Issues Pose a Challenge for Obama and Pope

The Washington Post has a story today about the differences in views/beliefs between Barack Obama's and Nazi Pope, Benedict XVI. Personally, I believe that Obama, if need be, should tell the Pope to stop attempting to meddle in civil law matters in the USA. As for the U.S. Bishops, perhaps a proposal to amend the federal racketeering laws by Obama so that it could be more broadly applied to bishops and cardinals who covered up the sexual abuse of children might be a nice response. Basically a message to shut up or be prosecuted and have even more disgusting Church secrets come out. I am so tired of people giving deference to those - including Benedict XVI - who had a hand in the sex abuse scandal cover up. Cardinals Eagan of New York and Mahoney of Los Angeles are two other names that spring to mind. The Church hierarchy consists of frauds and in some cases those who deserve to be criminally prosecuted. Here are some highlights from the Post story:

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VATICAN CITY -- In the 24 years since the United States and the Holy See established full diplomatic ties, relations have never been closer or warmer than during the administration of President Bush.

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The relationship between the Vatican and the White House is bound to change this month with the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, whose support for abortion rights and embryonic stem-cell research has drawn denunciations from a number of church leaders.

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From the U.S. hierarchy, however, congratulations have been mixed with criticism. Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the church should "rejoice" in the election of the country's first African American president, but insisted that it would confront Obama over abortion and stem-cell research.

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Of most urgent concern to the church is clearly the Freedom of Choice Act, a proposed bill that would overturn a host of restrictions on abortion. Critics say the proposal would eliminate so-called conscience exemptions for publicly funded health-care facilities, thus forcing Catholic hospitals to provide abortions or shut their doors.

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Another potential irritant in U.S.-Vatican relations emerged in late November when a federal appeals court ruled that a lawsuit over alleged sex abuse by Catholic priests could proceed against the Holy See, despite its sovereign-state status.

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In spite of such problems, the Vatican will seek to work closely with the new administration in a number of areas, Franco said. Foremost on its agenda is the fate of Christian minorities in the Middle East -- particularly in Iraq, where their status has grown increasingly precarious during the Bush administration.