George W. Bush, has put his neck on the line on a few issues. One of which was abortion. This topic, no matter which side you land on, is always controversial. More often then not, politicians often stay away from this with a ten-foot poll. That said, Bush has made his opinion public and well known. We can gleem from this that Bush, no matter what we think of his policies, is definitly a religous man.
Meanwhile...
The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, has publiclly time and time again made his opinion well known; that although this is not an un-just war, a diplomatic approach must be persued more. Although this is not a declaration of faith and morals (thus meaning Papal Infalibilty is not exercised), he raises some very good points.
Bush, using his past track record, seems likely to listen to the Holy Father. Why is he not this time, after potentially hurting himself politiclly with his religous convictions?
Makes me wonder if Bush knows something the rest of us don't.
Reviewer of games, token redneck, and one of the few remaining Expos fans.
Bush is definitly not a Catholic (Methodist, isn't he?), so I seriously doubt that he is going to listen to the Pope as a "source of religious guidance."
Besides, it is one thing to allow your own personal faith to influence your decisions, it is another entirely to take marching orders from any church leadership.
Bush's track record indicates the former- and I think the odds are next to zero that Bush will allow the Pope any sway in his policy.
That aside- I abhor the concept of partial birth abortion, and that does not make me a "religious" man.
I honestly don't think Bush's actions of late, like the Iraq situation, the War on Terror, and PBA, have anything to do with political standing. It has to do with a leader doing what is right. And I think that is an animal that American politicians thought they killed off long ago.
Originally posted by El NastioBush, using his past track record, seems likely to listen to the Holy Father. Why is he not this time, after potentially hurting himself politiclly with his religous convictions?
Bush is a born again Christian, most of which would tell the pope to suck it. The Pope has not been the "leader" so to speak of all of Christendom since 1054 and not even the leader of western Christendom since Martin Luther and co. bolted in 1525.
There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. - Theodore Roosevelt, Ocotber 12, 1915
I know many born-again and also non-Christians who respect the Pope....you don't need to be Catholic to respect the man. The former Soviet Union at first thought nothing of him, don't forget.
My point is that regardless of Bush not being Catholic, you'd think that he'd show larger receptiveness to the Pope's call for peace, given some of Bush's policies and ideas with moral overtones.
Reviewer of games, token redneck, and one of the few remaining Expos fans.
Originally posted by Grimis Bush is a born again Christian, most of which would tell the pope to suck it. The Pope has not been the "leader" so to speak of all of Christendom since 1054 and not even the leader of western Christendom since Martin Luther and co. bolted in 1525.
I would hope that Bush, or anyone with a shred of decency, would have enough respect for the Pope that they wouldn't tell him to 'suck it' regardless of their personal opinion about Catholicism. If you truly feel this way, I would challenge you to read a little about John Paul II. Whether or not you like the Catholic church, he is a very impressive man and has done more to fight for freedom from tyranny than most anyone. For crying out loud, he matured in Nazi Germany occupied Poland and then spent most of his time as cardinal behind the Iron Curtain.
On a theological note, as hard as it is for many fundamentalists to believe, Catholics are 'born again Christians' also.
Originally posted by El NastioI know many born-again and also non-Christians who respect the Pope....you don't need to be Catholic to respect the man. The former Soviet Union at first thought nothing of him, don't forget.
My point is that regardless of Bush not being Catholic, you'd think that he'd show larger receptiveness to the Pope's call for peace, given some of Bush's policies and ideas with moral overtones.
Of course Bush will listen to Pope's call for peace but that does not mean he will follow it. Bush's main job is protect the people of this country. The pope does not have that responsibility. No matter what other people may say Bush does not want to go to war. He feels that with the information that he has that he need to remove Saddam from power to protect the people of these United States.
Remember this about the Pope: He's in his mid 80's and is very sickly. At this point, its the stooges behind him calling the shots, as they try to position themselves for when he dies.
If it wasn't for war, you wouldn't know what peace was.
Originally posted by redsoxnationRemember this about the Pope: He's in his mid 80's and is very sickly. At this point, its the stooges behind him calling the shots, as they try to position themselves for when he dies.
Uh, I don't know if you're mis-informed or just very very cynical. Just because your body may be weak doesn't mean your mind is as well. Just rememeber; this "sickly" man has done more for human rights and world peace than any of us can hope to dream of (and that's just in the past few years).
Reviewer of games, token redneck, and one of the few remaining Expos fans.