Lifesite reports that Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), congratulated President Barack Obama on being honored with the Nobel Peace Prize:
“In the name of the Catholic Bishops of the United States, I would like to offer congratulations to President Barack Obama on his receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. As he has graciously said, much of the work of realizing a more peaceful and just world for all persons and nations remains to be done; but the prize was given because as President of the United States he has already changed the international conversation. In our own country, the remarkable and historic achievement of his election has changed the relationships between men and women of all races.
It always pains me to hear a man of the cloth praising Obama but in this case I have to agree with him that Obama has changed the national conversation. In fact, when my wife and I talk at night we often speak about the awful and ridiculous things the White House did that day.
But it’s changed international and national conversations everywhere. Here’s how:
Pre-Obama Ahmadinejad: “I will drive Jews into the sea.”
Ahamadinejad now: “I will drive Jews into the sea and the USA won’t care.”
Pre-Obama Abortion providers: “Must….kill….babies…”
Abortion providers now: (Singing) “We’re in the money…We’re in the money.”
Pre-Obama Israeli Prime Minister: “I’m dialing George Bush and…hey George, what’s up?”
Israel’s Prime Minister now: “I’ve been on hold for three hours waiting to speak to President Obama…No. No. I don’t want to speak to the undersecretary again…Please don’t put me on hold again…darnit…What is this song? Girl from Ipanema? That Burt Bacharach is one talented guy. It’s the third time I’ve heard this song and it doesn’t get old.”
Pre-Obama Taliban: Holy Cow. This Bush guy is crazy. He’s trying to kill us all.
Taliban now: “I’m dialing Obama and…hey Barack what’s up?
Pre-Obama Sarkozy: “The President is a cowboy.”
Sarkozy now: “The President is a boy.”
Pre-Obama Putin: “Muhahahahahahah”
Putin now: “Muhahahahahahaha. Ha. Obama’s talking about nuclear disarmament again. Well he’s certainly left Poland disarmed. Muhahahahaha.”
Pre-Obama John McCain: “I would’ve made a better President than this guy.”
McCain now: “I would’ve made a better President than this guy.”
Pre-Obama Czars in the White House: “Policy? Nobody’s ever asked me anything. I thought this job was just a resume enhancer.”
Czars in the White House now: “Hey, I’m writing our new healthcare policy. What’s a good word for eugenics that doesn’t sound so ‘death panely?'”
So yeah, Obama’s changed the conversation. That’s for sure.
HT Pewsitter
October 16, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Wow! Didn't know tea parties are "uncatholic" (is that a word?). Were Catholics against the Revolutionary War? Is "desparation" not a good thing for Catholics, or are we supposed to just roll over and turn the other cheek? Sorry, but I'm just questioning boldly….
October 16, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Andy Z sounds like a "concern troll" to me – the kin of guy who claims to be a conservative in comboxes but then spends the bulk of his time complaining about everything the right does. Yawn.
October 16, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Luke 6:27-28 (NAB) "But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
And pray I do. Every single day. I pray for us to learn to love our enemies, and pray that instead of listening to the malcontented voices of the media (on BOTH sides) we listen to Christ and his example.
hey Paully – was Jesus a "concern troll"?
October 16, 2009 at 8:18 pm
AndZ,
That's a handy quote to remember when someone is stepping on your neck…keep it in mind should you ever face that situation.
But Christ in Luke 6 is really talking about personal relationships…that is, the person who is your enemy down the block, or your boss or co-worker, the rage roader, or even the mugger who stands on your neck.
He is not speaking of the Jewish religious leaders nor of Tiberius Caesar. You seem to get quite muddled by which Jesus you like or don't…that of Luke 6 or that of Matthew 23.
It's a common problem with those who try and promote their favorite Jesus' quote for the next fellow…what was that He said about "motes and beams"?
October 17, 2009 at 2:32 am
Beware, AndyZ.
"Love your enemies" is very different from "Have no enemies." And you can't quite get all 100%"turn the cheek" when a lot parables have God shutting the door on those that disappoint him.
Jesus does encourage us to always try harder to forgive and be better, but I for the life of me can't think of a passage that says "Never mock your enemies, for the only people allowed to have fun in life are sinners."
October 19, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Leaving the meta-disputes aside and returning to the post…
His Eminence needn't have said anything about the Peace Prize. So to my mind the congratulations is likely a customary thing. That it arrived so late in the day may indicate initial reticence on His Emininence's part, a reticence finally overwhelmed by a liberal clamor within the college?
I recall Francis Cardinal George's much-lauded (here on CMR) video pertaining to Life that left no doubt as to real differences that exist between the Bishops and His Exquisiteness, the President.
October 19, 2009 at 1:46 pm
It alao occurs to me that His Eminence missed an opportunity to draw an unfavorable comparison between His Exquisiteness and Mother Teresa, an earlier Prize winner.