Bush to Give Pope Presidential Medal of Freedom

[Freddie Stubbs]

ROME (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) will award Pope John Paul (news - web sites) the Presidential Medal of Freedom Friday, the highest U.S. civilian award, a U.S. official said Thursday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the pontiff was being honored for "years of fighting for freedom and for his important moral voice."

Bush is to meet the Polish pope at the Vatican (news - web sites) Friday.

The pope strongly opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq (news - web sites) and last week publicly condemned torture as an affront to human dignity, seen as a veiled reference to American abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=578&e=10&u=/nm/20040603/pl_nm/bush_pope_award_dc

[Wickerman]

1. I think of what Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog might say

"for him to poop on!"

Medals such as that mean little from men such as Bush*

[Mandate My Ass]

2. Pope to return the favor

and perform exorcism on Bush.

[alittlelark]

32. LOL - spit out my tea

One can only hope and PRAY that it could happen!!

[Lou_C]

61. Hey, I was drinking coffee and choked on it

Warn us next time you post something funny like that.

Bush's mother sucks .... oh never mind.

[DemoTex]

62. Followed by a rare Christian circumcision ...

The Pope raises and blesses the blade, Bu$h whips it out, and the Holy See misses. He does a Lorena Bobbitt on the pretender to the Presidency of the USA. Too bad George. Cheer up, though. You are not exactly dick-less. You still have Cheney.

[SaveElmer]

What a jerk

A painfully obvious stab at the Catholic vote! What a pathetic turd!!!

[demnan]

3. Yeah but voting for Kerry is a mortal sin for Catholics in the U.S.

That and this award will bring in the faithful for Bush.

[DemBones DemBones]

13. Oh, come on! That's ridiculous,

as asinine as many statements made here about the Catholic Church.

[ScreamingMeemie]

36. Except this war that Bush has wrought goes against the Catholic

Teachings on War and the pope was against the war so....I guess that screws just about everyone...

[ElectroPrincess]

41. Nope - can't vote for anyBODY

Voting for either Kerry (pro-choice) or Bush (pro-execution) is against the right-wing of the Catholic Church. That's precisely why I'm not going to confession until IMHO the religious right of the Catholic Faith returns to some form of *sane* perspectives, such as those that emphasize the "Separation of Church and State."

When will they ever learn. <sigh>

[Democat]

4. Is he going to show him Saddam's gun too?

It would be cool if the pope refused the medal and told Bush to get his act together.

[stevedeshazer]

Pandering to Catholic voters.

Couple this with the crackdown on Holy Communion for pro-choice Cathiolics.

Just like everything with Bush, horribly transparent.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

10. ohhh, that pic in your sig, i love it.

is that a real picture or a photoshop? it looks too good to be real. thanks!

[stevedeshazer]

53. For real as far as I know n/t

[Geo55]

64. real vs. shopped

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. Actually, many Democrats in Congress have urged Bush to do this

The House passed a resolution urging the President to award this to Pope.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HC00313:@@@P

It passed without any opposition, and there were several Democrats who cosponsored the bill (Charlie Rangel, Martin Frost Marty Meehan).

[stevedeshazer]

54. Didn't know that

Thanks, Stubbs

[DemBones DemBones]

23. Yes, it is pandering, it is part of Rove's

strategy to win over Catholics.

But there is NOT a crackdown on pro-choice Catholics receiving Communions. That was a suggestion by one bishop and I read he was told not to voice it again. Most Catholic clergy know that many Catholics are pro-choice. I'm a pro-life Catholic but I have voted for many pro-choice Democrats. I only wish they would act to substantially reduce the need for abortions, as Dennis Kucinich was. I don't want women to suffer anymore than I want unborn babies aborted. We can find solutions if we stop making this a divisive issue and look for answers instead.

[Mandate My Ass]

27. It's more than one bishop unfortunately

McGreevey to forgo public Communion

Catholic leaders were critical of governor's abortion views.

