Catholics for Obama?
They apparently like him in Rome, er, Africa…From a CNS story:
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — U.S. President Barack Obama was mentioned three times by two different bishops on the first full day of the special Synod of Bishops for Africa.
Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa, Congo, told the synod Oct. 5 that Obama’s election was of historic importance and could signal a major step forward in peaceful relations between people of different ethnic groups and between the North and the South of the world.
The archbishop’s task at the synod was to report on developments — positive and negative — since the first Synod of Bishops for Africa was held in 1994.
Looking at the theme of reconciliation, Archbishop Monsengwo Pasinya suggested that the Old Testament story of Joseph and his brothers, who had sold him into slavery, could be a key for reading the last 500 years of African history, particularly the slave trade.
“Joseph interprets his departure for Egypt as though it were the will of God who sent him ahead of the others (his brothers) to save their lives for a greater deliverance,” the archbishop said.
He suggested that people could see the Africans brought to America against their will as the first contributors to building a nation of people who would learn to accept one another and work together.
If people recognize that “the election of a black as head of the United States of America was a ‘divine sign’ and a sign from the Holy Spirit for the reconciliation of races and ethnic groups for peaceful human relations,” he said, the synod and the church “would gain from not ignoring this important event in contemporary history, which is far from a trivial game of political alliances.”
Obama also was mentioned twice by Cardinal Peter Turkson of Cape Coast, Ghana, the recording secretary of the synod.
Just sayin’…
A sign of The Holy Spirit would be the ability to see the essence of a Person. Just sayin’…
Nancy, how many times do I have to tell you–you can’t run for Pope! :-)
David – don’t tell Raymond Arroyo.
I already knew good things about Cardinal Turkson. Now I shall have to be on the lookout for Archbishop Masinya too. That interpretation of the story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis is a beautiful mystagogical reflection that breathes a kind of confidence in God’s providence and mercy that we could all use. Good job!
There is no question that the election of Obama has an enormous impact on the world, especially people of color and third world countries. Yet we should scrupulously avoid canonizing and mythologizing anyone before the Lord has his say. There is a real question about the amount of money Obama has taken from Wall Street and his favorable treatment of those donors. He also raises questions about his policy in Afghanistan.
The analogy is a tempting one and certainly appealing. But we should await history’s assessment before we lapse into hagiography.
Now Oscar Romero is another thing. Benedict has already objected to him being considered a martyr even if he was shot saying Mass. Anybody ready to pressure Benedict on that?
Obviously David has not heard of Pope Joan. At least Nancy could be Cardinal.
Archbishop Pasinya’s thoughtful reflection on the history of slavery in the US reminds me how glad I am to have been born Catholic. In so few words, he expressed such a wonderful hope.
I am not sure of the right word or phrase, but other than maybe in the Jewish faith, one would be hard pressed to find that sort of deep and thoughtful analysis. It certainly is not present in today’s American Protestant churches.
While I am happy we have seen fit to elect a black man as our president, because I am suspicious of socialism, I am no real fan of Obama. Still, thanks for pointing out the article.
I was struck by Archbishop Monsengwo Pasinya’s discernment of the Holy Spirit in his election. That sort of incarnational working-out of God’s will does ring true to me. (And, needless to say, it goes against the grain of the many religious voices in the US who saw the election outcome as rather the opposite of the Holy Spirit’s providence :-))
The differences between the African Bishops and some at least of their brothers Bishops from the US are surely to be explained in part by cultural relativism. No one is free of culture, not even a bishop, not even if his diocese is Rome, and cultures differ. As for the workings of the Spirit is is probably useful to keep in mind that His ways are not always our ways.
The biggest boost for Catholics for Obama will be Moore’s Capitalism ..a love Story.
This ‘must see’ movie will be the biggest roll out of Catholic social justice teaching yet and will out-do whatever is now offered at Catholic higher ed.[sorry to inform our ND and CU scholars] .. It is entirely themed by Moore’s absorbtion of the working class Catholic ethic..
The likes of Limbaugh, Beck ,Hannity , O’Reilly have not yet killed the handshake the Catholics made with the New Deal.. I pray that the the younger generation open their eyes to economic evolution and Christian communitarian values. The scene where Wall Street’s Treasury secty Regan telling Pres. Reagan, sotto voce, ‘to speed it up’ and Reagan’s nod of compliance is priceless.
I imagined Eisenhower, Kennedy or Obama telling the but-in-ski Regan ‘here you give the rest of the speech’
Ed – great movie (and I don’t especially care for Moore – his SICKO was hyperbole and inaccurate but his spirit/motivation was correct).
Took my 17 yr. old because she hears almost nothing about peace/justice/economic issues in terms of Catholic social teaching at her catholic high school.
Our pastor never talks about economic policies, gospel imperatives around the economic common good, etc. He is a one issue, anti-abortion with no concept that folks with no money may actually face some horrendous choices.
Two auxiliary bishops – Gumbleton and the Polish auxiliary in Chicago. Where were the cardinals?
The social justice issue is paramount and it hardly understood how great a problem it is. The present Great Recession was driven by greed hands down. What is appalling is Wall Street and the Banks are right back in the greed mode albeit aware at least of derivatives and absurd loans.
The startling fact which cannot be stressed enough is that once CEO’s were making forty times what their employees made. In this gilded and excessive age they are making five hundred times what the employees are making. This is a scandal of herculean proportions and a point which must be harped on.
You make a good point Bill. Another point that should be harped upon is; what was the government’s role in and how much was it responsible for, the housing crisis? In addition to the shameful greed you cite (on the part of Wall Street), the housing market crash of course has also been a prime mover in the current recession.
As government officials put more pressure on banks to make loans to people who obviously could not afford them, and promised the US taxpayer would make good on the debt, banks made more and more loans to people who could not afford them. That was particularly cruel – and short sighted. Eventually folks defaulted on the loans and the taxpayer is left holding the bag i.e., holding the debt.
And so Goldman Sachs and the other big boys will be Ok, but after all the raping and pillaging, it will take awhile for us taxpayers to gat back on our feet.
Most average people are finding their personal money is tight, and it will be for some time to come.
I thought the post was about Church leaders and Obama.
Making the rounds today is an article in El Figlio (A rightist Italian newspaper I’m told) with Archbishop Chaput criticizing Obama and prelates who think he’s really a good leader and important figure.
The Archbishop is clear that he speaks only for himself( I guess since his critique implies a critique not only of his colleagues but also Vatican officials.)
I think the recognition of the president by African hierachy is recognition of his impact in the third world and not adulation.
It’s obvious that canonization is not in order for POTUS, but it’s so easy for commentary to lapse into the kind of politicized blogging so common today.
(I’m really sorry Mollie shut down her thread on discussion I’d like to reference the address of David Gergen to the Council of State Governments in which he:argues that the current polarization makes it “hard to govern”
-that Crazy arguments have tended to replace serious policy duscussion
-the blogosphere has become a place of viciousness and tough language and this has become normal
-part of the problem is the GOP(Ican see Sean, MAT and Stu havin gsteAm coming up tho the ears already) whose voices, in the face of election deveats have leadership filled by “raucous voices pretty far to the right.”–It is encumbent on the media to promote serious duscussion and get audience s out of loving a “food fight.”)
I find all of that on target.
I think the appreciation of our President in the broad Church has been fairly accurate, but in the States here among the hierachy,as a generalization, has been influenced by the political climate Gergen adverted to.
Abp Chapped Lips’ nomination for victims of the next Inquisition:
http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1340436?eng=y