The Vatican Understands Obama's Coattails

The Vatican clearly understands the choices available when a train is coming and have opted to get on. Amy Sullivan at Time has an interesting aggregate of the Holy See's massive rationalization in favor of Obama's policies and speech at Notre Dame here.

But this takes the cake. In an interview with an Italian newspaper the day after Obama's speech, Giavonni Maria Vian, editor-in-chief of L'Osservatore Romano, seemed to forcefully push back against the view that Obama is a threat to Catholic values and religious freedom. “Obama has not upset the world,” said Vian. “His speech at Notre Dame has been respectful toward every position. He tried to engage the debate stepping out from every ideological position and outside every ‘confrontational mentality.' To this extent his speech is to be appreciated.”