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Pope Francis met Kim Davis at the Vatican Embassy during his stay in Washington. To which I say, in the words of John Belushi: “BIG….Deal!”
A lot of people are disappointed that this meeting occurred and worry that it is an implicit endorsement for Kim Davis and her stand against same-sex marriage. To be sure, many liberals were disappointed when the Pope was asked about public officials refusing to carry out their duties as a matter conscience, he said:
“I can’t have in mind all cases that can exist about conscientious objection,” the Pope answered. “But, yes, I can say the conscientious objection is a right that is a part of every human right. It is a right. And if a person does not allow others to be a conscientious objector, he denies a right.”
Asked whether that right also applies to government officials, Francis said:”It is a human right, and if a government official is a human person, he has that right. It is a human right.” CNN
The Pope met with lots of people during his visit to Washington, New York, and Philadelphia. If it is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it (Aristotle) than it should follow that meeting with someone doesn’t sanction their actions or beliefs.
I know a lot of liberals got a progressive chubby when they heard that Pope Francis pleaded with Congress to abolish the death penalty. But the pope also touched on conservative porn staples, suggesting traditional marriage was under attack and calling for the protection of “human life at every stage of development.”
What exactly would you expect the Leader of the Roman Catholic Church – a entity that believes that marriage is between a man and a woman, and only between a man and woman — to say? The prelate of Roman Catholicism still believes the basic doctrines of the Catholic Church teachings regarding homosexual conduct, abortion, women’s ordination, or birth control.
None of this is inconsistent or flip-flopping. Since he took office, Pope Francis has reminded his followers the Catholic Church must shake off an obsession with teachings on abortion, contraception and homosexuality and instead focus on the greater need to make The Church a merciful, more welcoming place for all. That those issues comprise only a small part of the belief system of Catholicism as defined by the scriptures and the teachings of the church over time. The Pope has made clear his belief that the church needs to shift its focus, become more inclusive, and pick their battles more diligently.
Apparently he gave Davis a rosary, which she in turn gave to her parents, lifelong Catholics. Kim Davis is an Apostolic Christian after a religious conversion four and a half years ago. Side note: some Christians sects don’t consider Catholics to be Christians and don’t recognize the prelate of Roman Catholicism as anything beyond a guy in a big hat.
According to Davis, the Pope told her to Stay Strong. She isn’t the first person the pontiff has said this to on this trip. In fact, he says it so often it’s like his catch phrase. Just like when Sheldon Cooper says Bazinga!
More importantly, it is what he didn’t say. While he may have encouraged Davis to Stay Strong and advocates conscientious objection, he did not go so far as to suggest that conscientious objection should override civil duty of elected officials. Besides, the branches of government in this country are Executive, Legislative and Judicial; we don’t have a Papal branch yet.
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