The men who surround John Paul II are not exactly fans of the United States. Cardinal Solodano, the Secretary of State, allowed his undersecretary, Archbishop Martino, to label the Iraq war "A crime against humanity."
Many of the others are Euros and South Americans, who distrust the United States and are, deep down, jealous of the influence this country has in the world.
As Father Richard Neuhaus, editor of FIRST THINGS, put it recently: "The lead-up to the Iraq war was not this papacy's finest hour."
Well, according to their bible, so is sodomy.
Now, if Donald Rumsfeld can classify the "Old Europe" so to can the Vatican be classified the "Old Church". Perhaps some dynamism can be instilled in it by the nomination of an African or Asian as Pontiff (or even a North American). Until then, the Old Church, with an attenuated Jesuit society and a sclerotic Italian heirarchy in train, will continue to lose relevance.
Many of the others are Euros and South Americans, who distrust the United States and are, deep down, jealous of the influence this country has in the world.
It appears that these men are adherents of "liberation theology," which to me means leftist dogma overcomes and manipulates Christian dogma. The non-religious left is on a campaign against Bush who they cast as the secular anti-christ (or secular christ, depending on your point of view).
Notice that they almost universally say that it's not America but George Bush (and the "neocons") who are the problem. This article does paint with the broad brush of blaming "Americans," but it's clear that their problem is with this administration.
Bush (et al) believes in a personal relationship with God through his savior, Jesus Christ. He believes in people, not communities. He believes in right and wrong, not moral relativism. Deep down the men who surround the Pope don't believe in those things.