Should Kerry go see the Pope? Should Kerry take his wife?

[billbuckhead]

Would this be a way to "shock and awe" Bush? Let's ask the Vatican who they're for? A reverse JFK for the new JFK. Let's ask the catholic church and moderate Protestants to publically make a choice like the fundies do. Surely the Vatican can't prefer Bush to Kerry. Let's make them pick. Hispanics, Pennsylvanians, Louisianans, Ohioans and inquiring Catholic minds and non-Catholic minds want to know. I went to a Benedictine college and I know these people. It's time these "mainstreamers" are forced like in WW2 or the civil rights struggles to make a choice.

[JVS]

1. Keeping the church out of politics is a good thing

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[mot78]

9. Quit spewing that anti-Catholic vitriol

[JohnKleeb]

15. thank you mot

[Kathleen04]

3. No!

That would give the impression that the Vatican wields too much power on Kerry's policy. Didn't JFK say something like "I'll be a President who happens to be Catholic, not a Catholic President"...that should still apply.

Americans don't want the President to be beholden to the Catholic Church.

[DAGDA56]

4. But they DO want a president who is "religious"...I do agree...

...that 40 years after JFK his statement still holds up as good policy, simply because some of the same anti Catholic bias that was in this country then still remains.

[Kathleen04]

7. True..

I also don't think that the statement is exclusive to religion. Voters don't really want a President who is beholden to anyone. In reality, any elected official is somewhat beholden to special interests/campaign contributers, but that's all slightly more covert and less upfront than religion.

[DAGDA56]

10. Yes, that's why I think the idea that B* is beholdin' to the Saudis...

and OPEC...to the point that deals are being made, is a story with legs. JFK never got orders from the Vatican, but some could make the case that Bush gets his marching orders from Riyadh.

[Rowdyboy]

5. Only if he wants to lose very, very, very badly

[alcuno]

6. There are 75 million Catholics in the US and the Holy Father is an icon.

It doesn't matter if we agree with him, the vast majority of Catholics are crazy about the Holy Father.

I change my vote to just sending Teresa.

[Rowdyboy]

8. With the current arch-conservative tide in the Roman Catholic Church

I'm afraid that whatever Kerry might do would be deliberately misinterpreted. He's either caving to the church or opposing the church-damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Sending Teresa would be okay but it could be very difficult for her to hold her tongue.

[alcuno]

13. I really like the idea of just sending Teresa.

And I think there are a couple of daughters. Blair visited the Holy Father and * sent that cabal of crazy Catholics to see him.

[Skittles]

11. I don't mean any disrespect

but when I see our current Pope I wonder why such a frail, ill man is trotted out for show. It is obscene.

[alcuno]

14. The Holy Father is a man of steel.

I remember being in Rome at the Vatican on a Sunday morning when he came to his window. And the crowd went wild.........

[Skittles]

16. um, no he is not a man of steel

he is old, frail, and very ill and very likely knows little of what is going on. It isn't right.

[IronLionZion]

12. NO because he's pro-choice

and supports gay rights so they will not support him.

And religion should really be kept out of this. This is one of the reasons I didn't want Holy Joe on the ticket--he wears his religion on his sleave and that is just wrong for a politician.

[jakefrep]

17. What really bothers me....

is that some American Catholic leaders are trying to play politics with the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Archbishop Sean O'Malley of Boston has said that Catholic politicians (ie Kerry) who oppose core Catholic teachings (ie abortion) "shouldn't dare come to communion."
It's this kind of petty, nickel-and-dime crap that drives folks like us away from the Church.