CNN Exclusive: Pope held private meeting with same-sex couple in U.S.
Source: CNN
(CNN)The day before Pope Francis met anti-gay county clerk Kim Davis in Washington last week, he held a private meeting with a longtime friend from Argentina who has been in a same-sex relationship for 19 years. Yayo Grassi, an openly gay man, brought his partner, Iwan, as well several other friends to the Vatican Embassy on September 23 for a brief visit with the Pope. A video of the meeting shows Grassi and Francis greeting each other with a warm hug.
In an exclusive interview with CNN, Grassi declined to disclose details about the short visit, but said it was arranged personally by the Pope via email in the weeks ahead of Francis' highly anticipated visit to the United States. "Three weeks before the trip, he called me on the phone and said he would love to give me a hug," Grassi said.
The meeting between Grassi and the Pope adds another intriguing twist to the strange aftermath of Francis' first-ever trip to the United States. Since news broke on Tuesday of Francis' meeting with Davis, conservatives have cheered the seemingly implicit endorsement, while liberals have questioned how much the Pope knew about her case.
In a statement on Friday, the Vatican said that the meeting with Davis was not intended as a show of support for her cause and said "the only real audience granted by the Pope at the nunciature (embassy) was with one of his former students and his family."
Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/02/us/pope-gay-washington/index.html
And this was personally arranged by him, unlike the encounter with Davis, who was in a bunch of people with her third husband.

BumRushDaShow
(148,790 posts)awwwww sh*t. Head explosions.
Az_lefty
(3,670 posts)not the Kim Davis BS
tk2kewl
(18,133 posts)zentrum
(9,866 posts)
..that the Davis meeting was engineered by a conservative group in the Vatican, hoping to undermine his trip to the USA as soon as he returned to Rome. The hope was that the media would focus on this and not on the more progressive things, such as they were, that he said and did. Which is exactly what has happened.
In all inner political circles, there's always these Borgia-like things going on. Happens in our congress too. With Kochs as the modern venal "Princes". Same Court politics.
MH1
(18,444 posts)(as Charlie is known to do. )
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a38440/pope-francis-swindled-kim-davis-meeting/
...
Before we continue, let us stipulate a few things. First of all, let us stipulate that there are more than a few members of the Church's permanent bureaucracy, both within the Clan Of The Red Beanie and without, who are not happy that this gentleman got elected Pope, and who are not happy with what he's done and said since he was. Second, let us stipulate that many members of this group are loyal to both former pope Josef Ratzinger and, through him, to the memory (and to what they perceive as the legacy) of John Paul II who, for good and ill, had a much different idea of how to wield a papacy than Papa Francesco does. Third, let us stipulate that this opposition to the current pope has been active and vocal, to say nothing of paranoid. Finally, let us stipulate that, for over 2000 years, the Vatican has been a hotbed of intrigue, betrayal, and sanctified ratfcking on a very high scale. (It also has been a hotbed of, well, hot beds, but that's neither here nor there at the moment.) So, if you're one of these people, and you're looking to ratfck the pope's visit to the United States, and to his agenda in general, you'd be looking to put him in a box. So, how would you do that?
Here's what I'd do. I'd arrange for the pope to meet Davis, but not as an American culture war celebrity, but as a devout Christian whose faith is under vague assault. (I would not mention the three marriages or the fact that she took an oath before god to do her job. I mean, why burden the poor old fella with details, right?) I'd shuffle her through the process and she gets some vague words of encouragement from the pope, who otherwise doesn't know her from any other hick who gets sent his way. I'd sit on the news for the entire rest of the pope's trip, even enlisting Davis's publicity-hungry legal team in that effort.
...
("a hotbed of hot beds"

BlueMTexpat
(15,541 posts)I just found the article myself.
When Ratzi Church appointees (embeds?) were involved in getting Kim Davis ushered in with the rest, I wondered. It makes a twisted sort of sense.
L. Coyote
(51,134 posts)Oh oh, Kim Davis shook the hand that hugged a guy gay. She's a tainted conservative now.
Geronimoe
(1,539 posts)Love this little hiccup in Kim's and her attorneys' tall tales.
Johnny2X2X
(22,519 posts)Seems like it was the Pope himself that set up this meeting. I doubt the Pope will ever come out for Gay Marriage, but this was a show of support for compassion and love.
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)I don't expect a 180 in regards to the Catholic Church and marriage equality. But I know how Americans use to be in regards to the LGBT community. Hell I know how I use to be when I was a kid growing up in rural Pennsylvania back in the 70s. Sometimes it's the little things that get the ball rolling in the right direction.
