George W Bush meets Pope amid claims he might convert to Catholicism

Telegraph.co.uk ^ | 6/13/08 | Malcom Moore

[what's up]

I think if you said the President was visiting a Catholic church "nearly" every week you might have a case.

It's quite a stretch otherwise.

[ConservativeMind]

Frankly, I couldn’t begin to attend the Methodist church. Any church that argues with itself about whether known, active homosexuals should be ordained is beyond hope.

How many known, practicing adulterers are acknowledged as appropriate leaders in the Church?

[ConservativeMind]

Frankly, I couldn’t begin to attend the Methodist church. Any church that argues with itself about whether known, active homosexuals should be ordained is beyond hope.

How many known, practicing adulterers are acknowledged as appropriate leaders in the Church?

[AxelPaulsenJr]

A further bit of trivia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_former_Roman_Catholics. Ann Coulter is on that list.

[tiredoflaundry]

I know I know!!!!!! President Bush will have his Library built at the Vatican!!!!!

It's as good a guess as any!

[Hegewisch Dupa]

we had to kick her out once she got too scrawny for the school girl outfit

[irish guard]

>>>>>>they’ll have to play ND for the right to build it<<<<<

If the Irish hire Steve Orsini (a classmate) who is the current SMU athletic director and ND alum to replace the recent AD departure, this might actually come true.

[al_c]

And the thing that has always amazed me is then why do so many RCCs vote for the Democrats, the party of abortion?

Because way back when abortion was not commonplace, the Democratic party was the party of most Catholics. Back then, the dems stood up for the little guys in our country. Most Catholics were immigrants (think 1800s) and were discriminated against.

Things have changed over the years and the Dems have moved further away from that and have gone extreme left. But there are still some smaller issues that Catholics agree with and on top of that, there are many cultural Catholics that just haven't been able to break the bonds from generations ago.

[Wuli]

Why is the Telegraph afraid to tell us the source of the “rumor”???????? (fax from Vatican)

[al_c]

If he were actually to leave the UMC, though, I’d bet on a church that is actually represented in Crawford, Texas.

It's been reported that he will not be living in Crawford after retirement.

[what's up]

Back then, the dems stood up for the little guys in our country.

Sure about that?

[neb52]

There are voters, like my Grandmother, that vote democrat because that what a proper Texan does! Despite the fact that the vast majority are very conservative people. (Texas was a democratic state for a hundred years). Its still one of those anti-reconstruction things. I guess it hasn’t dawned on my Grandmother that the Civil War has been over for 140 years.

[RayBob]

"I already consider GWB our first Catholic president, I mean if Bill could be the first black president then why not."

That's funny... I consider JFK our first Catholic president...

[presently no screen name]

I already consider GWB our first Catholic president,

You forgot John F. Kennedy.

[nd76]

Our first Catholic president may well have been George Washington. GW publicly was a member of the Anglican parish Falls Church in Virginia and was also a mason, but he actively prevented anti-Catholic bigotry against his troops who were Catholic, supposedly made many private visits into Catholic churches, and was converted to Catholicism on his death bed at Mount Vernon by Fr. Leonard Neale, a priest from across the river in Maryland, who as legend has it crossed the river numerous times in a small boat to minister to GW.

[CharlesWayneCT]

What would be funny would be if he converted to the Democratic party.

[Coleus]

it’s a possibility, his brother john ellis did convert and is possibly a member of the k of c.

[Arthur McGowan]

Because they are worldly, corrupt, stupid people—and I mean in the pews and in the hierarchy.

[ElkGroveDan]

Face it, anything is better than the squishy brand of Methodism that has shaped his Presidency

...and is that meant as a kind word to Catholics?

[STARWISE]

While this article is based on speculation, I've long sensed a great respect, rapport and deep simpatico from Pres. Bush for Pope John Paul II (The Great), Pope Benedict XVII and the majesty and authenticity of The Catholic Church.

