I realize that it comes as something of an afterthought to blog this on the day following the presidential inauguration. However, it's important that we must continually follow the Holy Father's example and uphold our leaders in prayer.
Pope Benedict XVI gave Barack Obama his blessing and prayed for his "unfailing wisdom and strength" in a telegram sent Tuesday before the U.S. presidential inauguration.
Benedict urged Obama to remember the "the poor, the outcast and those who have no voice" and to stick to his pledge to work for peace.
"I offer cordial good wishes, together with the assurance of my prayers that Almighty God will grant you unfailing wisdom and strength in the exercise of your high responsibilities," the telegram said.
The text was made public a few hours before Obama was to be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States.
"Under your leadership, may the American people continue to find in their impressive religious and political heritage the spiritual values and ethical principles needed to cooperate in the building of a truly just and free society," the pope told Obama.
As I watched the inauguration with my high school class yesterday, I recognized a deep spiritual presence, not only in the prayers and in the mention of God in President Obama's address, but in the visible expressions on individual faces--it was an awe inspiring event!
Though we may find that as Catholics we have several points to disagree with in regard to the new president's policy, we should uphold him in our prayers and ask that the Almighty move upon him. Indeed America does have an impressive religious and political heritage, and the Obama presidency connects us in a real way to the spiritual struggle of a people and nation torn apart in civil war a century and a half ago, as well as all that followed. The cry of the world is still for freedom. When we seek God the meaning of that cry and the appropriate response to it will become apparent.
While I didn't vote for him, he is now my President as well. I will pray for him that he will not only be a success in the eyes of man, but more importantly he will be a success in the eyes of God.
Posted by: Jason | January 21, 2009 at 07:46 AM
All we know for sure is, unless he provokes nuclear war, things couldn't be made any worse than they have become after these past 8 years. Pee Wee Herman could be imagined a successful leader after all that. But I'll pray for Mr. Obama. And that, too, is new -- for me, for the first time ever, as is so with the word "Democrat" now, a person will have to earn the title "President." Maybe I'm just being a jaded crabby old person, but I'm aiming for "honest." Many lives, not just livings, are on the line.
Posted by: Carol | January 22, 2009 at 10:25 AM
I agree, he needs our prayers. He's already quite loved on this side of the Atlantic.
Posted by: Pia | January 23, 2009 at 10:27 AM
He's loved like a Messiah on this side of it. As usual. The Something New displaces Christ, and folks worldwide applaud. Meanwhile, folks here happily attend community-wide chocolate-tasting galas to fund abortion..well, maybe they won't need to pony up extra money for abortion in this Administration. His promises were solemnly made to Planned Parenthood, not to his Saviour.
Posted by: Carol | January 23, 2009 at 11:02 AM
So much for being a success in the eyes of God. :(
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/01/23/obama-lift-ban-overseas-abortion-funding/
Posted by: Jason | January 24, 2009 at 06:20 PM
Don't give up praying, the tide will turn.
I believe that the President is undoubtedly a man of faith. However, as I have pointed out in several posts recently, not all Christian denominations have the same values and understanding about the sacred nature of human life. Indeed the President comes from a tradition of Christianity that supports abortion rights. If anything this points to the chasm of separation that still exists between Catholicism other Christian denominations.
We shouldn't expect the President to see things our way automatically when his conscience has been formed by a different tradition with altogether different values. Still, we pray. Not only do we pray in regard to the abortion issue, but we we pray for greater Christian unity as well.
Meanwhile in Texas, Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison announced that she will formerly declare her bid for the Texas governor's seat this summer. Hutchison supports both stem cell research and Roe vs. Wade according to an Austin American Statesman article here.
Posted by: Dan Wright | January 25, 2009 at 12:42 PM
I'd also like to add that it's important how we pray publicly as well--just today after Mass a parishioner pointed out that since both the election victory and the inauguration there has not been a single intention in the Prayer of the Faithful at our parish for the new President.
Sometimes our biases have a way of showing themselves without our realizing it--myself included, naturally.
Posted by: Dan Wright | January 25, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Our parish always prays for all in leadership. I think really we need the Archangel Michael's prayer. Mr. O is appointing pro-death advocates every whichway, and any Supreme Court justice seats will see surely the same.
I have no idea why you think him a man of faith, Deacon Dan. I've seen nothing to suggest that. He seems more like a man of cyclone. He is a man of hope, we could both say that--but so is Alan Keyes. And Ron Paul. I guess we can only pray, and wait, and as I'm seeing, work harder and wider for life issues. This election is dragging the Church into the battle she should've always been in.
Posted by: Carol | January 26, 2009 at 10:29 AM
When I say that he is a man of faith I'm going only on what he has said of himself, and bearing in mind the viewpoint of his religious tradition, rather than judging from my perspective of what it means to be a person of faith.
I know many Protestants who are faithful members of their denominations--faithful Christians in their own estimation--and support abortion rights simultaneously. Perhaps it's the fault of a poorly developed doctrine of the nature and rights of the human person.
When I say that he is a man of faith, this certainly does not mean that he fits the bill by the standard of the Catholic definition.
Posted by: Dan Wright | January 26, 2009 at 06:30 PM
Oh, no, I know that of you! And trust me, I even know a very faithful Catholic Oblate of the Precious Blood who wouldn't mind if all illegal immigrants just disappeared one day, but his emails always sign off with, "Pray the Rosary for peace!" I guess I don't quite know what to make of Mr. O's word, as it hasn't yet struck me as being anything definite. He parted from his "naughty grandpa" pastor long ago, and only now are he and Michele looking for another church, according to what I've read. I'm not in anyone's head, I don't who prays or when or for what or against what, but I have never had the sense that his faith shapes his heart which shapes his mind which shapes his agenda. As others have said, he's black/he's white; he's Muslim/he's Christian; he's poor/he's rich; he's young/he's not; he's Oprah's friend/he's MIA from the celeb scene..etc. Shades of Soloviev's antichrist, that, as well as Soloviev's (paraphrased) "is going to seem quite reasonable, compassionate, savvy, religion-friendly -- but no one will be able to say why, exactly."
I guess time will tell, but thank you for elaborating.
Posted by: Carol | January 26, 2009 at 11:29 PM