I know this Pope is not perfect, he is not the hero of the liberals. But I know that many of us including even Bernie Sanders do see him as a good ally for many of our top causes like income equality, immigration rights and climate change and we respect the fact that when the Pope is given a microphone in which to speak in front of a crowd these are the issues he focuses on and not the issues that seem to divide our nation like Abortion and Marriage equality.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)Thus, the recognition and respect for LGBT marriage has nothing to do with religion.
We celebrate and enjoy freedom of religion and of thought and conscience when it comes to moral issues.
Churches may do what they want, but our Constitution guarantees equality and the protection of our basic rights.
Marriage is a basic right.
LGBTs cannot be deprived of that basic right.
Protected by their First Amendment rights, the churches decide who receives religious sacraments.
Churches are free and protected under the First Amendment to deny the sacrament of marriage to LGBTs if they wish.
The government dedicated to protecting the equal rights of all citizens cannot deny LGBT couples their fundamental right to marry.
Davis needs to find a different job.
Maybe she should become a marriage counselor or a minister. She seems to have lots of experience with marriage and would probably enjoy refusing the sacrament of marriage to LGBTs. She is just on the wrong career path.
Ms. Davis. Enjoy your retirement.
gcomeau
(5,764 posts)He had the meeting with Davis in the wider context of repeatedly and publicly supporting her position against the rights of gay people.
He had the meeting with his gay friend in the context of "well, while I'm screwing you over on policy I'll give you a hug to show how nice I am about it".
All this is is another demonstration of the fact that this is the PR Pope.
Baitball Blogger
(49,505 posts)Welcome to the double punk.
benld74
(10,063 posts)LynneSin
(95,337 posts)and that is the one that cherry picks the bible so she can be an attention whore.
Jamastiene
(38,197 posts)This is the same guy who compared transgender people to nuclear weapons. He might say a couple interesting things now and again on other topics, but I would never call him pro gay rights in any way, no matter what he does for appearances. Jerry Falwell met with gay people too. He was still an anti-gay bigot.
I don't get the swooning over this guy.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/13/pope-francis-gay-marriage-anti_n_2869221.html
Behind the Aegis
(55,176 posts)It's the old "some of my best friends are..." crap. Some seem almost desperate to make the Pope into something he is not.
pnwmom
(109,764 posts)But in view of the Kim Davis fiasco, he's putting that into context.
Behind the Aegis
(55,176 posts)pnwmom
(109,764 posts)out of normal human caring.
Behind the Aegis
(55,176 posts)He met with a friend, who happened to be gay and in a same sex relationship, not the head of "DIGNITY."
jeff47
(26,549 posts)Right-wing Christians have turned religion into a weapon in the culture wars. So tax cuts are good because god. Fighting climate change bad because god. And so on.
The Pope is saying the opposite on some of those issues. That can be helpful in breaking the current monopoly on religion in US politics. Breaking that monopoly would be extremely helpful.
But the Pope will never be directly helpful on abortion, women's rights, LGBT rights or similar issues.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)If Francis has moral authority on the climate and economy, that gives him legitimacy for his anti gay and anti choice and anti contraception positions. The argument that he is breaking up some monopoly is specious when the US evangelicals agree with Francis on all of his top activist issues. He is creating interfaith unity against marriage equality and choice while making tidy press releases to lure in hapless liberals to aid in a cause they actually oppose. Or I like to assume they oppose.
Read this, it's about what you think are two very separate groups of religious people meeting at the Vatican to organize against marriage equality. Francis, Rick Warren, Tony Perkins, Maggie Galagher of NOM, all the cats from the Heritage Foundation.
Vatican Strengthens Ties with Evangelicals and Mormons Against Gay Marriage
http://time.com/3597245/vatican-evangelicals-mormons-gay-marriage/
jeff47
(26,549 posts)That would reduce its power as a weapon against Democrats, allowing voters to decide on more than "but my preacher says they are all sinners!!"
He only has the authority people grant to him.
I think of it more like he's walking into the room and flipping over tables. The chaos upsets the previous order, but you do not have to worship the chaos-maker.
He spends a lot more time talking about poverty than talking about LGBT people, and far more than the last few popes. That change is welcome. The continued oppression of women, LGBT people, and continued forcing religion on others is not and requires continued, forceful opposition.
We can use him as a tool without turning ourselves over to him.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)Can you show me his 3 day conference on poverty? This last week's conference was World Meeting of Families' which are under threat you know. It was not a poverty conference.
Just declaring that he does something does not make it so.
BumRushDaShow
(148,790 posts)2-day conference in 2014 - http://www.investingforthepoor.org/
jeff47
(26,549 posts)This is the kind of thing I'm talking about: Kim Davis's lawyers just called the Pope a liar.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141223219
"We can use him where he helps" does not mean "follow him" or "agree with him" or "he will make stuff happen for us while we sit on the couch". A nice little feud between the Vatican and US religious crazies will work nicely. Turning "He's a good Christian, I'll vote for him" to "He's a fucking Papist! I'll never support him" will do quite nicely.
