Posted on 05/21/2008 3:12:27 PM PDT by markomalley
Washington, May. 21, 2008 (CWNews.com) - US President George W. Bush will visit the Vatican in June during a trip to Europe, the White House has confirmed.
President Bush will visit Germany, France, England, and Northern Ireland on his European tour, as well as Italy. The American leader visited Pope Benedict at the Vatican last June as well, in the first formal meeting since the Pontiff's election in 2005. More recently Bush welcomed Pope Benedict when he arrived in the US in April of this year.
In other news, Canada’s foreign minister Maxime Bernier is in Rome to meet with Italian officials. Bernier attended the Pope's general audience on May 21. Bernier, who is divorced, was recently in the news in his home country for his romantic liaison with a woman with ties to the Hells Angels motorcycle gang.
Hmmmm.
What’s with the [Open] in the title? I’ve been seeing that a lot lately.
It's some new clarification that the Religion Mod wanted done.
Essentially, an [open] thread is open for all discussion, good, bad, ugly, potshots at other denominations, or whatever (as long as it doesn't violate FR rules). The one new thing on those [open] threads is that whining about bashing another religion is not allowed. If you're sensitive, stay off the [open] threads. It is a clearly marked respect-optional zone.
[ecumenic] threads are open for discussion, but it must remain positive -- i.e., you can state where you disagree and what you believe, but no potshots
[caucus] threads are restricted for only members of that group to post on (Catholics, Reformed, LDS, Jewish, Wiccan, whatever)...if others do, they'd better do so with full respect and caution...or they'll get their posts deleted. Likewise with [devotional] or [prayer] threads.
(I'm sure if I got it wrong, the RM will not hesitate to correct me)
It’s no secret that President Bush holds Pope Benedict XVI in great esteem. He pulled out all the stops to welcome him to Washington DC and had the chefs prepare a special cake for the Pontiff’s 81st birthiday. Bush’s brother, Jeb, is a Catholic. Are we witnessing something akin to Tony Blair’s conversion, post presidency? Hey, what’s not to like and admire about this great theologian who models the life of Christ!
**Are we witnessing something akin to Tony Blair’s conversion, post presidency**
This would not surprise me at all.
I predicted this at the beginning of B16’s visit to the USA. I believe it will happen.
It would me.
Mr. Bush as a strong sense of right and wrong. He is the most pro-life President we've had since Roe (that isn't really saying much, if you think about it).
But he has very "evangelical" thought processes in a lot of what he does that are not really compatible with a truly "Catholic" world view.
And, as to Blair's conversion, did you two see the article on Cherie Blair in today's news?
I have noticed that [Open] appears more on Catholic threads than any other.
Godspeed, Mr. President.
I think these world leaders know and have seen so much more than we can even begin to imagine.
Without faith, one can make no sense of it.
Without the sacraments, who can bear it?
I agree.
"Neither the office of the cardinal archbishop of Westminster, nor the bishops of England and Wales had a comment when Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, told a television interviewer this week that contraception is "really important for women" ... the spokesman for the Bishops of England and Wales declined to comment, saying it would not be "appropriate".This is not the first time that Cherie Blair has been in public opposition to the teaching of her Church. She is well known as a supporter of abortion and in 2003 while her husband was Prime Minister, was criticised for her support of a project by International Planned Parenthood Federation called "Lust for Life"."
Sigh. [shakes head side to side]
Devotional threads are closed to debate of any kind.
Caucus threads are closed to any poster who is not a member of the caucus. If it says “Catholic Caucus” and you are not Catholic, do not post to the thread. However, if the poster of the caucus invites you, I will not boot you from the thread. The “caucus” article and posts must not compare beliefs or speak in behalf of a belief outside the caucus.
Ecumenic threads are closed to all “anti” arguments. Posters may express the beliefs they are “for” but not those they are “against.” They may also ask questions. Posters who try to tear down other’s beliefs – or use subterfuge to accomplish the same goal – are the disrupters on ecumenic threads and will be booted from the thread and/or suspended. Do not “pick at scabs” by mentioning prior “open” threads. If you need to make a point previously made on an “open” thread, summarize it anew.
Open threads are a town square – posters may argue for or against beliefs of any kind. They may tear down other's beliefs. They may ridicule, similar to the Smoky Backroom with the exception that a poster must never “make it personal.” Reading minds and attributing motives are forms of “making it personal.” Thin-skinned posters will be booted from “open” threads because in the town square, they are the disrupters.
For anyone interested, a great commencement speech!
Maybe W just finds it refreshing to talk to a religious leader who believes in traditional moral values, not the liberal claptrap of a lot of the US Methodist power structure.
Many of the U.S. Catholic bishops are not much unlike their Methodist counterparts. That's why I'm glad W is going over their heads.
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