Jesuit Refugee Services Board Member On Obama

Obama Foreign Policy More Aligned With Catholic Teaching, Say Professors

February 2, 2009 by Margaret Boehm

An excerpt.

“We’ve passed through a reconfiguring election in 2008,” said John Langan, S.J., Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Professor of Catholic Social Thought at Georgetown University.

The topics discussed included poverty, peace, immigration, life issues, nuclear power and the environment.

Stephen Schneck, Director of the Life Cycle Institute opened the discussion about the Obama Administration and the Catholic Social Agenda.

“Given the extraordinary demands of the hour on our consciences as formed by Catholic social teachings, it would be a tragic error I believe for Catholics to stand on the sidelines,” said Schneck.

The lecture was moderated by William Barbieri, associate dean and associate professor of theology and religious studies. Barbieri moderated a panel of experts as they discussed how the Obama administration will address issues important to the Catholic Church.

Leslie Tentler, professor of history and Life Cycle fellow discussed some of the history behind the introduction of Catholic social teaching to the American political scene. Tentler referenced a series of proposals that the National Catholic War Council, the ancestor of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released in 1919. The proposals focused on “remaking American society.”

"This was the first effort of the American bishops to bring Catholic social teaching to politics,” said Tentler. “In the best of circumstances, Catholics will have to compromise,” she said regarding Catholic social teaching in today’s political environment.

“Politics is about negotiations,” said Tentler during the question and answer section of the lecture when asked about abortion legislation. “I do not think in terms of the law that we are going to succeed. I do not think there is a state in the union prepared to pass a law which says abortion cannot happen under no circumstances. People are simply not there and frankly I do not think that most Catholics are there.”

Maryann Cusimano Love, (She serves on the Board for the Jesuit Refugee Service) associate professor of politics at the University said, “There’s some good news to report in the foreign policy area,” regarding Obama’s platform. Love said there is common ground between the Church and Obama on the topics of poverty, peace, globalization and the war on terror.

“The Obama administration is pursuing very different principles, policies and processes and a position that dramatically realigns U.S. foreign policy more with the positions of the Catholic Church,” said Love. At the closing of her presentation, Love referenced the current economic crisis, “as the world economy crumbles perhaps this may be our broadest area and our deepest area for collaboration. The Church and state may be able to powerfully collaborate in protecting the world’s poor and vulnerable.”

Throughout the lecture the words of Pope Benedict were referenced when he said, “we must become a witness to hope for all people around the world.” A quote that Professor Love said could have easily been mistaken as one said by President Obama as he has became a symbol of hope throughout America and the world.

Link (here)

Photo is of Maryann Cusimano Love

Streaming Video:
The Obama Administration and the Catholic Social Agenda (here)

Stephen Schneck Contribution List in 2008 (here)

Schneck contributed $2,300 to pro-abortion Democratic President Barack Obama and $1,000 to pro-abortion Democratic Congressman Thomas Stuart Price "Tom" Perriello Virginia Dist-5

From America Magazine

Real Prevention: Alternatives to Force, by Maryann Cusimano Love January 20, 2003 (here)

From Catholic Answers
What is the Catholic "Just War Doctrine"? (here)