Bush é Refém Político do Papa

Bush é Refém Político do Papa

A conclusão é do noticiário católico Zenit. Confira abaixo:

Os meios de comunicação dos Estados Unidos e a visita de Bush ao Papa
No centro do debate: a investigação científica com embriões humanos

NOVA IORQUE, 26 de julho de 2001 (ZENIT.org).- O encontro que mantiveram em 23 de julho passado João Paulo II e George W. Bush em Castelgandolfo, e especialmente a exortação papal em defesa da vida desde a constituição do embrião, atraiu amplo espaço nas primeiras páginas dos jornais e revistas norte americanos, assim como em muitos debates televisivos.

De fato, o encontro teve lugar em um momento decisivo: o inquilino da Casa Branca está a ponto de decidir se autoriza ou não o financiamento com verbas públicas a pesquisa sobre células mãe extraídas de embriões. Este procedimento destrói a vida embrional, suscitando sérias questões éticas.

O «Washington Post» e o «Wall Street Journal», no dia seguinte ao encontro, trataram de analisar se as palavras do Papa sobre esse argumento podem abrir espaço para um compromisso, que permitiria a investigação unicamente com os embriões já produzidos com fins de reprodução, e que não foram implantados no útero de uma mulher por outros motivos.

Esses dois diários citaram fontes da Conferência Episcopal dos Estados Unidos que excluem essa hipótese, afirmando que João Paulo II considera o embrião como um ser humano, inclusive quando ainda não foi implantado no útero de sua mãe.

O «New York Times», fazendo referência aos comentários de alguns colaboradores da Casa Branca, escreveram que após o encontro com o Santo Padre, Bush postergará ainda mais sua decisão para poder aprofundar-se no tema.

O «Washington Post» ressaltou que, ao defender o direito a uma morte natural, o Papa recordou também sua oposição frente a eutanásia e a pena de morte.

Os debates nos canais de televisão como CNN e NBC discutiram acerca da influência que João Paulo II exerce sobre os mais de 60 milhões de católicos norte americanos, que, segundo os especialistas, representam um grupo de eleitores de posicionamento de centro decisivos para vencer as eleições. Este fato, segundo os analistas, obriga Bush a considerar com atenção as posições da Igreja Católica. -- ZS01072606

Abaixo, em inglês, o que disse o Washington Post sobre o assunto:

Pope's Remarks Spun For Political Import
Advocates on Both Sides See Support

By Thomas B. Edsall and Ceci Connolly
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, July 24, 2001; Page A18

Advocates on both sides of the debate on embryonic stem cell research yesterday reached to find advantage in Pope John Paul II's remarks to President Bush.

Opponents of such research said the pope's stern admonition to "reject practices that devalue and violate human life at any stage from conception until natural death" would severely constrain Bush's ability to find a compromise.

"It would certainly be a grave disappointment to the Catholic leadership if he [Bush] chooses to change his frequently stated position [in opposition to federal funding] on this issue," said Richard M. Doerflinger, associate director of the secretariat for pro-life activities at the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Doerflinger said the pope's language leaves no openings for the kind of compromise being explored by such Republican negotiators as Sen. Bill Frist (Tenn.). Frist would limit research to embryos developed through in vitro fertilization procedures that are to be discarded, would require informed consent from donors, and would prohibit the laboratory creation of embryos for research.

Some advocates of embryonic stem cell research contended that the pope, by referring specifically to "innocent life in the womb" and the creation of embryos for research purposes, left open the possibility of funding research with the cells of embryos under the Frist guidelines.

A strict reading of the pope's remarks suggests he would accept that type of embryonic research, said Elisabeth Bresee, executive director of the Parkinson's Action Network. "If taken very literally, the president could rule in our favor and side with the pope," she said.

This interpretation was dismissed by Doerflinger and Catholic theologian Pia de Solenni. "In the pope's view, that embryo is a human child," de Solenni said. "There is no open door for using extras."

Bush and his strategists view Catholic voters as crucial to his reelection, and they have been conducting an extensive campaign to woo church leaders in the United States. At the same time, many members of the House and Senate, including a number of Republicans, strongly support embryonic stem cell research and are pushing hard for federal funding.

Privately, some Bush allies voiced concern that Bush's meeting with the pope may turn out to be a political liability.

"Strategically, he should have made his decision on the research and announced it before he met with the pope," said a Catholic who supports Bush. "This way, it looks like he is taking orders from the pope."

In the 2000 campaign, Bush sought to win over Catholic voters, who have been inclined to back Democrats. Bush succeeded in winning a majority of white Catholics, 52 percent to 45 percent, in contrast to his father and 1996 GOP presidential candidate Robert J. Dole, who both lost that voting bloc.

Recently, however, Bush's approval numbers have been dropping faster among Catholics than among voters overall. While down 8 points to 55 percent among all voters, Bush has dropped 17 points, from 65 to 48 percent, among Catholics from April to June, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), acknowledging the church's opposition has been well-known, described the pope as "an important voice, but one voice" in the emotionally charged issue. "I don't see it as tipping the debate one way or the other or as having a disproportionate influence on the president's decision."

Similarly, de Solenni said "cultural Catholics" in the United States consider the pope's statements "a matter of opinion, rather than a matter of fact."

Scientists say their work on stem cells taken from days-old embryos has the potential to lead to cures and treatments of a wide range of diseases including diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Although similar work on adult stem cells holds promise, many scientists argue the embryonic cells are preferable because they can develop into any type of tissue.

Fonte: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39317-2001Jul23.html.

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