{"id":1029,"date":"2009-02-18T09:34:00","date_gmt":"2009-02-18T09:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/deaconsbench\/2009\/02\/benedict-speaks-and-the-speaker-listens-updated.html"},"modified":"2009-02-18T09:34:00","modified_gmt":"2009-02-18T09:34:00","slug":"benedict-speaks-and-the-speaker-listens-updated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2009\/02\/benedict-speaks-and-the-speaker-listens-updated.html","title":{"rendered":"Benedict speaks, and the Speaker listens — UPDATED"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’re wondering what the Holy Father had to say to the Speaker of the House, Whispers has a glimpse<\/a>: <\/p>\n

Following the General Audience the Holy Father briefly greeted Mrs Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, together with her entourage.<\/p>\n

His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church\u2019s consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development.<\/p>\n

According to the Italian wires, the encounter between the pontiff and the California Democrat extended for some fifteen minutes. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Not insignificantly, the AP<\/a> is reporting that the meeting was closed to reporters and photographers. <\/p>\n

More as this develops. And, I think, it will. Stay tuned.<\/p>\n

UPDATE:<\/b> Pelosi’s staff released a statement<\/a> after the meeting: <\/p>\n

Pelosi said, “In our conversation, I had the opportunity to praise the church’s leadership in fighting poverty, hunger and global warming, as well as the Holy Father’s dedication to religious freedom and his upcoming trip and message to Israel.” The papal trip is scheduled for the second week of May.<\/p>\n

Pelosi also said, “I was proud to show His Holiness a photograph” from a papal audience she had with her parents in the 1950s, “as well as a recent picture of our children and grandchildren.” Pelosi’s husband, Paul, accompanied her to the meeting with the pope.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

UPDATE II:<\/b> John Allen has this trenchant analysis<\/a>: <\/p>\n

Pope Benedict XVI\u2019s much-awaited encounter this morning with U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, perhaps the most prominent pro-choice Catholic in America, amounted to a classic Vatican \u201cboth\/and\u201d exercise, striving to balance the demands of external diplomacy and internal church discipline.<\/p>\n

By meeting Pelosi, Benedict signaled that he wants lines of communication to remain open with the new American leadership, even if the Vatican has deep differences with its policies on the \u201clife issues.\u201d The Holy See is a sovereign state with diplomatic relations with 177 states around the world, which, among other things, means the pope can\u2019t always act like the head of a special interest group.<\/p>\n

Yet by issuing an unusual public statement after the session with Pelosi — which insisted that all Catholics, including legislators, are obliged to work for the defense of human life from conception to natural death — the pope also made clear there will no let-up in the pressure on pro-choice Catholic politicians to change their ways.<\/p>\n

While the Vatican typically puts out brief declarations after the pope meets with a head of state, encounters with lower-level officials are generally considered private. Doing so in this case thus suggests that the pope wanted to make a point.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you’re wondering what the Holy Father had to say to the Speaker of the House, Whispers has a glimpse: Following the General Audience the Holy Father briefly greeted Mrs Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, together with her entourage. 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