Reply #16: What's the use of a private letter?

[crim son]

Sure, the Pope "cautioned" against entering Iraq. I remember one or two such instances. But as the Vicar of Christ on earth, a continued and vehement public protest against the Shrub's actions could have influenced millions of people and potentially have either slowed or stopped our invasion. As it stands I know a hell of a lot of Catholics who believe, on religious grounds, that we've done the right thing going in. We haven't. If the Pope understood this, it was his responsibility to do more. IMHO. Flame away.