By Kaitlin Gurney
Inquirer Trenton Bureau


TRENTON - Responding to mounting pressure from Roman Catholic leaders challenging his pro-choice stance on abortion rights, Gov. McGreevey said yesterday that he would not take Communion at public Masses.

Newark Archbishop John J. Myers this week joined a growing national chorus of priests in criticizing Catholic politicians who support legalized abortion. In a four-page pastoral statement published in yesterday's editions of the biweekly Catholic Advocate, Myers called pro-choice public officials dishonest to accept Communion and said they should not seek the Catholic sacrament.

Myers' comments came less than a week after new Camden Bishop Joseph Galante said he would deny Communion to McGreevey if he sought it at his installation Mass. Trenton Bishop John M. Smith said in March that the governor should not be considered a devout Catholic because of his support for legislation and programs that are contrary to his faith.


http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/8598926.htm?ERIGHTS=-5614899676356823036philly

[kskiska]

39. Dick Durbin, too

(snip)

Kathie Sass, a spokeswoman for the Diocese of Springfield, Ill. - Durbin's hometown - reiterated that in reaction to Durbin's survey: "The bishops say there are a whole range of issues you must consider. It also says some issues are more important than others, and these are the life issues."

In April, Monsignor Kevin Vann, pastor of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Springfield where Durbin used to attend Mass, told the State Journal-Register that Durbin's "pro-choice position puts him really outside of communion or unity with the church's teachings on life. And that's why I would be reticent to give him Holy Communion."

During the news conference, Durbin said the priest's statements were "a very painful experience for someone who has been a practicing Catholic for 59 years plus."

more…
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/Nation/3FA4EB2C8135082A86256EA800174C02?OpenDocument&Headline=Durbin:+Survey+shows+senators+vote+Vatican

[DemBones DemBones]

49. I think you misread what I said, or

I didn't state it clearly enough. Only one bishop, AFAIK, has said that Catholics VOTERS who vote for a pro-choice Catholic should be denied Communion.

Two, three, or several bishops have said they would deny (or should deny) Communion to a Catholic POLITICIAN who is pro-choice.

In any case, it is very clear to me that the RC Catechism does not say that it is a sin to vote for someone who has supported an act the Church considers a sin.

[stevedeshazer]

55. I am pro-choice

But I agree with you. This debate has been polarizing for decades.

So, the bishop who lashed out at Kerry was an anomaly? I never heard that he was "shushed" so to speak.

Reducing the need for abortions is the key, you bet.

[Bonhomme Richard]

5. I'm sure he will be impressed getting a medal from............

the mental giant. Or should I say the anti-christ?

[FleshCartoon]

6. If the pope were to refuse the "honor"...

...I would be delighted.

[arcos]

20. I thought the same thing...

but I'm sure he won't.

[FleshCartoon]

25. Well, this seems like old times, doesn't it?

The pope playing a prominent role in politics?

Didn't someone mention the Borgias today in an earlier thread?

[Just Me]

7. Oh,..I,...uh,...ewwww,....I'd better just keep my piehole shut. ugh. n/t

[Justitia]

8. OMG, I thought this must be from The Onion

Now THAT is chutzpah!

Bush giving a Medal of Freedom to the Pontiff.

Uh, don't worry, Europeans and Catholics everywhere will be quite taken aback by the assumptions made in this gesture.
And then they will snicker and eye-roll mercilessly.

[girl gone mad]

18. Will Catholics in the US..

be taken aback? It's a transparent political ploy, but will Catholics here at home see it that way, or will they take the bait?

It seems like their is a lot of pressure being put on devout Catholics to vote for Bush, and I wonder if it's working. Call me cynical, but I see Catholic leadership aligning themselves with the Conservative Right as a means of re-asserting their power after the devastating pedohpile priests scandal. There is a lot of money involved in the anti-abortion, conservative values movement and the religious right is already very powerful. Have deals been made? The Catholic church could use the money and a quick means of re-establishing moral authority, and the Conservatives want the Catholic vote.

