Vatican: White House Is 'Smarter' Than Playing Politics With Reception Guest List

[Purveyor]

Source: Guardian UK

A Vatican official has said the White House was “smart enough” to know it ought not to try to embarrass Pope Francis at a planned welcome reception for the pontiff next week that will include several guests – including a transgender woman and gay activists – whose presence highlights some of the church’s exclusionary policies.

The Vatican official – who asked not to be identified – said that officials in Rome were not “overly concerned” that the White House guest list for the pope’s welcome party in Washington included guests that could be considered controversial for the church.

But the person added that it would be the White House, not the Holy See, that would find it embarrassing if the welcome party, which will partly be held on the South Lawn and will include 15,000 guests, looked like a political stunt.

Conservative media outlets have in recent days reported that the assembled guests will include Sister Simone Campbell, an activist nun and Guardian contributor who supported the passage of the Affordable Care Act – known as Obamacare – even though it contained provisions involving abortion funding that were opposed by US bishops. Bishop Gene Robinson, a gay former Episcopalian bishop, has also reportedly been invited, as has a transgender activist, Vivian Taylor.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/18/vatican-white-house-smarter-than-playing-politics-pope-francis-washington-visit

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Hey Mr. President, why didn't you invite someone from the LGBT and women's rights groups when you had Saudi King Salman at the White House a couple of weeks ago. Hmmmmm...???

[Renew Deal]

1. Conservatives should be more concerned about Rep. Paul Gosar

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7182434

[Purveyor]

2. There will be hypocrisy spread about by the 55 gallon drum during the Popes visit, indeed. eom

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

5. Is that the dog-beast from the Ghost Buster movies?

[msongs]

3. how much is the pope paying for this huge PR stunt at taxpayer expense? nt

[Purveyor]

4. Ask the thousands who show up for him if they care...

[Bluenorthwest]

6. In terms of LGBT equality and reproductive choice, by showing up I know they don't care.

No need to ask them, we already know they don't care.

[awoke_in_2003]

9. Yup. nt

[erronis]

7. And just who has the moral authority to "vet" all the guests? How about cheatin' congressthings?

Just like Jimmy Carter, I know I have some personal thoughts that might cause consternation to various family members or girlfriends/boyfriends.

If there is a god/unmentionable being, then said thing can look inside my heart and strike me dead; or offer some suggestions on how to enjoy myself.

Today I may feel inclined to a bit of hetero, tomorrow homo, somedays celibacy. Who cares and who can tell?

This current papa seems to be on the right path - explain what is ethical (non-religious) and what isn't. When it comes to WWJD, who knows?

[bulloney]

8. It just goes to show you - You can fool some of the papal some of the time....

[DisgustipatedinCA]

10. That's a bunch of (Papal) bull.

I See what you did there (ok, that one doesn't really work, since "see" is such a common verb, but I never promised you a rosary garden).