By Peter Finney Jr.Catholic News ServiceKENNER, La. (CNS) -- President Barack Obama is a "very gracious and obviously a very smart man" but he is on the "wrong side of history" when it comes to his fervent support of abortion rights, Chicago Cardinal Francis E. George told the 2009 Louisiana Priests Convention April 21.
The Cardinal probably could have added that Mr. Obama is also on the wrong side of logic, morality, goodness, common sense, decency and a host of other categories when it comes to abortion, but perhaps he thought those too obvious to mention.
"I think on the life issue he's on the wrong side of history," the cardinal said. "I think he has his political debts to pay, and so he's paying them."
Cardinal George said his conversation with the president was polite but substantive."It's hard to disagree with him because he'll always tell you he agrees with you," he said. "Maybe that's political. I think he sincerely wants to agree with you. You have to say, again and again, 'No, Mr. President, we don't agree (on abortion).'
How common is this today -- people telling you whatever (they think) you want to hear just so they can mollify you and shut you up?
"He said we weren't exporting abortion," the cardinal said. "I said, 'Yes we are.' He would say, 'I know I have to do certain things here. ... But be patient and you'll see the pattern will change.' I said, 'Mr. President, you've given us nothing but the wrong signals on this issue.' So, we'll see, but I'm not as hopeful now as I was when he was first elected."
I'm with the Cardinal--except I was never that hopeful to begin with. The only thing Mr. Obama ran before he was elected was his mouth, and the only thing he did successfully was promote legislation to make it easy to kill the unborn. So far this first 100 days I haven't seen much evidence of change on his part to inspire any hope in his empty words at all. How "patient" do we have to be?
More on this from the Ignatius Insight blog:
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"I'm not as hopeful now as I was when he was first elected."
ReplyDeleteThis comment is just beyond words. When and why would the Cardinal have EVER felt the slightest bit of hope with the election results? It is that attitude that got the man elected in the first place. This last November really brought home the reason why Christ has such distaste for those who are lukewarm. I too have more respect - for a devout athiest than one who professes a faith but does nothing to back up the claim.