The Pope and Kim Davis: Seven points to keep in mind

Friday, October 2nd, 2015

What are we to make of the story that Pope Francis met Kim Davis at the Vatican Embassy during his stay in Washington?

The story was first reported by Robert Moynihan at Inside the Vatican; subsequently, ABC News interviewed Ms. Davis.

Confirming the meeting, but offering no further details, the Vatican spokesperson, Father Federico Lombardi, S.J., said “I do not deny that the meeting took place, but I have no other comments to add.”

A few things to bear in mind:

Pope Francis met with many individuals during his visits in Washington, New York, and Philadelphia, at various locations and events.
Such meetings are arranged in several ways.
It’s hard to know how much the Pope Francis knew about each individual who was introduced to him during his long trip to the United States.
His words to her, “Be strong,” and his gift of a rosary seem to be the kind of thing the pope might do for anyone presented to him.
For those wondering what all of this means, it’s probably best not to interpret a meeting that the Vatican will not speak about, and also to be careful about swallowing wholesale the interpretation of those who would use this meeting to support their own agenda.
It’s ill advised to use a private visit with the pope to make political point.
Most of all, despite what Ms. Davis said, a meeting with the pope does not “kind of validate everything”; Pope Francis also met Mark Wahlberg, and that does not mean that he liked “Ted.” Continue reading

Kim Davis is the county clerk of Rowan County, Kentucky who gained national media attention after defying a federal court order requiring that she issue marriage licenses to gay couples.