were the words of a man opening himself up to personal, philosophical and theological growth.
I also heard the words of a man who knows he cannot do all this growing by himself and kindly asks for Spirit and people's prayers to guide him in the task of doing so.
I also heard the words of a man who said that the papacy is not about promulgating his own ideas, but about seeking truth and added that truth without love is false, or meaningless and that LOVE without truth is empty.
I also heard the words of a man who addressed the evil of POWER without truth which is willing to corrupt and kill and lie just so as to have power AND I WONDERED WHAT JEB BUSH WHO WAS SITTING IN THAT AUDIENCE MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT BECAUSE THE WORDS TO ME FELT LIKE POPE BENNY MIGHT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING, AMONG OTHERS, BUT VERY DIRECTLY THE DOINGS OF GEORGE W. BUSH AND OF HIS LYING, CHEATING GOVERNMENT...not to mention JEB'S OWN LYING, CHEATING, STATE GOVERNMENT.
I heard the words too of a man who sees and says that there are many empties in men's, women's and children's lives today. The empties of poverty, of broken love and broken promises, the emptiness of wars, the emptiness of a people without hope ...
I heard the words of a man who knows the pulse of the people and who did not miss a beat...
and yes, granted, POPE'S BENNY views of human sexuality are of the antiquated theological kind, "PRETEND SEXUALITY DOES NOT EXIST" ...
but then ... in his search for truth and growth and guidance from the SPIRIT and with the help of PEOPLE'S PRAYERS ... pope benny might open himself up to further grownt on this matter.
(and just as i was typing this and for whatever the symbolism of it might be worth to anyone... one of the local neighborhood doves
keeps fluttering outside my window trying to come inside) ...
may the SPIRIT take POPE BENNY BY THE HAND AND GUIDE HIM IN THIS JOURNEY OF PHILOSOPHICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH.