Vatican expert questions cardinal’s exaltation of Obama

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Comments: 26

Sandro Magister / Cardinal Georges Cottier

Rome, Italy, Jul 6, 2009 / 12:06 pm (CNA).- Responding to Cardinal Georges Cottier's recent article praising President Obama, Vatican analyst Sandro Magister has said the cardinal almost exalts Obama as “a new Constantine, the head of a modern empire that is also generous toward the Church."

In Magister’s article, published yesterday, he casts doubt on remarks made by Cardinal Georges Cottier, 87, who lauded President Obama’s abortion stance in the Catholic magazine, “30 Days.”

Cardinal Cottier, a Swiss Dominican who served as the official theologian of the pontifical household for several years under John Paul II, discussed two of President Obama’s speeches: his commencement speech at the University of Notre Dame and the address at the Al-Azhar Islamic University in Cairo. The cardinal noted that in both speeches, President Obama gave “a glimpse of politics that can be usefully compared with fundamental elements of the social doctrine of the Catholic Church.”

Magister summarized Cardinal Cottier's analysis, saying that the cardinal finds “Obama’s vision highly compatible with the Catholic perspective,” and also attributes “good and constructive intentions to him even on the minefield of abortion.”

In his article, Cardinal Cottier wrote that during Obama’s speech at Notre Dame, “I was struck by how Obama did not avoid facing the most thorny question, that of abortion, on which he has received so many criticisms, including from the United States bishops. On the one hand, these reactions are justified: political decisions on abortion involve nonnegotiable values. For us, what is at stake is the defense of the person, of his inalienable rights, the first of which is the right to life.”

However, he continued, “in pluralistic society there are radical differences on this point. There are those who, as we do, consider abortion an ‘intrinsece malum,’ there are those who accept it, and then there are those who assert it as a right. The president never takes this last position. On the contrary, it seems to me that he makes positive suggestions – as ‘L’Osservatore Romano’ has also highlighted, on May 19 – proposing a search for common ground even in this case.”

“In this search – Obama cautions – no one must censor his own convictions, but on the contrary must assert them before everyone, and defend them. His is not at all the mistaken relativism of those who say that these are just contrasting opinions, that all personal opinions are uncertain and subjective, and that therefore they should be set aside when speaking of these things,” wrote the cardinal.

Magister responded by saying that Cardinal Cottier “denies that Obama can be considered ‘pro-abortion,’ and even attributes to him the desire to ‘do everything possible to make the number of abortions as small as possible’ just as did ‘the first Christian legislators, who did not immediately overturn the Roman laws that were tolerant toward practices inconsistent with or even contrary to the natural law, like concubinage and slavery.’”

Futhermore, Magister critiqued, the cardinal “invokes support from Saint Thomas Aquinas, according to whom ‘the state must not enact laws that are too strict and demanding, because the people will be unable to observe them and will ignore them.’”

In addition, Magister pointed out that Cardinal Cottier “applauds ‘L'Osservatore Romano’ for the same pro-Obama article on May 19 that infuriated so many American bishops.”

Following President Obama’s speech at Notre Dame, ‘L’Osservatore Romano’ published a positive article on his visit. Days later, the editor of the Vatican paper, Gian Maria Vian, defended Obama saying, “Obama is not a pro-abortion president.”

Magister concluded his comments adding, “Cardinal Cottier seems almost to exalt Obama as a new Constantine, the head of a modern empire that is also generous toward the Church.”

Comments: 26

Subscriber comments:

Published by: rosa rotondi
hicksville, ny, usa 07/26/2009 09:02 AM EST

It is very clear that Obama is the most anti-christian president ever,but what happened to the 50% catholics that voted for him? John Paul II before he died said," Form new consciences"

Published by: Stephany
Tx 07/10/2009 09:56 AM EST

Oh,Patrick (Boardman)

Again the Church LEFT wing brigade runs wild, completely out of touch with reality.(aka truth) This is the LIBERAL crowd run amuck, always ready to pounce!
Folks, please get real and become pro-life WHICH INCLUDES pro-birth.
What have you done to protect life INSIDE and outside of the womb, you caster of the stone?

