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In the wake of Pope John Paul's recent visit to the Americas, we must not forget how to weep over what we saw. From the moment the Pontiff stepped once again onto American soil, we were all made to witness the spectacle of the successful ramming of the Modernist juggernaut through the walls of our beloved Church. From the rock 'n' roll youth rallies, to the abominable papal Mass, to the unsettling ecumenical prayer service in the Basilica of St. Louis-the universal breakdown of the Universal Church was painfully manifested again and again.

I have to correct an error - or two or three. The final prayer service was at the CATHEDRAL Basilica, not the St. Louis Basilica, they are two different churches. Second, the Vatican had nothing to do with the youth rally at the Savvis Center, and believe me there were people here not happy about what was presented and a couple things that happened (including me). But at the same time, so many kids left that building with an amazing sense of Godly renewal, including one of my brothers who went as a chaperone. The Mass at the Dome was one of the neatest things. And there was no rock, it was all symphonic instruments. I was there. And it was really cool and a lot of people really had a good spiritual jolt having been there.

The final prayer service - I've yet to figure out what exactly is wrong with being friendly to people of other sects and faiths in Christ's name. Somehow I doubt Christ would approve of the complete exclusion. He was friendly to such people. He asked us to follow His example. Denegrating them for not being Catholic is not being Christ-like (and it does not speak to any kind of good-will). Come on, Christ didn't exclude anyone in his work. There was no Communion at the prayer service and it wasn't Mass...it was more an excuse to actually use the Cathedral (we here are very proud of it). And believe me, after being friendly, relations around here are better.

You still don't get it. There's nothing wrong with being friendly with people of other religions. If the Pope wishes to attend a conference with them or host a luncheon for them or participate in public ceremonies with them--that's fine. He can be as friendly as he wants in those venues. What he can't do is WORSHIP with them--especially at their synagogues or mosques or sacred forests, while using their prayers. The First Commandment prohibits this.