The Pope's in Town
I gave my cynic the day off, so I'll speak freely. I'm surprised at the press coverage and the reception given to Pope Benedict XVI's trip to the U.S. Critical voices pop up now and then. But, in general, the press seems pretty excited, almost "ga-ga" over the visit. The Catholic Church is and has been the target of a lot of venomous attacks. The press typically provides generous coverage of all that. Are they making up for it now? Or do they somehow sense something extraordinary is happening?
Even Abe Foxman of the Jewish Anti-Defamation League was quite complimentary of BVXI. And, guess what? Foxman, a Holocaust survivor, was baptized and raised Catholic - a fact he acknowledged during an interview yesterday. And he expressed gratitude at having been saved from the Nazi's because of it!
Another thought: Bush can't be going all out during this visit strictly for political reasons. He's not running for anything. Yet there he was greeting the Pope at the airport, essentially playing second fiddle. Neither Bush nor any other President has personally greeted a world leader at the airport like this.
Bush's buddy Tony Blair converted to Catholicism after he left office. Could it be Bush is having similiar thoughts?
Even if he's not converting, why not take him at his word? Regarding what the President plans to tell the Pope, Bush's press secretary said ""He will hear from the president that America and the world need to hear his message that God is love, that human life is sacred, that we all must be guided by common moral law, and that we have responsibilities to care for our brothers and sisters in need, at home and across the world."
All in all, a most remarkable visit by a most remarkable man.
Even Abe Foxman of the Jewish Anti-Defamation League was quite complimentary of BVXI. And, guess what? Foxman, a Holocaust survivor, was baptized and raised Catholic - a fact he acknowledged during an interview yesterday. And he expressed gratitude at having been saved from the Nazi's because of it!
Another thought: Bush can't be going all out during this visit strictly for political reasons. He's not running for anything. Yet there he was greeting the Pope at the airport, essentially playing second fiddle. Neither Bush nor any other President has personally greeted a world leader at the airport like this.
Bush's buddy Tony Blair converted to Catholicism after he left office. Could it be Bush is having similiar thoughts?
Even if he's not converting, why not take him at his word? Regarding what the President plans to tell the Pope, Bush's press secretary said ""He will hear from the president that America and the world need to hear his message that God is love, that human life is sacred, that we all must be guided by common moral law, and that we have responsibilities to care for our brothers and sisters in need, at home and across the world."
All in all, a most remarkable visit by a most remarkable man.
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