It looks like the Pope is intent on embarrassing our president when he makes his trip here next week.
During a Thursday conference call sponsored by the nonprofit organization Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, a number of theologians, academics and other experts discussed the importance of the pope’s visit, and the various issues he might address.
The alliance, based in Washington, addresses social justice issues from a Catholic perspective. Those participating in the conference call included the Rev. Richard Ryscavage, director of Fairfield University’s Center for Faith in Public Life; Thomas Reese, a senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Woodstock Theological Center; the Rev. David Hollenbach, director of Boston College’s Center for Human Rights; and others.o<
The experts predict that Benedict will weigh in on a number of key issues facing the country. Topping that list is the ongoing war in Iraq — a war the pope has strongly opposed. During his visit, the pope will meet with President Bush and appear before the United Nations. Reese said, during both these meetings, he expects the pope to be critical of our involvement in Iraq. "When he's meeting with the president, [the pope] could very easily turn to the president and say 'I told you so,' " Reese said.
Hollenbach also expects the war to be addressed. He said he anticipates that Benedict will talk about the “culture of fear,” in the United States, which Hollenbach believes is integral to our involvement in the war.
“Fear can lead to angry responses,” Hollenbach said. “I think the pope’s message is going to be ‘Don’t be afraid.’ I think the overcoming of fear can take away the impulse for war.”
Not only that, but he is blowing off a White House dinner party that is being thrown in his honor.
The White House has scheduled a dinner next week in honor of Pope Benedict XVI’s first visit to the United States, but one guest will be conspicuously absent from the proceedings: the pope himself.
There are no competing events listed on the pope’s schedule, and the White House was unable to explain Benedict’s absence from the dinner.
The pontiff will be greeted by the president and first lady upon his arrival to the US Tuesday and participate in a Rose Garden appearance and Oval Office meeting with President Bush the next day. A dinner scheduled for later Wednesday night didn’t make it onto the Benedict’s schedule, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said Friday.
After lobbying for John Kerry’s excommunication in 2004 and now this, it is pretty clear that this Pope is not a huge fan of American politicians. I can’t say that I really blame him, but it’s worth noting.