Ah, is YOUR type of love and Christianity be shown by your comments?!

Judge not my self-righteous friend!

Published by: April
Havre de Grace/MD/USA 07/10/2009 09:21 AM EST

To Patrick from Boardman, Ohio:

You say "...This is the pro-birth crowd run amuck. Folks, please get real and become pro-life rather than pro-birth. What have you done to protect life outside of the womb, you casters of the first stone? Ah, they know we are Christians by our love! Judge not my self-righteous friends"

With all due respect, genetically unique human life begins at conception, as any objective embryologist will tell you.

All of the pro-lifers I know contribute much of their time, money, and talent helping others, born and unborn. What have you done?

It is not "judgmental" to point out that abortion is inherently evil or that our religious leaders are falling into the snares set by Satan. "Beware of those who call evil good and good evil."

And the Gospel tells us that after the accusers dropped their stones and left, Jesus told the adulterous woman to go and sin no more. It is part of our spiritual works of mercy to remind our brothers and sisters of ALL that Jesus commanded. Those of us who see the evil of abortion are morally compelled to speak out against it, as Jesus commanded.

And as for your name-calling prolifers the "probirth crowd run amuck," is this not judgmental on your part? You may want to read and study JPII's Theology of the Body. It will give you a whole new perspective on the God's plan for life!

May the Lord God remove the scales from our eyes, help us spread his love in deed and word, and deliver us from evil.

Published by: Patrick
Boardman/OH/USA 07/09/2009 02:56 PM EST

Again the Church right wing brigade runs wild, completely out of touch with reality. This is the pro-birth crowd run amuck. Folks, please get real and become pro-life rather than pro-birth. What have you done to protect life outside of the womb, you casters of the first stone? Ah, they know we are Christians by our love! Judge not my self-righteous friends!

Published by: George Kaczanowski
Barrie ON 07/08/2009 05:55 AM EST

Yes, Cardinal Cottier quotes Thomas Acquinas. He probably knew him personally! The guys almost 90 yrs. old. His comments can only 'muddy' a very volatile issue. Cottier's comments should be limited to tea time at the infirmary. Or, alternatively go find a good book on the approacing Antichrist, be quiet and read!

Published by: Joe
BallGround GA 07/08/2009 05:16 AM EST

I guess they are drinking the kool-aide in Italy also.

Published by: April
Havre de Grace/Maryland/USA 07/07/2009 11:41 PM EST

Church officials -- PLEASE research facts before making bold conclusions about President Obama's intentions respecting abortion. His actions speak louder than words. One of his first Presidential act was to reverse the Mexico City Policy, which prohibited US international funds from going to groups that are involved with abortions. While a state Senator in Illinois, he took the extreme position that babies born alive during an abortion are not entitled to legal protection and could be refused medical care and left on a table to die (this actually happened at Christ Hospital!). He is lauded by abortion proponents who support gruesome late term abortions on viable fetuses, even though such procedures are never medically required to save the mother's life. He has stated that he would sign into law the so-called "Freedom of Choice Act" which under US Federal law, would prohibit reasonable state restrictions on abortions. He supports taxpayer funded abortions and opposes true parental consent. More than 50 Million unborn have been killed by surgical abortion in the US since the 1973 Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision making abortion legal in all 50 states. Now he will use the favorable "words" received by "church officials" to convince uninformed American Catholics that he is not "pro-abortion." God help us all. Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us! For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have Mercy on us and on the whole world.

Published by: Peter Nyikos
Columbia, SC USA 07/07/2009 09:33 PM EST

I had hoped to see some rebuttal from Magister to Cardinal Cottier's naive (at best) comments about Obama. Instead I just see a description, with a wee bit of sarcasm at the end.

Published by: E.D.
Fort Wayne/IN/USA 07/07/2009 03:14 PM EST

It would seem that so much blindness when it comes to love for the weak and defenseless of society (as shown by the Cardinal, indicates a problem in the general population of Catholics in the pew. Those who are in the pews have become "hardened" to the unspeakable crime of abortion because of their acceptance of the sin to contraception (fruits of the same tree--Evangelium Vitae).

