Obama, Pope Francis meet for first time - CNN.com

"It doesn't mean we agree on every issue, but his voice is one that I think the world needs to hear. He challenges us. He implores us to remember the people, especially the poor, who are affected by the economic decisions we make."

~(President Barrack Hussein Obama/"Oh he's muslim!)~

Obama, Pope Francis meet for first time - CNN.com: (CNN) -- U.S. President Barack Obama and Pope Francis met Thursday for the first time at Vatican City, offering a chance for a reset of sorts between the administration and Catholic leadership following years of strained relations.

The two world leaders greeted each other with a smile and a handshake, and posed for pictures before sitting down across a table from each other.

The goal of the meeting: Focus on areas where two of the world's most influential men agree and gently tread ground where they differ.

The President and the Pontiff will, as the White House said in a statement, focus on "shared commitment to fighting poverty and growing (income) inequality" and gingerly navigate such thornier topics as same-sex marriage, contraception and abortion.

"In general, they'll be looking for areas of conversation where there is great agreement between the Vatican and the administration," said Steve Schneck, director of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies at the Catholic University of America.

"The Pope will likely bring up immigration in a broad way ... and I do think there's a possibility the bishops' concerns about contraception in the (Affordable Care Act) might be mentioned," Schneck said.

In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Obama pointed to the Pope's concern for income inequality, saying, "Given his great moral authority, when the Pope speaks it carries enormous weight."

Continuing to focus on income inequality, Obama said, "And it isn't just an economic issue, it's a moral issue. I think the Pope was speaking to the danger that over time we grow accustomed to this kind of inequality and accept it as normal. But we can't."

The President said he admires the Pope's courage to speak out on economic and social issues.

"It doesn't mean we agree on every issue, but his voice is one that I think the world needs to hear. He challenges us," Obama told the newspaper. "He implores us to remember the people, especially the poor, who are affected by the economic decisions we make."

***

[Personally,

after reading everything, found Obama to be an outright "SAINT" compared to the rest of the article about the Catholic Church objections to a contraception mandate included in President Obama's signature health care reform law. 

Was able seeing nothing but

the

"DEVIL'S WORK" 

through them

"CATHOLICS IN NEED OF THEIR JOBS."  

And 

I'm not talking about the employees here.  

The way I see it:

1.  Contraceptions are not that expensive, at least condoms aren't unless you're poor. 
2. Should it really be necessary for me explaining my point from this point on after having made my first point? 
3. Apparently so, I'm afraid.   
4. So what if it's not included in the insurances of  "NON-PROFIT", get it(?), "NON-PROFIT" church affiliated groups...
5. when whether or not included in insurances of these "NON-PROFIT", get it(?), "NON-PROFIT" church affiliated groups, these employees, "UNLESS NOT CATHOLIC", get it(?), UNLESS NOT CATHOLIC"...
6. probably won't be requesting  their insurance plan reimburse them for the cost of their condoms "IF MEANING THE RISK OF LOSING THEIR JOB", get it(?), "IF MEANING THE RISH OF LOSING THEIR JOB"... 
7. especially "IF POOR", get it(?), "IF POOR"...
8.  and too many mouths(?) already having to feed...
9.  or maybe this employee, although poor,  young with dreams of getting an education, even coming back to this religiously affiliated group as a volunteer doctor...
10. but he also young, hung, and full of cum!*#()#%)#$(...
11. poor!!!!^&%&^^$##
12. NOW HE AIN'T GOT NO EDUMACACHON#$%#%#%!!!
13. DO THEY NOT GET IT?!  DO THEY FUCKING NOT GET IT!!!)*^%$#%

 In other words, this article, when one focuses

 on 

Obama's carefully(?)worded statements 

vs. 

Sister Mary Ann Walsh carefully(?)worded statement,

  can

reasonalbly be considered another example of

an

oxymoron.]

***

The meeting took place two days after the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on a contraception mandate included in the President's signature health care reform law.

The law exempts churches and houses of worship from the requirement, but nonprofit, religiously affiliated groups are required either to provide contraception coverage to their employees directly or through a third-party insurer.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has been vocal in its opposition to the provision, said Sister Mary Ann Walsh, a spokeswoman for the organization.

"Religious liberties and right-to-life issues are a concern," she said of the tension between American Catholic leadership and the administration. However, "the U.S. bishops have appreciated the administration's cooperation on issues of mutual concern."

Tensions between the administration and many leaders in the American Catholic community began early in the President's tenure over his support for abortion rights.

Relations frayed further over the contraception coverage requirement in Obamacare, leading the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to pan the law.

"It was a very tough year," said Christopher Hale, a senior fellow with Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good who helped lead national Catholic outreach for Obama's 2012 re-election campaign. "It was hard to find any reasonable Catholic who thought the Health and Human Services mandate was handled well."

Differences over same sex-marriage only added to the strained relationship.

Religious experts said Francis would not have been likely to wade into politically charged conversations during the meeting.

"The Vatican has to be very careful to not create a gap between what they're saying and the bishops are saying," Schneck said. "They will be very careful not to undercut the American bishops in that regard."

"Everybody on the planet would like to have their picture taken with the Pope these days," Schneck said. "One of the things that would delight Obama is if some of that popularity would rub off. Given the President's current low numbers, he is hoping for a bit of a boost."

 "Religious(?)liberties and right-to-life(?)issues are a concern; 

however, 
the U.S. bishops(?)have appreciated(?)the administration's cooperation(?)on issues(?)of mutua(?)concern."
~(Sister Mary Ann Walsh/Spokeswoman(?) for(?)U.S. Conference of Catholic(?)Bishops)~

"It was a very tough year."

~(Christopher Hale/Senior Fellow With Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good)~ 

 "It was hard to find any reasonable Catholic who thought the Health and Human Services mandate was handled well."

~(Christopher Hale/Senior Fellow With Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good)~ 

"Everybody on the planet would like to have their picture taken with the Pope these days. One of the things that would delight Obama is if some of that popularity would rub off. Given the President's current low numbers, he is hoping for a bit of a boost."

House Speaker John Boehner, an Ohio Republican and a Catholic, recently invited the Pope to address a joint session of Congress.

"His Holiness(?)is probably the only(?)person in the world(?)who has to put up(?)with more(?)protocol."

~(President Barrack Hussein Obama/"Sand Nigger in the White House With a Camel Habit")~