By Philip F. Lawler
Let’s make something clear right away. Pope Benedict has not endorsed
the Obama administration’s gun-control plans. The Pope has said nothing
on the subject. But Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the
Vatican press office—has released a statement on gun control,
in his weekly editorial commentary for Vatican Radio. Inevitably his
editorial will be portrayed by careless reporters as an official
statement of the Vatican’s position. It is not; Father Lombardi does not
set policy for the Vatican, or make authoritative statements for the
Catholic Church.
Nor does the Catholic Church make authoritative statements about
partisan political matters—especially partisan political matters in a
country far from Rome, a country whose political affairs Vatican
officials do not understand.
”The initiatives announced by the United States government in view of
limiting and controlling the diffusion and use of arms are certainly a
step in the right direction,” Father Lombardi pronounced as he began his
commentary. Obviously he was referring to the executive orders issued
by President Obama (who, by the way, is not “the United States
government”) last week. The wording of the editorial is vague; we don’t
know which initiatives in particular met with Father Lombardi’s
approval. We don’t know, actually, whether the Vatican spokesman is
actually acquainted with the specifics of the White House plans. In
short—let’s not mince words—we don’t know whether Father Lombardi knows
what he’s talking about.
Still, notice the word “certainly” in that opening sentence. Father
Lombardi would have his listeners believe not only that the Obama plans
are laudable, but that they are certainly good public policy. How can he possibly justify that claim?
Is Father Lombardi an expert on American constitutional law and/or on
the history of gun-control efforts in the US? Has he studied the results of previous efforts to restrict ownership of assault weapons?
Has he listened in on the current debates in Washington, and weighed
alternative proposals? If not, on what basis does he proclaim—with
certainty!—that the Obama plans deserve support?
Later in his editorial Father Lombardi makes another remarkably sweeping claim:
Therefore, it is necessary to repeat tirelessly our calls for disarmament, to oppose the production, trade, and smuggling of arms of all types, fueled by dishonorable interests for power or financial gain.
Certainly the smuggling of arms is morally suspect. (But even there,
is the prohibition absolute? Could it be just to smuggle arms to
oppressed citizens hoping to overthrow a tyrannical government?) And we
can all agree that the trade in arms—or in anything else—is wrong when
it is “fueled by dishonorable interests.” But Father Lombardi seems to
be arguing that all production and sale of weapons should be
banned. Just a few sentences earlier he conceded that guns can be
“instruments for legitimate defense.” Now we would deny those
instruments—not only to civilians, but also to soldiers and police
officers!
Father Lombardi appears badly informed about the American debate on
gun control, and his argument is badly framed. He goes well beyond what
the Church teaches on the use of arms and the limits of legitimate
self-defense, and offers instead his own ill-formed opinion. This is an
unfortunate misuse of his position as spokesman for the Vatican.
The Catholic Church does not claim any special expertise on matters
of public policy. Rather, the teaching authority of the Church sets
forth general moral principles by which political leaders should be
guided. Father Lombardi’s editorial is short on general principles and
long on political prescriptions. As someone who deals with reporters
daily, he should have foreseen that it would be interpreted as an
endorsement of President Obama. How else could it be interpreted?
If he were attuned to the realities of the American political scene,
Father Lombardi would have remembered that this week brings the 40th
anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. This week tens of
thousands of pro-life Americans will descend on Washington for the
annual March for Life. This week of all weeks, the pro-life movement
wants the attention of Washington focused on abortion. Instead the
Vatican spokesman helps the White House to keep the gun-control issue in
the headlines. This week of all weeks, pro-lifers want President Obama
called to account for the policies he has espoused to protect the
abortion industry. Instead Father Lombardi praises Obama’s work on an
unrelated matter. The timing of the Vatican Radio editorial, as well as
its content, shows that Father Lombardi has a tin ear when it comes to
American political affairs.
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