==== Well, seeing how the Pope is the "Vicar of Christ," not to mention "infallible," what he says about Yasser Arafat must be true, right?
You, like so many of the rabid anti-Catholic bigots on the forum, are somehow under the mistaken impression that every word the Bishop of Rome utters is somehow "infallible."
That designation is reserved solely for "ex cathedra" pronouncements on matters of dogma and doctrine.
It's to the Church's credit (if not also that of the Christ who promised the gates of hell -- opened from within, even -- would not prevail against His Bride) that no Pope in our 2000-year history, however woefully corrupt, ill-informed or otherwise tainted, has managed to destroy or deform in the least those core tenets of the Faith.
Just another reason I'm a Hopeful and Joyous sort even amid the distressing and depressing sorts of news with which we -- particularly Christians -- are inundated these days.
"You, like so many of the rabid anti-Catholic bigots on the forum."
I prefer to think of myself as pro-Christian. Look this is an age old disagreement. It's the same reason you label the founders of Israel, and Israel itself, as terrorist. It has nothing to do with fact, and everything to do with religion. I back Israel because I believe the Jews are God's chosen people. You oppose Israel because you believe that the Jews are God's forsaken people. And then there are those in the middle such as former Congressman Robert Dornan. He is a devout Catholic, and yet he is a strong supporter of Israel, not based on theological arguments, but because he knows Israel is the only pro-American democracy in the Middle East. I agree with Dornan's position as well.