I, for one as a Catholic, would be very moved, but not surprised if at some point he did convert to Catholicism; nor disappointed if he didn't. He is a man of very deep and abiding unashamed faith. God bless him on his walk and for the model of moral strength, Christian decency and intrepidity he is and has shown the world. God bless Benedict XVI. This special honor he extended Pres. Bush speaks much about their mutual respect and admiration.

What glorious gardens.

Pope Benedict XVI waits for U.S. President George W. Bush for a meeting in the medieval St John's Tower in the Vatican Gardens June 13, 2008. Pope Benedict gave Bush an unprecedented welcome in the tranquility of the Vatican Gardens on Friday before the U.S. president resumed his campaign to rally European support for sanctions against Iran.

U.S. President George W. Bush (R) and Pope Benedict XVI view the gardens of the Lourdes Grotto from the medieval St John's Tower at the Vatican June 13, 2008.

U.S. President George W. Bush (R) speaks with Pope Benedict XVI during a meeting in the medieval St John's Tower at the Vatican June 13, 2008.

Pope Benedict XVI receives a framed picture from U.S. President George W. Bush, centre,of them walking along the White House colonnade on their way to the Oval Office in April, during their meeting at the Vatican Friday, June 13, 2008. The pontiff gave President Bush a rare peek of the Vatican Gardens, a spot where popes pray privately and only special guests are allowed to stroll. At left U.S. First Lady Laura Bush.

US President George W. Bush receives a picture from Pope Benedict XVI after a tete-a-tete in the medieval St John's Tower in the Vatican Gardens. Bush was treated on Friday to a "special protocol" audience with Pope Benedict XVI, who was returning the hospitality he enjoyed at the White House in April.

Pope Benedict XVI, left, and U.S .President George W. Bush walk in the Vatican Gardens at the end of their meeting at the Vatican Friday, June 13, 2001. The pontiff gave President Bush a rare peek of the Vatican Gardens, a spot where popes pray privately and only special guests are allowed to stroll.

U.S. President George W. Bush (R) walks through the gardens of the Vatican to the Lourdes Grotto alongside Pope Benedict XVI, June 13, 2008.

U.S. President George W. Bush and Laura Bush are shown the Lourdes Grotto by Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican June 13, 2008.

U.S. President George W. Bush (R), Pope Benedict XVI and first lady Laura Bush applaud a boy's choir as they visit the Lourdes Grotto at the Vatican June 13, 2008.

The Lourdes Grotto is seen in the Vatican June 13, 2008, before a visit to the site by U.S. President George W. Bush and Pope Benedict XVI.

~~~~

“How a Non-Catholic respectfully communes at Mass”
“This is how you do it…”

Thus says from my Li’l Bro Thom (no Bush-lover, he) who very much appreciated seeing President Bush not receive communion while attending a Catholic mass.

Non-Catholics and Catholics who have not yet gone through the process of formally receiving the sacrament of reconciliation and their first communion, but who wish to “participate” in that part of the Mass are invited to process to the minister dispensing the Holy Eucharist with their hands crossed upon their chest (not a humiliation, but a practical measure, so that there may be no confusion on the priest’s part that they are NOT receiving the Eucharist), whereupon the priest will simply touch his hand to their head and ask God’s blessing upon them.

Here we see President and Mrs. Bush doing it the way we ask it to be done, and believe me we surely appreciate and honor their respectfulness.

That “arrogant” president, Bush, did Catholics the world over honor when he respected our ways.

Henry Hager and Jenna Bush exchange vows at the altar (Texas limestone, given by Pres. Bush) Saturday, May 10, 2008, during their wedding ceremony at Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

"Some dads just cut a check for their daughter’s wedding. President Bush plopped down a permanent limestone altar, complete with a cross, on his Crawford, Texas, ranch.

“That's where she's going to get married, right in front of this Texas limestone altar with a cross on it -- by our lake,” Bush revealed this morning in an interview with “Good Morning America’s” Robin Roberts.