An article in L'Osservatore Romano has stated that awarding President Obama with the Nobel Peace Prize is premature.
The nominations were closed 11 days after he became President, the Examiner notes.
The article points out that "the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama has taken everyone somewhat by surprise, first and foremost the U.S. president himself", Catholic News Agency says.
"During the last 90 years," L'Osservatore noted, "the prize has never been awarded to a sitting U.S. president-when it was awarded to Jimmy Carter in 2002 he had been out of office already for some time-[but was] involved in politics and susceptible, therefore, to making a range of decisions related to peace."
Perhaps for this reason, the newspaper said, "Analysts have almost unanimously interpreted his selection as a way of pressuring Obama to make pacifist choices as his administration continues forward."
L'Osservatore also questioned the administration's actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying that the decisions seem aimed at trying to find a middle way between "fidelity to the pacifist statements made during the campaign season and a more realistic policy, which some have defined as a continuation of that of the ‘warmonger' Bush."
This back-and-forth policy, the paper observed, is very similar to the approach that Obama has taken to "the great bioethics issues, with abortion being first and foremost." His way of doing things has generated great controversy among Catholics in the country, the daily added.
"Obama ought to recall that in 1979 he was preceded by Mother Teresa, who had the courage to state in her acceptance speech that the harshest war with the greatest number of 'fallen' is the practice of abortion, legalized and facilitated as well by the international structures."
In spite of this concern regarding Obama's lack of decisiveness regarding the wars he is supposed to be leading and his stance for pro-abortion issues, the paper does give him some credit.
"...at the same time, as the director of the Holy See's Press Office has stated, we cannot help but rejoice at the recognition of President Obama's efforts at nuclear disarmament and his personal disposition towards a policy that seeks peace more than the affirmation of U.S. power in the world."
Yesterday, USCCB President Cardinal Francis George congratulated Obama, ZENIT reports.
"In the name of the Catholic Bishops of the United States, I would like to offer congratulations to President Barack Obama on his receiving the Nobel Peace Prize," Cardinal George said.
"As he has graciously said, much of the work of realizing a more peaceful and just world for all persons and nations remains to be done; but the prize was given because as President of the United States he has already changed the international conversation.
"In our own country, the remarkable and historic achievement of his election has changed the relationships between men and women of all races. The rich diversity of United States society is now more surely anchored in a national unity that is better able to foster the peace we all are challenged to pursue. Our prayer is that almighty God will bless the president and his family," Cardinal George concluded.
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Vatican newspaper believes Obama's Nobel Peace Prize "premature" (Examiner)
Vatican paper calls Nobel Prize for Obama 'premature,' highlights his abortion stance (Catholic News Agency)
US bishops congratulate Obama (ZENIT)