[DemBones DemBones]

30. Well, I know a couple of Catholics right

here in my living room who are taken aback! We'd like to see John Paul II take George to task over his many sins.

The Catholic Church is huge so some leaders (clergy and laity) are Republicans, some are Democrats. Where we live, if we weren't Catholic, we wouldn't know many liberals.

Do you have a link to back up your assertions about Catholic leaders aligning with the Christian right or are you speculating in a general sense? I don't see a trend (or I'd be alarmed as hell!) but I'd like to see any links you have since I do pay attention to the Catholic right as well as the Catholic left and Catholic middle. TIA.

[Justitia]

37. Yes, I think they will

Yes, there are some noisy, right-wing bishops out there, allowing themselves to be used by the Bush administration for pushing divisive policies. On balance, there are many more bishops going on record saying they do not agree with their positions.

The Catholic Church (the lay mbrs) will never be aligned with the arch-conservative Christian Right. While they share some positions (abortion, gay marriage), they are diametrically opposed on methods and the Christian Right never misses an opportunity to take swipes at the Catholic Church on loads of things, mostly doctrine, which does not make friends.

Being a lapsed Catholic, I am no fan of the Church hierarchy.
However, the Catholic Church (when I say this, I mean the body of the church - the mbrs) has a long history of social justice and tolerance of other religions which is nonexistent in the Christian Right.

Most Catholics are more liberal leaning, and there is definitely a Democratic majority in the Church. This may be a changing demographic, but I sense a very real resistance in bringing politics into the Church (no matter what the Pope says).

Don't forget, most Catholic mbrs have no problem making decisions apart from what the hierarchy may hand down. It is no coincidence that 65 Catholic churches in Boston (of all places!) are closing in wake of the pedophilia scandal. Catholics will not endorse ldrs like Bernard Law and it shows in attendance and in the collection plate. Just think, if Catholics were sheep (such as the Christian Right), none would use birth control or ever divorce. There was also quite a significant display of support for gay Catholics in some churches last week.

I think the idiot bishops we have been hearing from are a small minority and have very little influence over the body of the Church.
This posing by Bush with his medal for the Pope will be seen as the height of arrogance. Catholics do not always agree with the Pope, they may dismiss his pronouncements, and they may rail against him on things such as the pedophilia scandal, but they do respect him and the tradition of the Holy See.

Bush looks like an idiot with this gesture.

[dave29]

9. Who gives the pope a medal?

Is everything a PR move?

[Trillo]

11. A reward for not punishing pedophilic priests? n/t

[DemBones DemBones]

15. You know, the pope is

not supposed to punish priests who break laws. That's up to a nation's judicial system. This pope has spoken out very strongly against pedophilia and made it clear that pedophiles have no place in the Catholic priesthood, must be removed from ministry.

John Paul II ALSO spoke out against this immoral war in Iraq, if you recall.

[Bridget Burke]

33. It's too bad that parents of alleged victims....

Always went to the local Church authorities with their complaints. So embarrassing, you know. Hush it up, get a little money, hope the offending priest is punished, somehow.....

The parents should have gone directly to the civil authorities and filed charges. After establishing the truth (there are rare instances of false accusations), the offenders would have been treated as any sex offender, through the legal system. A real chance to save other children. And it's probably better for the molested children to face the situation--with counseling--instead of suppressing it.

[DemBones DemBones]

38. Yes, parents have treated it as

poorly as out-of-wedlock pregnancy in the past. Saving THEIR (parents') reputation often came before what was best for the kid. Psychologists used to counsel abused kids' parents to make a financial settlement and not make a big deal, too, believing that kids recover without much problem.

I hope parents are getting smarter. If each generation tries to avoid the worst mistakes their parents made, we do make progress.

[DS1]

14. Yeah, get on your knees and slurp your way into heaven.

:eyes:

[DemBones DemBones]

16. What's that supposed to mean?

???

[DS1]

21. Oh, just my commentary of Bush trying to do everything the easy way

I've a feeling that in his mind, doing this will grease the wheels to salvation, even if he is of a different denomination.