Published by: Francis Xavier T
Washington, D.C. 07/07/2009 02:30 PM EST

When I read of Mr. Sandro Magister's opinion, I couldn't help but applauds. Mr. Magister wrote, “Cardinal Cottier seems almost to exalt Obama as a new Constantine, the head of a modern empire that is also generous toward the Church.” That was precisely how I feel when I read Cardinal Georges Cottier's article. I have lost all my respect to priests like him. If this kind of theologians knows so much about realism, the Canon laws shouldn't prohibite married priests at the first place. Look at the Vatican ordained a large number of homo-pedophilia priests because of the unrealistic celibacy doctrine. This makes all the Catholic faithfuls to bear shame. Is Cardinal Cottier blind, insane, or perhaps even stupid? Does he know that Obama ordered the crusifix be covered and out of sight when he gave a speech at Georgetown University? How could Obama claim that he is trying to reduce abortion while he is actively funding abortion world wide. Is this the same as saying reducing pornagraphy by active funding the making of pornagraphy? Further, Obama is going to tax more on those companies that operate oversea in those poor countries. This means that American companies will be forced to stop hiring the poors and paying taxes to the poor countries world wide. What common ground is Cardinal Cottier has in his old wisdom mind with Barrack Hussein Obama???? May the cardinal should change his name to Cardinal Mohammad Cottier for his common ground (bear a muslim name).

Published by: Bob Mahaffy
Yorktown, VA, USA 07/07/2009 01:37 PM EST

The Cardinal's remarks, so out of line with Church policy, require he be placed in a no public communications status as he lives out his senior years.

Published by: John Oppie
Georgetown, TX, USA 07/07/2009 10:54 AM EST

It appears that both
Cardinal Cottier and Gian Maria Vian are closing one eye and one ear when evaluating Obama. If one looks at everything Obama has said and done, both as President and prior to that, it becomes clear to any objective person that his morally appeasing statements are politically motivated. It's hard to miss seeing that his ethical positions are for the most part diametrically opposed to those of the Catholic Church.

Published by: Mary Macharia
Kenya 07/07/2009 10:46 AM EST

The urgency with which President Obama moved to overturn the Bush Administration's ban on abortion is suspect. My view is that he is playing to the galery and trying to please everybody which is absolutely impossible. The Church and the Holy Father in particular, MUST tell the Presidentto his face that the Catholic Church WILL NEVER COMPROMISE on its opposition to abortion, no matter what arguments the 1st world leaders try to dress their words to hide their emphatic support for abortion particularly in Africa. We are not fooled by Obama. He means to allow abortion in American and spread the same gospel worldwide targetting the poor countries like Africa and Latin America. As we say here in Kenya "Ashindwe"!!!!!!

Published by: JLS
Riverside, CA, USA 07/07/2009 01:28 AM EST

Sounds to me as the Cardinal pleases man and fears not God. Where have we seen this before? Oh yes, countless times. Jesus spoke to this point. I guess Cdl Cottier missed that lesson.

Published by: Joe
USA 07/06/2009 08:07 PM EST

We humans love to mess up a very simple problem.

We're not supposed to kill. Meaning the unlawful taking of a life.

An aborted infant is the unlawful taking of a life.

What's the problem?

Oh, your "politics" may differ with the Church's (the body of Christ here on Earth) position?

To bad. We're to seek God's will for us, not try to "lawyer" our position to fit what we believe God's will should be.

God already has a position presented to us thousands of years before we were born. Now get over it. Get on your knees and pray for forgiveness for even hinting that there may be some justification for abortion.

And Obama? His brand of Christianity supports infanticide.

Is the Cardinal for real or is he trying to anger the lay people of the Church?

Published by: Robert Matzinger
Taylor/Michigan/USA 07/06/2009 07:56 PM EST

Obama is no friend of the Catholic Church and embraces few of our moral and ethical values. But he will tell us what he believes many of us want to hear to get our vote!

Published by: Dan
Santa Fe 07/06/2009 06:25 PM EST

The good Cardinal is playing '3 card monte' and probably does not realize it.

