Vatican Spokesman: ‘I Applaud the White House’

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WASHINGTON, September 22, 2015 (ChurchMilitant.com) - Vatican spokesman Fr. Thomas Rosica is downplaying the controversy surrounding the White House's decision to invite potentially scandalous guests to the Pope's welcome ceremony later this week.

"I can tell you this formally from the Vatican, as I have a certain title to bring news from the Vatican, that the Vatican never gets involved in the guest lists of heads of state," Fr. Rosica told Fox News' Mike Wallace on Sunday night.

He was also asked about reports of an unnamed Vatican official allegedly criticizing the White House for making a guest list with people hostile to Church teaching yet not including pro-lifers. Father Rosica dismissed the concern. "If some Vatican officials unnamed have expressed concern, that's their issue, and they should come forward and give their name," he said.

There will in fact be pro-lifers at the White House to greet the Pope, though they haven't been publicized, Fr. Rosica claimed.

"There are 15,000 or so people invited to the White House and there are many pro-life people in that audience. I met a few coming here this morning. They are looking forward to it," he stated. "They don't have press agents who are telling the world that they are invited to the White House. That's the problem."

He added, similar to White House spokesman Josh Earnest, that "to say that they have invited six or eight out of 15,000 really doesn't do justice to the 14,994 who represent the American people."

Despite its disrespectful move to use the Pope's visit as an occasion for its own left-wing propaganda, Fr. Rosica thanked the White House for welcoming the Pope.

"I applaud the White House for having such a wonderful reception," said Fr. Rosica.

Among the guests at the upcoming ceremony are transgender and gay activists, a gay Episcopalian "bishop" and a dissident nun.

According to EWTN's Raymond Arroyo, former Vatican ambassador Jim Nicholson is saying, "The Obama administration is using the Pope for their agenda."

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