Of course, it's purely political.

Don't mind me, I'm in a very bad mood :grr:

[DemBones DemBones]

26. OK, I agree about Bush*!

And I know just how you feel today. :grr:

[peterh]

17. This will go with that Cheney thinkie….

In the belfry….

[Malva Zebrina]

19. the propaganda arm of the Bush debacle is so clever.

Before the publicity can be that the Pope opposed the war, you come out with the publicity that we, as Americans, award the Pope some great award. That puts the positive publicity on Bush.

There is nothing they won't do. There is no lie they will not tell or no staged event they will not try to pull the wool over the eyes of the people

They are better than the propagandists of the third reich. Much better and more clever. They are, of course, evil and shallow, much more than the propagandists of the third reich.

[Insider]

50. "hush medal"

in fact, IMO they have put the catholic church under the gun since day one to minimize opposition to their invasions & illegal wars. the catholic church traditionally provides (effective) organized opposition, but was hamstringed the whole time. granted, the scandal was ugly, and the criminals should have been brought to justice YEARS ago. but as usual, the timing benefited bushco immeasurably.

they screwed jesse jackson real good before they got started. they screwed bill clinton, hillary clinton, al gore, and anybody else who might have been a real threat Public Relations-wise.

and now they pay him off the only way they know how, clever b*stards.

[Demeter]

22. He Wouldn't DARE!

What blasphemy! Hope the Pope is smart enough not to accept.

[Malva Zebrina]

29. that is the point---he cannot refuse this gift

in our name, this religious man is being given an award from our country, which is a democracy,for what? SEnding people out to abuse the rights of women attending a health clinic? Refusing to treat women as equals in this religion? Pedophiles galore, without punishment and covered up and actually reassigned to another place so they can have fresh little children to abuse?

Good--this is how our president plays this religion game--give the dictator of the Catholics a good citizen award.

I am so sick of the relitious crap that take the minds of thinking human beings and twists them into the minds of sheep being held on their backs, dumb and waiting to be sheared.

This will do nothing but support the murders and the killings and the insane invasion of a country that was small and without any military to defend itself. The truth is that Bush murdered ten thousand or more innocent people and he is going to get away with it--unlike Mussolini, or Hitler or any of the tyrants who were taken down. This stupid man is going to get away with it--and in his wake he will leave rivers of blood he caused to flow as in a flood

And what is going on now, in this visit to the Vatican, where I expect the Pope will be kissing Bush's ring, and in the debacle of Normandy, declaring HIS war as important as WW II and himself as much a leader as Churchill or Roosevelt--Jesus, this is a nightmare and someone needs to stop him--as the election approaches, he is getting more and more into his delusions and he is beyond contempt--we are being jerked around and I am sick of it.

Tenet, Chalabi, all the chaos and NO ONE willing to call ANYONE in the Bush administration on it.

HE WILL NOT EVER BE CHALLENGED OR CALLED ON HIS LIES AND HIS FASCIST BULLYING WAYS.

we will simply give him a blank check to go away to wherever he can and spend all that money he will have made, and all the money he can make after he is out of our house.

He does NOT deserve that.

[Massacure]

24. The Pope isn't even a U.S. citizen

Why should he get a medal? What has he ever done for humanity? Exclude telling his friends their going to heaven and his enemies they are going to hell.

This is defintately a PR stunt.

[Freddie Stubbs]

31. He helped bring down communism in Europe

That certainly is something to crow about.

[DemBones DemBones]

35. Yes, and he has consistently spoken out for

freedom and human rights and for economic justice. He's called for rich nations to forgive the debts of poor nations, for example.

John Paul II is an old-style liberal in regard to unions and economic rights and social issues like war and capital punishment, and an old-style conservative on issues of sexual morality. Thus, both liberals and conservatives have something to hate him for. Too bad we can't focus on what he supports that we agree with instead of wasting time sniping about our disagreements with him. Eventually there'll be a new pope to disagree with, of course.

