Posted on 04/14/2008 8:06:44 AM PDT by NYer
WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 13, 2008 (Zenit.org).- U.S. President George Bush said that when he looks into Benedict XVI's eyes, he sees God.
The president made this affirmation Friday when he answered the last question posed him during an interview with Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) anchor Raymond Arroyo.
Arroyo noted that Bush is planning an all-out welcome for the Pope, who arrives in the United States on Tuesday for a five-day visit. Most notably, Bush will go to the airport to receive the Holy Father, a courtesy he has never extended to any visiting leader.
The president says he plans to do this "because [the Pope] is a really important figure in a lot of ways. One, he speaks for millions. Two, he doesn't come as a politician; he comes as a man of faith. And, three, that I so subscribe to his notion that [...] there's right and wrong in life, that moral relativism has a danger of undermining the capacity to have more hopeful and free societies, that I want to honor his convictions, as well."
The Holy Father, Bush said, "represents and stands for some values that I think are important for the health of the country, and when he comes to America, millions of my fellow citizens will be hanging on his every word. And that's why it's important."
Human rights
The EWTN anchor noted that the Pope will probably bring up the issue of the war in Iraq, asking what the U.S. government is doing to protect the Christian minority there.
Bush said that "something we have been doing all along, is urging the government to understand that minority rights are a vital part of any democratic society. And by the way, my concern isn't just for minority rights in Iraq; it's for minority rights throughout the Middle East."
In another area of rights, Arroyo asked Bush why he plans to attend the Olympics opening ceremonies in Beijing, given China's dire human rights record.
Bush stated that he did not want to make the Olympics a political platform: "And the reason why is because I can talk to [China] about religious freedom prior to the Olympics, during the Olympics and after the Olympics -- which I have done. I don't need the Olympics to express my position to the Chinese leadership on freedom. I just don't need them -- because that's all I have been doing as your president. In other words -- if people say, well, you need to express yourself clearly about freedom of religion, my answer is, what do you think I've been doing?"
Human life
Bush talked as well about embryonic stem cell research, for which he has restricted federal funding.
Arroyo noted, "In 2001 you met with then Pope John Paul II; he encouraged you not to endorse federal funding. You didn't; you restricted the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. [...] As a result of that move, alternative technologies were analyzed; adult stem cells have now produced [...] cures for 80 different diseases."
And Bush affirmed: "I feel like it was the right decision then, and obviously the data has now shown that -- I hope it shows to people it's the right decision. [...] By the way, I think this is the beginning of what is a very interesting debate that future presidents are going to have to deal with, and that is science versus ethics, the value of life versus saving life -- supposedly. [...] I've obviously drawn the line in the sand that honoring life in all forms is a touchstone for good science.
"I think it's important for people to understand that a culture of life is in our national interests and that -- it's also important to understand that the politics of abortion isn't going to change until people's hearts change, and fully understand the meaning of life and what it means for a society to value life in all forms -- whether it be the life of the unborn, or the life of the elderly; whether it be the life of the less fortunate among us, or the life of the rich guy. I mean, it's a moral touchstone, I think, that will speak to a healthy society in the long run."
The president said that the moral strength of the Pope is key for politicians.
"And I'm going to remind His Holy Father how important his voice is in making it easier for politicians like me to be able to kind of stand and defend our positions that are, I think, very important positions to take," he said.
Finally, Arroyo asked him, "You said, famously, when you looked into Vladimir Putin's eyes you saw his soul. [...] When you look into Benedict XVI's eyes what do you see?"
And Bush answered immediately, "God."
http://www.pope2008.typepad.com/
Carrying live streaming from EWTN and full blogging by Senior Editor Tim Drake of the Catholic Register. He has apparently enlisted a bunch of bloggers to get full details. The site is pretty cool.
