An early preview of President George W. Bush's forthcoming memoir
“Decision Points,” has revealed that the book will discuss the former
president's relationship with Pope John Paul II—especially the Pope's
influence on his decision to restrict embryonic stem cell research.
The Pontiff and president met publicly in 2001, 2002 and 2004, for
discussions that displayed both profound agreements and serious
differences between the two men.
On October 28, 2010, the Drudge Report posted exclusive details from
the president's memoir (available November 9).
Their first look at
“Decision Points” mentioned that the Pope's vision of a “culture of
life” helped the president understand the dignity of embryonic human
lives, even as proponents of embryonic research urged him to consider
the possible benefits.
During their first meeting, in July of 2001, Pope John Paul II
reminded the president that “a free and virtuous society, which America
aspires to be, must reject practices that devalue and violate human life
at any stage from conception to natural death.”
“Through a vibrant culture of life,” the Holy Father told Bush on
that occasion, “America can show the world the path to a truly humane
future, in which man remains the master, not the product, of his
technology.”
According to the Drudge Report preview, President Bush was strongly
moved by the Pope's cultural vision, as well as his personal witness.
John Paul II had been suffering from Parkinson's disease for up to a
decade at the time of the meeting.
But he opposed research into any
possible treatment that would have involved the destruction of embryonic
lives.
The Pope's words and witness that summer led the president to make a
decision protecting embryonic life in crucial ways.
On August 9, 2001,
President Bush announced that federal money would not fund research
involving any further destruction of embryos for research purposes. The
ban remained in place throughout his administration.
Although the president's address on stem cells drew some criticism
for its moderately positive take on in vitro fertilization (which also
involves the mass production and killing of embryos), many observers
praised his cautious approach to bioethical questions, as well as his
advocacy of adult-derived stem cell research.
Crown Publishing Group, the publishers of the former president's
book, has revealed that “Decision Points” will also detail the
considerations that led to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003.
In regard to this decision, President Bush did not agree with Pope John
Paul II.
The Holy Father publicly opposed the “Bush doctrine” of preemptive
war against countries suspected of threatening the U.S., stating that
war was to be regarded only as a last resort once all other options were
exhausted.
On March 18, 2003, two days before the invasion, the Pope
warned of “tremendous consequences” for the Iraqi people, and said there
was “still time to negotiate” to avoid war.
That same day, President Bush declared that America had exhausted its
options, describing the invasion as a necessity due to weapons of mass
destruction allegedly being prepared by Saddam Hussein.
When the two men
met again in 2004, the Pope reaffirmed that the stance against war
remained “the unequivocal position of the Holy See.”
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