[Malva Zebrina]

40. But he presides over a dictatorship

nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

56. But at least he was elected

;)

[struggle4progress]

47. Didn't we give Tony B Liar one too?

[Freddie Stubbs]

65. No, but he did recieve Congressional Gold Medal

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/07/17/blair.transcript/

[struggle4progress]

67. Well me are confused.

This story calls the Presidential Medal of Freedom "the highest U.S. civilian award" but "The House of Representatives has voted to award a congressional gold medal, the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow, to British Prime Minister Tony Blair."
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=6C7017E3-069B-48EE-A5D1F5019E25C211

Apparently we have several "highest civilian" awards. And, by the way, did somebody already give JPII the congressional gold medal? Paul (R-TX) seems to have said so:
"Second, though these gold medals are an unconstitutional appropriation of American tax dollars, at least in the past we have awarded them to great humanitarians and leaders like Mother Theresa, President Reagan, Pope John Paul II, and others."
http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2003/cr062503.htm

Of course, Paul might just be full of it. But it made me wonder: will we earn a "Get-out-of-hell-free card" if we just give enough of our "highest civilian awards" to the Pope?

[PATRICK]

28. Will they mention

the bullet the Pope took for getting involved in the Reagan plots and helping crumble the Soviet Bloc? Or more recently for the Pope's stalwart opposition to the coalition of the willing?

If the Pope gave Bush a medal on the other hand...

"Arghhh! Take it off, it burns!"

[clonebot]

34. catholics

i doubt the communion issue will really influence the voting patterns - i was catholic for many many many years and so is my father and frankly me and him made up like 75% of the regular mass attendance in our parish (in a large city no doubt). most catholics in america are pretty lazy when it comes to practicing their faith regularly and just say they're catholic and thats about as far as it goes. probaly go for christmas and easter but thats about it.

[ElectroPrincess]

43. Thank goodness for Cardinal McCarrick of DC

*Excuse me for being "flippant" but my DC Cardinal trumps the Right Wing's Bishops any day of the week. <curtsy> :-)

Washington Cardinal warns against denial of Eucharist
Catholic News Service
June 1, 2004

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20040601.htm#head3

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington has told journalists that denying Communion to politicians is a "slippery slope".

He said that denying the Eucharist to politicians who take positions opposed to church teaching is inevitably followed by denying the Eucharist to Catholics who vote for those politicians.

On the denial of Communion, he said, "I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to ask my priests to do it."

He reiterated a point he made in his May 13 column in the Catholic Standard, Washington's archdiocesan newspaper, when he told the group, "We should have no confrontation at the altar" when it comes to the withholding of Communion from politicians who support legal abortion.

"I'm not going to have a fight with someone holding the sacred body and blood (of Christ) in my hand," Cardinal McCarrick said.

Some US bishops have been taken steps to deny the Eucharist to Catholic politicians whose political allegiance requires them to support abortion. At least four bishops have explicitly forbidden the distribution of communion to particular pro-choice Catholic politicians. 48 Catholic members of Congress signed a letter to the Cardinal McCarrick deploring any ban. One bishop - Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs - has gone further by stating that Catholics who vote for pro-choice politicians are themselves ineligible to take communion

[BabsSong]

42. okay---what's wrong with this picture??

Here is da' Pope who is suppose to be chosen by God in a direct succession to the apostle Peter. He is the emmisary of God on Earth. And he's getting a fucking two bit medal, from a jerk who thinks he's Napoleon and who thinks God appointed him (the SUPREME that appointed you was the Supreme Court, you stupid asshole)!!! And is Junior going to explain to da' Pope that he and his fundamentalists think the Pope and all Catholics should be burnt at the stake??? Why do we constantly have to be humiliated by this dog. Why does he have to take this humiliation abroad (god knows they already hate us there). What a sick attempt at campaigning----I suppose he's going to stick it in one of his ads and hint that the Pope thinks he's a saint.

