Seriously, where does the Washington Post find these people? So what if there are more Catholics on his speechwriting team than any other president in history? Do they really think we're supposed to measure a man's religious ideals by the people he employs to write for him? What's next: if we find out one of his speechwriters is secretly an atheist, we'll know some part of the president is secretly an atheist too? Really?
And if the president is so Catholic, why won't the Pope eat dinner with him? George and Laura are hosting a State Dinner in honor of the Pope on Wednesday. These things don't just happen accidentally. They are negotiated well in advance with a great deal of diplomatic care. Absolutely everything is planned in almost excruciating detail. The event was even planned to coincide with the Pope's 81st birthday. But at the very last minute, the Pope has declined to attend. Won't be showing up. Why? Maybe its the war. Maybe its Bush's recent admission that he authorized torture. Who knows? Either way, the Pope won't be in attendance at his own State Dinner / birthday party.
Here's a question I'd love to ask Daniel Burke, the author of this ridiculous "Bush is the first Catholic president" piece in the Post. If not only the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, but also Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have declared our war in Iraq to be immoral and unjust, how can anyone say with a straight face that "Bush has shown great deference to church teachings." Are you kidding me? Look at this nonsense:
But even when he has taken actions that the Vatican opposes, such as invading Iraq, Bush has shown deference to church teachings. Before he sent U.S. troops into Baghdad to topple Saddam Hussein, he met with Catholic "theocons" to discuss just-war theory. White House adviser Leonard Leo, who heads Catholic outreach for the Republican National Committee, says that Bush "has engaged in dialogue with Catholics and shared perspectives with Catholics in a way I think is fairly unique in American politics."
That's all it takes to be a Catholic? To show deference by engaging in a dialogue? I think actual catholics might take offense to the idea that their religion is so shallow. "You don't have to agree with us. All we want is to talk to you! Forget all that business about confirmation and communion. What we're looking for is a good dialogue!" Yes, when I look back at the history of the Catholic Church, that's exactly what I see. What utter and total nonsense.
The Washington Post really can do better than this. Really.
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