[Barnacle]

I just find it galling when I hear American citizens who are Catholics defending him in spite of the obvious errors. It's no different than someone with French heritage defending Chirac.

Actually, it is quite a bit different. First of all, some my ancestors were French. I am not. I am American. My ancestors were also Catholic. I am too. And I am today every bit as Catholic as they were then. The pope is the head of our church. He is not a governmental head.

You seem to have the spiritual and political realms confused.

Pope John Paul II is not a citizen of the United States of America and his opinons are no more welcome here than are those of the U.N.'s Secretary General.

I am just one of the millions of Americans who welcome the pope's opinions. Just because you disagree with one of them, doesn't make them irrelevant.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

It's your pope who has the spiritual and political realms confused. If he wants to talk about the politics of his native Poland, fine. His views on American politics are not welcome here.

As to your French heritage, you have my deepest sympathies.