Has the Catholic Church signaled that Obama is acceptable?

By: teacherken
Published On: 4/20/2008 5:56:55 AM

originally written for dailykos, where I read the diary that inspired this one

In my dailykos reading yesterday I encountered a diary that should not have been overlooked.  By 8ackgr0und N015e, it was entitled The Audacity of the Pope: A Message of Hope!. The diarist does a detailed examination of the encyclical the Pope issued for his pastoral visit to the United States, including a link to a video of the Pope reading his message, a message repeated in the homily at Nationals' Stadium in DC.   And that got me thinking. Join me below the fold for the results of my cogitation.
Sen. Bob Casey, like his father before him, is a devout Roman Catholic.  It is hard to imagine that he would ever do anything in his public life that would create tension between him and the Catholic Church.   And to some degree he is a very important politician to the Catholic Church.  It is hard to imagine that he would be so vociferously an advocate of the Obama candidacy were that candidacy not at least acceptable to the Catholic hierarchy.

And Benedict XVI is a very smart man.  And his advisors are certainly aware of some of the controversy the Church endured from words and actions by some bishops towards John Kerry in the 2004 campaign.  Thus it is noteworthy that the invitation to the Papal mass in DC went to ALL Catholic members of Congress, that Kerry announced his intention to take communion (which he did).  Thus as I read the words of the encyclical, noting the number of times the word "hope" is repeated, not just in the 3-word phrase "Christ our hope" which provides a basis for talking about hope, and as I then thought about Casey's role in the campaign, I had to wonder whether the encyclical and the Senator's involvement indicates at least acceptance if not tacit approval of the candidacy of Barack Obama?

Let me quote from the diary from yesterday to which I alluded:

Together with your bishops, I have chosen as a theme of this journey three simple, but essential words...Christ Our Hope.
 Those are words from the Pope.  And the diarist's commentary?
The fact this theme was chosen in consultation with the American bishops is a signal that this is what they think is most important and relevant to their flock at this moment.  But the Pope does more than signal his intentions.  He emphasizes his main point.  

I shall also bring the message of Christian Hope to the great assembly of the United Nations, to the representatives of all the peoples of the world.  Indeed, the world has greater need of Hope than ever. Hope for peace, for justice and freedom.  But this Hope can never be fulfilled without obedience to the law of God which Christ brought to fulfillment in the commandment to "Love one another."

Bear with me on this.  I am not and never have been a Catholic.   And to be certain, the idea of hope is certainly a key part of the Catholic message.  Thus it is POSSIBLE that the emphasis on the word "hope" is merely coincidence.  It is also possible that it is something more.

Both Democrats are pro-choice, and yet it is likely that one will be the next president, given the mood of the nation, and despite the recent nastiness of the campaign.  Could it be that the Church believes that Obama's willingness to address a large number of issues of economic equity and the like which are also an important part of Church teaching could play a part?  Could it be that Obama's words that "abortion is never a good thing" is more in keeping with the Church's view than is the "safe, legal and rare" offered by Clinton?

I do not presume to know the mind nor the intentions of those who lead the Roman Catholic Church.  I have no idea if this message from the Pope has already been widely communicated to American Catholics, or if it or something like it is to be communicated today, whether in Pennsylvania or nation wide.  Certainly it would be appropriate for churches to hear the message of the Holy Father.  And if the message of hope, especially if that word is repeated as it is in the video, were to be heard as at least a tacit acceptance of Obama's candidacy, that could have profound effects in a state that as of 2006 was 26.4% Catholic, the seventh highest (Illinois is 6th, at 29.9%, CT 4th at 38,7;  the other heavy states are RI, MA, NJ and NY, all won by Clinton).  After all, were even part of the white Catholic vote to be turned from Clinton to Obama, that makes it far more possible for Obama to win the state, and much more probable that even a Clinton win would be far narrower than anticipated by some such as Chris Matthews and Mark Shields or as was indicated by the SUSA poll.  Certainly we all knew that Casey's endorsement would give Obama some boost among white Catholics, given his stature with that group.   But will the result be more than nominal?

I will be curious if anyone hears all or part of the Pope's message at Church today, or if there is any other message which might be considered a communication about the forthcoming primary.  If you have anything to report, please share it.   And of course I will be very interested to see what the exit polling shows on Tuesday, and before then, anything from cross-tabs of polling done this afternoon, after people have attended Church.

This may all be a coincidence.  Even if intended, it may mean little or have almost no effect.

But I thought, after reading the diary from yesterday, it was worth at least a mention.

Peace


Comments



True Hope is in Jesus Christ (cageyd - 4/20/2008 10:59:21 AM)
teacherken is really s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g a point to somehow interpret the message of Pope Benedict as a subtle means of stating an acceptance of Barack Obama.  Has the word "hope" been co-opted to the extent that anyone who uses it is treading on Mr. Obama's exclusive territory?  I am not a Catholic but I am a Christian who clearly understands that true hope lies in Jesus Christ which is the message that Pope Benedict has repeatedly stated.  I personally define "true" hope as having someone (Jesus Christ) that I can absolutely and completely rely on and trust to help me and to give me assurance for the future.  Mr. Obama, at the best, can offer a temporal (Webster: transitory, temporary) view of hope which is grounded on campaign rhetoric which cannot be completely fulfilled for all people.  Pope Benedict is talking about a vision much broader which is accepted and believed by millions of Christians around the world.


actually I may not bea (teacherken - 4/20/2008 12:37:48 PM)
yes, the issue of hope, as in faith, hope, and charity, is clearly a regular part of Catholic - and general Christian - message.  But if you read the dkos diary from yesterday to which I link, there are a number of interesting points, including some striking parallels between the overall structure and one of Obama's speeches, and the fact that this topic was selected in consultation with American bishops, who are quite aware of how heavily Obama has emphasized "hope" in his campaigning (and to some degree how the Clinton campaign has tried to belittle him for it).

I have good reason to believe that it may not be entirely accidental.  And I did not come up with that thought on my own.



I'm a devout Catholic (proudvadem - 4/20/2008 3:15:30 PM)
and as much as I like teacherken's analysis, I'm afraid that a theologian as steadfast as Ratzinger (Pope Benedict)will never waiver on abortion or gay marriage. He is very much a pre-Vatican II traditionalist. I get very frustrated sometimes that these issues are in the forefront, when poverty and worker's rights get ignored.

I think the Holy Father has to focus on hope, since many of us are still heartbroken over the response to the clergy/sexual abuse crisis. Catholics need hope right now and some of us need the reminder that while our faith is one has been severely tested, it still revolves around the premise that Christ is our hope.



Nope. (Jack Landers - 4/21/2008 9:36:12 AM)
I was raised in the Catholic church and went to CCD every week for something like 6 years.

No. There is no way that this is remotely political. This whole Casey connection you are suggesting is just not relevant. Bob Casey's endorsement of Obama is no more relevant to the position of the church than John Kerry's is. Or anyone else's.  Bob Casey represents the state of Pennsylvania in the US Senate. Not the Vatican. Most American Catholics mentally separate church and state automatically.

The Pope is not sending any hidden messages here. The theme of 'hope' is one that is fundamental to Christianity in general. Of course the Pope is going to talk about hope. And I cannot possibly imagine him caring enough about which of these 3 candidates becomes President to start concocting hidden messages in his sermons. His agenda is protecting the doctrine and the integrity of the Catholic Church. Pope Benedict is not a politician and he does not have a horse in this race.

American Catholic culture is somewhat different from fundamentalist protestant cultures in the US. Everything isn't as political.