archives

The Apple of Eden is a metaphor for divine Prevision and Provision. Prevision is divine anticipation of need and Provision supplies for the need. The Wisdom of Prevision and Provision is tasted in nature’s largesse.

All Things Catholic by John L. Allen, Jr.
	Friday, November 7, 2008 - Vol. 8, No. 7

For the record, nobody from the Obama transition team has solicited my advice about relations with the Vatican, and I would frankly be surprised if the question were yet on their radar screen. Others, however, are already speculating about how things might shake out; on Wednesday, for example, Reuters moved a story predicting a “tricky” relationship between Rome and the Obama White House because of the abortion issue. As a thought exercise, I decided to pen an open letter to the president-elect about U.S.-Vatican ties over the next four years.

Mr. President-elect:

This letter is a plea to make U.S.-Vatican relations under your administration a priority, because of the enormous good in the world that could be accomplished by exploiting natural areas of common concern.

I’m aware that the stars may not seem especially well-aligned for such collaboration. A small number of Catholic bishops in the United States made statements during the campaign that favored your opponent, which may have left a bitter aftertaste among some of your supporters and advisors. It’s also clear to everyone that, barring a dramatic change of heart on your part, the White House and the Vatican will have deep differences during your term over “life issues” such as abortion and embryonic stem cell research.

I would urge you, however, not to allow those points to obscure four basic political realities.

The "Guidelines for the Use of Psychology in the Admission and Formation of Candidates for the Priesthood" released 30 October by the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education feature a novel new analysis of the danger of psychological “wounds” in seminarians.

SS Philip and James Church
North Charles and 29th Streets
Baltimore, Maryland

Celebrate Martin of Tours on his Feast Day
Honor Blessed Franz Jagerstatter
Hear Joshua Casteel, American Convert to Catholicism, interrogator with the US Army in Ghraib, Iraq until 2006. Honorably discharged ast Coscientious Objector to war

The bishops will be meeting in Balitmore. NCR senior correspondent John Allen will be there. Read daily postings from the bishops' meeting at johnallen.ncrcafe.org

Annual protest against the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Ga. Visit NCRonline.org throughout the weekend for blogs, video and photos.