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Vatican: White House is 'smarter' than playing politics with reception guest list Vatican: White House is 'smarter' than playing politics with reception guest list
(34 minutes later)
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.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.
Related: Americans are ready to hear Pope Francis – but will they listen?Related: Americans are ready to hear Pope Francis – but will they listen?
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.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.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 episcopal bishop, has also reportedly been invited, as has a transgender activist, Vivian Taylor. 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.
The person said that the Vatican had “noted” that invitations had been extended to certain individuals, but said: “There are much bigger things going on in this trip and frankly the White House is smarter than that, they’re not going to [load up] the front row [with these guests],” the person said.The person said that the Vatican had “noted” that invitations had been extended to certain individuals, but said: “There are much bigger things going on in this trip and frankly the White House is smarter than that, they’re not going to [load up] the front row [with these guests],” the person said.
“They [at the Vatican] are confident that it is not going to be a problem,” the official added.“They [at the Vatican] are confident that it is not going to be a problem,” the official added.
The comment followed a report in the Wall Street Journal which claimed the Holy See was worried that photographs taken with the pope and various guests could be interpreted as an endorsement of their lifestyles.The comment followed a report in the Wall Street Journal which claimed the Holy See was worried that photographs taken with the pope and various guests could be interpreted as an endorsement of their lifestyles.
Conservative bishops, the article noted, were worried that the White House would seek to play down its differences with church leaders on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, which the church opposes.Conservative bishops, the article noted, were worried that the White House would seek to play down its differences with church leaders on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, which the church opposes.
The White House guest list was also criticised by Thomas Williams, a former priest and Vatican spokesperson. Williams is himself no stranger to controversy: he received a dispensation to leave the priesthood from the church after having a child with a woman named Elizabeth Lev, the daughter of the former US ambassador to the Holy See under George W Bush. The two later got married. The White House guest list was also criticised by Thomas Williams, a former priest and Vatican spokesman. Williams is himself no stranger to controversy: he received a dispensation to leave the priesthood from the church after having a child with a woman named Elizabeth Lev, the daughter of the former US ambassador to the Holy See under George W Bush. The two later got married.
Williams wrote in a piece published in conservative website Breitbart that the White House was trying to test Francis’s “notorious tolerance” by inviting a “rogue’s gallery of people opposed to Catholic teaching”. He called it a “stunning show of political indecorum”.Williams wrote in a piece published in conservative website Breitbart that the White House was trying to test Francis’s “notorious tolerance” by inviting a “rogue’s gallery of people opposed to Catholic teaching”. He called it a “stunning show of political indecorum”.
The White House said it was not yet able to confirm exactly who was on the guest list, which has been drawn up with the help of Catholic church groups in the US, but stressed that undue prominence to should not be given to individual attendees.The White House said it was not yet able to confirm exactly who was on the guest list, which has been drawn up with the help of Catholic church groups in the US, but stressed that undue prominence to should not be given to individual attendees.
“We’ll have more information on the guest list once I can actually confirm for myself who’s on it,” said spokesman Josh Earnest on Thursday. “But I think that’s why I would warn you against drawing a lot of conclusions about one or two or maybe even three people who may be on the guest list, because there will be 15,000 other people there too.”“We’ll have more information on the guest list once I can actually confirm for myself who’s on it,” said spokesman Josh Earnest on Thursday. “But I think that’s why I would warn you against drawing a lot of conclusions about one or two or maybe even three people who may be on the guest list, because there will be 15,000 other people there too.”
A subsequent telephone briefing held by White House officials for reporters clarified that there would be approximately 14,000 guests in attendance.A subsequent telephone briefing held by White House officials for reporters clarified that there would be approximately 14,000 guests in attendance.
While any concerns about the White House trying to play politics with the official welcome party within the Vatican may simply reflect the jitters of conservative elements within the church – and not Pope Francis’s personal views – it is not uncommon for the pope to be caught in sometimes embarrassing situations when he is traveling abroad. While any concerns about the White House trying to play politics with the official welcome party within the Vatican may simply reflect the jitters of conservative elements within the church – and not Pope Francis’s personal views – it is not uncommon for the pope to be caught in sometimes embarrassing situations when he is travelling abroad.
On his recent trip to Bolivia, Pope Francis was confronted with a crucifix depicting Jesus nailed to a hammer and sickle by Bolivian president Evo Morales, a gift and photo-op that was seen as an attempt by conservatives to try to manipulate the pope.On his recent trip to Bolivia, Pope Francis was confronted with a crucifix depicting Jesus nailed to a hammer and sickle by Bolivian president Evo Morales, a gift and photo-op that was seen as an attempt by conservatives to try to manipulate the pope.
The Vatican said at a briefing with reporters this week that the welcome ceremony at the White House would resemble previous events for other papal visits.The Vatican said at a briefing with reporters this week that the welcome ceremony at the White House would resemble previous events for other papal visits.
Both the pope and US president Barack Obama are expected to make speeches and greet guests from the balcony of the White House. The president and the pontiff will then meet in the Oval Office. US secretary of state John Kerry will also meeting with diplomatic counterparts from the Holy See. Both the pope and President Barack Obama are expected to make speeches and greet guests from the balcony of the White House. The president and the pontiff will then meet in the Oval Office. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, will also meet with diplomatic counterparts from the Holy See.