[Malva Zebrina]

46. I understand

and we will see the pope kissing the ring of Bush.

Many have allowed this stupid and evil man, George Bush, to get away with everything he has declared against us as a democracy and against our Constitution. The Pope will be no exception.

And hey--if the Catholic churches are hurting in America and need the tax payer money to survive they will kiss anyone's ring if it means they can keep their parochial schools and their lofty cathedrals.\

It is that practical a proposition. It is also an obvious proposition that taking the money will be acceptable in spite of our Constitution. The belief in that, is only for the little people.

This is what happened under Hitler also. He was supported by the Catholic religion and the Pope, and there is much documented as such.
Also under Franco--the Catholic religion was the official religion.

Ultimately, along with others when the fascists were going down, the churches also pulled out.

Come on--the Catholic church is as political as any party.

[smirkymonkey]

44. "Pope to Canononize Bush...

as St. W, patron saint of MORANS"

[keithyboy]

45. After the sex scandals in the Catholic Church, I think this is out place

The Pope is still the Head of the Church. Bush is just doing this because of the Pope's stand on the abortion issue. I think it is in poor taste coming on the heels of some of the most disgusting revelations about the Catholic Church in years.

[dave29]

48. Breaking: Bush to give God Medal of Moral Clarity

now watch this drive

[Rochambeau]

51. It is clearly also a message to the poles

Bushco administration knows perfectly that news about the pope find their way to Warsaw in a heartbeat. And the polish opinion about Iraq is less in favour than ever now. IMO the message(ridiculous) is "Bu$h loves the pope and the poles so...wink, wink, do you copy poles? We are allies aren't we?". They believe that to award the pope is more profitable than to lick president Kwasniewsky's ass for hours, and since Bu$h did it already, why not try something with the pope now. The pope don't give a damn with that medal but the poles will find our Dubya is a good boy.......
It is lame, insulting to the polish people and a sign of weakness and despereration to me.

[arwalden]

52. Hey Bush... Exactly What Does The Inside Of The Pope's Colon Look Like??

Does it stink like everyone else's? Why not just go ahead and crawl ALL THE WAY up the holy ass?

-- Allen

[happynewyear]

57. * kisses pope's ass

I wonder if the pope will even accept this? * is barking up the wrong tree with this guy. Believe me, as a Catholic I know. Best of luck to you *. You'll be needing it.

[ElectroPrincess]

58. Bush is way out of his element ...

Even in declining health, the Pope's mentally sharp and has a good 30 to 40 more IQ points going for him than George W. Bush. The Pope will get his message across while being gracious during the visit. George won't know what hit him.

More words of wisdom by the morally courageous Cardinal McCarrick:

http://www.cathstan.org/news/05-13-04/4.shtml

"I am asking the Catholic Standard to reprint the statement about the worthy reception of the Eucharist which appears in the missalettes and which was authorized by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Basically, it places on the individual Catholic the need to make a judgment as to whether he or she can properly come to receive Communion."

"The disagreement that I have with the folks who are annoyed at me is that I disagree that in this instance we should use denial of the Eucharist as a public sanction. As a priest and bishop, I do not favor a confrontation at the altar rail with the Sacred Body of the Lord Jesus in my hand. There are apparently those who would welcome such a conflict, for good reasons, I am sure, or for political ones, but I would not."

[happynewyear]

59. yep as a Catholic it is up to you

and no one else. Used to be you had to go to confession beforehand, but that isn't the case anymore.

Still the same, * is not a Catholic.

I could care less what Kerry or any other Catholic does. I worry about my own behavior. :evilgrin:

[Lou_C]

60. He will do anything to meet with the Pope for some pictures

It's a photo opportunity and he wants it.

[leesa]

63. This is funny. Trying to play on the Kerry/Catholic dilemma

The funny part is that the Fundies think the Pope is the anti-Christ and will NOT be happy with this.

[pinniped]

66. Pope should toss it in protest.

Coming from an evil bastard like * I wouldn't take anything.