What is the Vatican View on US withdrawal from Iraq, and the Vatican #2 guy asks America a Question

I try to make a case that a rapid withdrawal of US and Coalition forces would be a disaster in Iraq and for the Iraqi people

It is no secret that the Vatican was not thrilled about the US going into Iraq. However as I keep mentioning we are way past that point.

I have just seen the the transcript from last Wednesday's news conference with the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. The whole thing is a good read.

However note these parts.

To the pointed question of
The situation in Iraq – what would a moral withdrawal look like?-
The Cardinal says:
I refer back to the words of the Holy Father who said we’re in a very critical moment of this discussion. I don’t want to say we’re in a blind alley; nevertheless, it is a very complicated situation and that’s the position where we are at right now. Perhaps we can begin thinking about some round tables or discussions where people are brought together to discuss this at a regional and at an international level.I encourage all to search for a satisfactory solution in the Middle East.

Notice he did not say- Heck yes the United States must withdraw now. Notice nothing like that was expressed by the Vatican during the May visit of Bush to the Vatican. One gets a sense that the Church recognizes that a Unilateral withdrawal would be a disaster and are staying away from endorsing that. Does the Vatican want US troops to leave at some point and Iraqis to live in peace. Yes. That is great so do we. The Vatican will not endorse a particular plan as I can forsee. However, I constantly hear that the Vatican wants US and Coalition troops out of Iraq not just now but yesterday. That has not occurred. Catholics of good will can disagree on what we should be doing. But I think it is important to see what the Vatican says and what it is does not.

Other notes of interest to Catholics and US politics (Including the question the Vatican Secretary of State Ask Americans)
Regarding conversations with Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and a possible visit of Pope Benedict to the United States.
The telephone conversation should really remain private – notwithstanding the fact that some of those conversations may be able to be tapped. The conversations dealt primarily with the state of Christians in the Middle East. I recognize the untiring efforts of the American Secretary of State in her work. I told her that her travels by plane, in her efforts for peace, are accompanied by the angels. If they weren’t accompanied by the angels, then she would never be able to knit back together all of these relationships that have been so fragile and difficult. I think that we will be able to continue these discussions during a future visit of the Secretary of State of the United States to Rome.
As you know, the visit of the Holy Father [to the United States] is a work in progress. Perhaps the Apostolic Nuncio, present here, will be convening meetings of the interested parties, as the planning stages go further for this particular visit, probably next year.

In 2004 there was a great debate in the United States about those politicians who support abortion and whether they should be denied Communion. In the 2008 election we may also see Catholics running for office, including those who support abortion. Is this a debate beyond the United States and is this something where the Vatican may wish to issue guidelines to guide the bishops?

I don’t think that it is necessary to repeat new norms because the norms are well explained in the doctrine of the Church, and those norms which deal with the proper stance of individuals who want to receive Communion.I don’t understand how a person in public office or one engaged in political activity can be obliged to renounce his Catholic identity because the party, be it in the U.S. or in other countries, imposes an ethical choice on the basis of the party’s program.This, according to me, does not respect freedom of conscience. It even seems to me to be an oppression of conscience. Where is the freedom of conscience that is so proclaimed and defended in America?
I am speaking here about the question of abortion, about homosexual marriage, about embryonic research, all the points that were discussed so eloquently yesterday by the Supreme Knight, Mr. Anderson.

Where is the freedom of conscience that is so proclaimed and defended in America? Good question Cardinal.