Obama on Cardinal Bernadin

President Obama recalled Cardinal Bernadin in a response to questions about divisions within the Catholic Church. He says,

“Cardinal Bernardin was strongly pro-life, never shrank away from talking about that issue, but was very consistent in talking about a ‘seamless garment’ and a range of issues that were part and parcel of what he considered to be pro-life, that meant that he was concerned about poverty; he was concerned about how children were treated; he was concerned about the death penalty; he was concerned about foreign policy,” said the president. “And that part of the Catholic tradition is something that continues to inspire me. And I think that there have been times over the last decade or two where that more holistic tradition feels like it’s gotten buried under the abortion debate.”
“Now, as a non-Catholic, it’s not up to me to try to resolve those tensions,” he added. “All I can do is to affirm how that other tradition has made me, a non-Catholic, I think reflect on how I can be a better person and has had a powerful influence on my life. And that tells me that it might be a powerful way to move a broader set of values forward in American life generally.”

Obama appears to think that the seamless garment is not seamless or a garment. He seems to think of Catholic teaching as a cafeteria from which he can pick and choose what he wants on his tray of beliefs. How can he seriously think that by eliminating items from the menu one can possibly move toward a broader set of values?

Obama Meets with Catholic Press

President Obama met with members of the Catholic Press earlier today. He made comments on abortion, conscience protection, and liberal vs. conservative debate within the Catholic Church. Check it out at National Catholic Register.

http://www.ncregister.com/daily/president_obama_to_catholic_press_on_abortion/
http://www.ncregister.com/daily/president_to_catholic_press_on_the_catholic_divide/
http://www.ncregister.com/daily/president_to_catholic_press_on_conscience_protection/