) THE WORLD FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF 2/3 OF THE EARTH'S POPULATION BY WAR, CLIMATE CHANGE, GLOBAL INSTABILITY, DISEASE, PESTILENCE & ECONOMIC RUIN !
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO BELIEVES, TEACHES & PROCLAIMS THESE UNDENIABLE HISTORIC FACTS !
THE SATANIC-VATICAN / ROMAN-"CATHOLIC"-CULT (AKA ROMAN-"CATHOLICISM") IS INDEED THE "RELIGIOUS" ARM & BRANCH OF THE DREADED COMING "NEW-WORLD-[DIS]ORDER" OF THE AUTHORIZED HOLY BIBLE PROPHESIED ONE-WORLD-DICTATOR "ANTI-CHRIST"; "BEAST" & "FALSE PROPHET":
*MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER "CHURCH" !
THE SATANIC ROMAN-"CATHOLIC" CULT (THE SATANIC-VATICAN) STARTED IN HELL; AND APPEARED ON EARTH VIA THE PAGAN ROMAN EMPEROR "CONSTANTINE" IN 313 A.D.--NOT BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST OR PETER HIS APOSTLE IN 26 AD OR THEREAFTER ! ! !
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS THREAD:
..."17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth." REVELATION 17:17-18
THAT GREAT CITY WHICH REIGNS OVER THE KINGS (RULERS) OF THE EARTH IS ROME, ITALY
"Compassion's" Satanic-Vaticanist "Jesuit(ic)" Equivocations, Mental Reservations & Purposes Of Evasions Are NOT Fooling Me, Or Any TRUE Historic Holy-Bible-Only Universal/Catholic [NOT Satanic-Vaticanist/Roman-"Catholic"] Biblical-Literalist Orthodox Judeo-Christian, By ANY Means !
The Authorized Holy Bible-Scriptures CONTINUES TO Ephatically & EXPLICITLY Say:
"1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men." REVELATION 18:1-13
CONTINUED ABOVE...
THE SATANIC ROMAN-"CATHOLIC" CULT (THE SATANIC-VATICAN) STARTED IN HELL; VIA THE PAGAN ROMAN EMPEROR "CONSTANTINE" IN 313 A.D.--NOT BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST OR PETER HIS APOSTLE !
To Whom It May Concern:
"Compassion's" Satanic-Vaticanist "Jesuit(ic)" Equivocations, Mental Reservations & Purposes Of Evasions Are NOT Fooling Me, Or Any TRUE Historic Holy-Bible-Only Universal/Catholic [NOT Satanic-Vaticanist/Roman-"Catholic"] Biblical-Literalist Orthodox Judeo-Christian, By ANY Means !
The Authorized Holy Bible-Scriptures Ephatically & EXPLICITLY Says:
"1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire..." REVELATION 17:1-16
CONTINUED ABOVE...
advertisement