Published by: Brent
San Francisco, CA 07/06/2009 06:06 PM EST

Actions speak louder than words. Obama can say whatever he wants, but I think is voting record on the abortion issue speaks for itself. What will people believe when he says he wants to reduce the number of abortions as he repeals the current conscious clause or signs in the "freedom of choice" act?

Published by: David G
Chicago, Il 07/06/2009 04:54 PM EST

Obama wants to reduce the "NEED" for abortions - he did not say he wanted to reduce abortions. There is a big difference.

Obama is not good for America. We got what we deserved for not vetting this person prior to his election and now we are paying for it. The rest of the world will also be impacted because of his Pro-Death agenda.

Cardinal Cottier needs to read his speech and make the distinction for himself. He will see that Obama plays with words to mislead his audience.

Published by: Maria Trujillo
Plantation/FL/USA 07/06/2009 04:31 PM EST

Another "clever" one. He postulates three positions on abortion when he "must" know that his second is contained in his third. Why quote St. Thomas Aquinas? We adhere to the position of the Catholic Church, as must the cardinal. I would not put him in bed with the Devil for I think he may already have placed himself there.

To praise evil is to partake of evil. However, even at 87, there is still time. One more to place into The Chalice. God is soooooo Good.

Published by: Elija
Jerusalem 07/06/2009 04:23 PM EST

Where have this Cardinal the spirit of dicernment we normally have as a gift of God to make clear distinctions?

President Obama seems to be able to bring confusions into the thoughts and reflections of some heads of church-leaders.
This reminds more to a figure of Solowjews Antichrist than to someone supporting the church.

How can this be to see the Christian moral-standarts in abortion and homosexual actions so enormous violated and then to think that this man can give us a support for real peace and support for the church? The basic is poisened and so the fruits will be ...

Peace needs justice and we have no justice for a lot of Americans who are on the way to be born and others who are threatened.

There will be never real peace on earth if abortion is allowed and supported by governments.

This is a deadly illusion. And on a deadly illusion we can not change something to good.
The awakening - if it takes place - will be hard!

It is better to prepare Christians, faithful people and people of good will to resist against a spirit
of deceiving!

If President Obama will not convert he remains a leader for a culture of death and all the things which seems to be good will be very bitter in the end!

So we need as Christians to be attentive, to pray for the US-Government and to follow the real shepard!
Then we can see who is speaking and acting in his name or not! Also Presindents have no free approach to promote sinful actions!

Published by: Michael
Pine BLuff, AR 07/06/2009 02:27 PM EST

Again, it seems, that Obama has succeeded in marginalizing the leadership of the Church by somehow offering a hint that he is open to dialogue in all things Catholic. Don't forget that Obama's basic training in Chicago was with the best Socialists in America who wrote in books on how to marginalize his enemies, and I do mean enemies, since that is what the Church is: a real enemy to his cause. In this case, with Cardinal Cottier, Obama has done to his Eminence what he has been successful in perpetrating here in the United States and that is to "wow" the them with his tolerance and understanding of the "problems" of society. In fact, he has no idea of the problems, nor does he really care. He wants to put forward his agenda, and to hell with those of us who see the evil in his ways.

Published by: dAVID LARSEN
scituate Mass 07/06/2009 01:39 PM EST

We'll See! Time will tell.

Published by: Jack
Leone 07/06/2009 01:37 PM EST

I feel that we may be on the brink of the Antichrist. This person
will be friendly all. he will be a "green" person and ecumenical. He will never bow to Christ.

Also see: 2 Thess 2:1-16

Published by: James
Tampa/FL 07/06/2009 01:29 PM EST

Cardinal Georges Cottier's has to be senile! That or he too has succumb to the wiles of the twisted tongue of Obamanation. Lord I plead with you have mercy on the church and save us from such deceipt.

Published by: Robert Lockwood
Lafayette, CA 07/06/2009 12:41 PM EST

It is simply incredable how far astray from logical and Catholic teaching major leaders of our faith have come. Obama has DEMONSTRATED that he is the most anti-Catholic, anti-christian anti-U.S. president we have ever seen. Satin is very effective in his works.

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