19 Comments

All of this was almost certainly carefully planned and agreed upon beforehand. Every detail, from the livestream being cancelled (to secure deniability), to the fact that it is Biden who comes out with the statement about what they talked about whilst the Vatican remain silent, to the wording of Biden's statement, to the way that this ambiguity ensures that a clear message is sent from Francis to the US Bishops ("Watch out, don't go against me, or else") while simultanously the public don't have to be scandalized by an open statement from Francis, while also sending a general message of support for Biden/Pelosi on other subjects. Parolin's fingerprints are also quite visible all over this.

Nothing in all of this is random, nothing has to do with "unreliability" or "unpredictability" of Biden, or unfortunate unintended confusion from Francis.

It. Is. All. Very. Deliberate.

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Is there any confirmation that Pope Francis knows President Biden’s position on abortion? Pope Francis does not watch tv and I do not think he reads newspapers. If he wanted to generally present himself as allied to President Biden on a host of other issues, it seems the Pope might avoid learning about his position on abortion so he could avoid any difficult conversation (which as the article points out would be appropriate in a diplomatic setting) and enable him to effectively take the side of President Biden’s US supporters without violating church doctrine on abortion. It would be consistent with his statement that he never “knowingly” given communion to a pro-abortion politician. Indeed, it would be a very Jesuitical thing to do.

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That's a sound analysis. It's so very predictable that he would tell a public Catholic to abide by his own bishop in his own diocese, which is most likely what was said imho.

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Great analysis. I have a hard time seeing Biden telling the full truth. While it wouldn't be the first time Pope Francis disrupted plans for a USCCB meeting, it would be incredibly odd to not work through an ally (Cardinals Cupich and/or Gregory) or the nuncio. I guess we'll pray and see what happens. Doesn't Archbishop Gomez meet with Francis before the USCCB meeting?

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Thank you for the analysis on this. You raise a number of plausible theories. Be that as it may, I would think the Holy Father owes it to the Body of Christ to not let himself be misrepresented by Joe Biden. Once the president divulges part of the conversation the pope should make sure it is accurate. The silence following the confusion and uproar does not seem like good leadership to me, let alone pastoral charity.

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Oct 30, 2021Liked by JD Flynn, Ed. Condon

The most reasonable analysis of this "event" that I have read. This is why I am a subscriber.

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This is a very subtle analysis.

I sometimes hear it said that, as a matter of charity, Catholics ought to construe a person's statements or actions in the light most favorable to that person—giving them the benefit of the doubt, so to speak.

Is it not uncharitable to assume off the bat that the president is being anything less than faithful in his account of this conversation?

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Thanks for the analysis Ed…but how about an analysis from the perspective of all of us who fight day-in and day-out to try to teach the Faith to people, and how in one line that’s all thrown into confusion again.

If this is the best that Church diplomacy has to offer, more confusion, then the Church needs to get out of politics all together because the Church, the Pope and many others are losing their souls over earthly things, while sin is allowed to abound all the more, including millions of babies continuing to be executed.

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Thank you Ed!

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The "it was a private conversation" excuse is so weak. The subject was private, and then Biden publicized it.

On the one hand, the whole situation is disheartening and a bit ridiculous. On the other hand, our faith is in God, not in his creatures, and we know that God invariably allows evil to happen so that a greater good can result. Eventually. And possibly after we die.

I haven't a clue what that greater good may be, of course, but I look forward to finding out in Heaven. I think when we find out the answer, we'll be floored and will want to glorify God all the more.

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Good piece, even if it does tie itself in knots trying to square multiple circles. Didn’t Biden just “instrumentalise” the Pope as the Germans would say? I wouldn’t like that if it were me but fortunately I’m not the Pope.

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