Along the way, we might also get some of his followers to vote to help the poor.
pnwmom
(109,764 posts)And we can continue to argue with him on the others.
But at least the right-wingers can't claim him as their own.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)This means 'our side' is just your side, not my side. My problem with Francis is in the context of Democratic politics, which is the entire context of this website. I'm gay and I'm pro choice.
Dick Cheney supported marriage equality before any Democrat, you did not see us rushing to make common ground with him or to praise his liberal nature. That's because we are not chumps.
Elmer S. E. Dump
(5,751 posts)I think he is doing what he can, and that has been quite a bit. I'm very proud of him (even though I'm an atheist).
Jamastiene
(38,197 posts)Or are you more proud of when he said gay marriage was "the work of the devil and a destructive attack on Gods plan. Or are you more proud of when "He has also said that gay adoption is a form of discrimination against children."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/13/pope-francis-gay-marriage-anti_n_2869221.html
Which ones of those stances are you most PROUD of? Please elaborate. I'm just curious which one of those things you are MOST proud of.
still_one
(98,082 posts)changed its dogma. The facts are the church is still against the same things before Francis assumed the role. The only difference is that this pope expresses more compassion for what he still considers "sinners"
msongs
(70,784 posts)Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)The fact that straight people can't even see how insulting this is when used as some defense of a clearly anti gay activist such as Francis.
Let me know when Francis says he was wrong and that his friend's marriage was not Satan's idea.
Behind the Aegis
(55,176 posts)The good thing is events like this really demonstrate who are our allies and who are all talk!
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)to even try to respond. It's just amazing. They are on automatic pilot. I thought they'd at least try to make an argument in his defense, but they just don't seem capable of it.
Behind the Aegis
(55,176 posts)It seems the "cultural war against the gays" is not over (I never thought it was), and it isn't just being fought on the right!!
MH1
(18,444 posts)I'm not going to defend the Pope's position regarding LGBT rights. It's pretty clear he's not going to do a 180 from where the church has been prior to his election. However, I also think it's pretty clear that he has certain objectives (mainly getting people to come back to the Catholic Church), he is a very smart man, and the Kim Davis thing is and was clearly predictable to be very harmful to his objectives. Ergo, he probably didn't know until after it blew up in US media. This other numbnutz arranged the meeting (with exactly the intent of what happened) and letting this come out has stepped all over the Pope's carefully crafted message and efforts in his US trip.
You can still hate the Pope if that's where your head's at. But at least recognize that it makes NO sense that he would have planned this.
Behind the Aegis
(55,176 posts)Everything is being "carefully crafted" at this point.
Also, I don't hate the Pope. I don't know him. So don't imply I do. And, what I recognize is he needs better handlers, like his PR team, they are doing a bang up job!
Jamastiene
(38,197 posts)don'cha know? What he says about us isn't hate, but when we bring it up later, it means we hate him.
I'm so sick of being told I'm the hatemonger. I'm not the one who wants other people not to have equal rights.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)Shall fall in it.
Jamastiene
(38,197 posts)compared transgender people to nuclear weapons:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/lesterfeder/pope-compares-transgender-people-to-nuclear-weapons#.jfNO22pZ1
He said gay marriage was "the work of the devil" and a destructive attack on Gods plan" and "a total rejection of Gods law."
He has also said that gay adoption is a form of discrimination against children.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/13/pope-francis-gay-marriage-anti_n_2869221.html
...but we "hate" him because we point out that he is against us? Nice logic you are using there.
Darb
(2,807 posts)Didn't think so. But glad to see you here, loaded for bear with cognitive diss.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)Why do you do that? If you have something to day about the subject do so but attacking people personally for speaking their own minds is what bullies do.
restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)and he was bamboozled by an anti lgbt group to meet kim davis, they should release who set that meeting up and who set him up.
I was very hard on this pope when I thought he voluntarily and intentionally met with Kim Davis. If it was a set up, I'd like to know who did it although I'm sure it was right wingers because they wanted to undermine his goodwill for the trip he made
Tarheel_Dem
(31,443 posts)political hack in the Catholic hierarchy sprung Davis on the Pope. I was just listening to On Point (NPR), and they named some Cardinal who they suspect hand a hand in it. Michael Crowley said he doubts the Pope knew who she was.
dawnie51
(959 posts)right there in the Vatican, where he is no doubt sowing seeds of mistrust and alienation every day. Francis needs to send this old bastard to the hinterlands, where he belongs; he is NOT his friend, nor is he a benign former colleague who is living out his sunset years quietly underfoot. He split the Papacy to cover himself and his child molesting friends; he is pulling strings from within. Never more obvious than after this trick.