I personally wouldn’t trust any secular outlet to be in the least fair to what this Pope is trying to do: communicate a message faithfully to Americans. If I wanted only to get the “blog message,” I’d check out Fr. Richard John Neuhaus on the First Things blog, On the Square:
http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/
F
That's funny, when he looks into Benedict XVI's eyes, I see Uncle Fester.
Truthfully, his eyes have a rather haunted look, as if he has seen thing he'd like to forget.
Regards,
GtG
That's funny, when I look into Benedict XVI's eyes, I see Uncle Fester.
Truthfully, his eyes have a rather haunted look, as if he has seen thing he'd like to forget.
Regards,
GtG
I’m with you - but bear in mind, this is the same man who has repeatedly proclaimed that Christians and Muslims have the same God. gag.
Coming out of Botson, I think that means "spin." ;o)
By fishtank...updated Dec. 6, 2006
Here’s what a “conservative” is supposed to be?
* Doing his very best to destroy American sovereignty by melding America into Mexico into Canada???
* George W. Bush (43): “I looked the man in the eye. I was able to get a sense of his soul.
I knew that President Putin was a man with whom I could work.”
* Allowed his wife to call a homosexual partner’s mom the “mother-in-law” ???
* Allowed the new Iraqi constitution to have a clause where no law would contradict Islam.
* Wanted to sell US port operations to Dubai - a nation that supports terror.
* Advocates a completely open border - to the detriment of national security.
* Calls the Minutemen “vigilantes”.
* Continually calls Islam a “religion of peace”.
* Pursues “free trade”, not fair trade. “Free trade” has not been very fair, so far.
* Supported Specter over Toomey.
* Told Hush to host Specter with softballs, and then Hush carries the water.
* Continually supported Linc Chaffee, and what did it win in the long run?
* Let Ted Kennedy write the education bill.
* Did nothing to rein in pork barrel government spending.
* In an exclusive interview with ABC News’ Charles Gibson, Bush said he believes that both Christians and Muslims worship the same God. “I think we do. We have different routes of getting to the Almighty,” Bush said.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=193746&page=1
*****
Bush was wrong when he looked into Putin’s eyes.
I saw the interview. President Bush did say it. It was really an interesting interview. The President was really relaxed, and engaging.
Laura Ingraham was the guest after the Bush interview, followed by the Papal Nuncio. Ingraham was pretty funny when she said, she was going to take the Papal Nuncio hostage if she didn't get a ticket to one of the Papal events.
By their fruits you will know them.shalom b'SHEM Yah'ahua
He was a youngster during the reign of Hitler and was forced (as all youth were, particularly boys) to participate in the Hitler Youth. I would imagine he has seen a few things he'd rather forget.
George W. Bush (43): “I looked the man in the eye. I was able to get a sense of his soul. I knew that President Putin was a man with whom I could work.”
And you expected him to say what exactly, when Bush was trying to get Putin to work with him? "I looked into his eyes and saw a devil." Yeah, that would have worked out well.
Allowed his wife to call a homosexual partner’s mom the “mother-in-law” ???
Do you think it is Presidential to treat one's spouse like a puppet? I don't. I also don't think it a big deal to use that particular term. Not sure what term you think she should have used. Remember, she has to be civil. So. . .suggestions?
Allowed the new Iraqi constitution to have a clause where no law would contradict Islam.
It is their country, their constitution. It wasn't his to write.
Advocates a completely open border - to the detriment of national security.
I agree that Bush is too easy on illegals and hasn't done enough to secure the borders, but since there have been multiple articles on FR about deportations and raids on businesses that employ illegals, it is a bit far fetched to say he advocates completely open borders.
Told Hush to host Specter with softballs, and then Hush carries the water.
Got evidence of that?
In an exclusive interview with ABC News’ Charles Gibson, Bush said he believes that both Christians and Muslims worship the same God.
This is often said. You may not agree with it, but there is only one God. Bush did NOT say he thinks they worship correctly or that they have a correct belief about God.
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