The pope and the president By Archbishop Bruce J. Simpson

[Cannikin]

In 44 years we have gone from the fear that a Roman Catholic president might take orders from the pope, to a Protestant president who asks the pope to order his bishops to help him get elected. Even as Roman Catholic bishops wield access to Holy Communion as an antigay political weapon, this clergyman asks, “What would Jesus do?”
By Archbishop Bruce J. Simpson, Benedictine Order of St. John the Beloved (an Old Catholic order)
An Advocate.com exclusive posted July 8, 2004

The Pilgrims fled Europe and came to Plymouth to escape the intolerance and hatred of religious persecution. Almost four centuries later a very disturbing trend is taking place in America that is the very antitheses of what this country is supposed to stand for and be about. Religious persecution has once again reared its ugly head.

In recent weeks we have seen the president of the United States ask the head of a worldwide religious organization—the pope, who is also the head of a foreign state—to help him win reelection (actually, it would be his first win for president at the ballot box). That not being enough, this same White House occupant has now asked the largest Protestant denomination in the United States to help him win his first election. These actions have effectively blended church and politics to an unprecedented level in American life.

It’s no oversight that the Roman Catholic and Southern Baptist churches are among the most aggressive opponents of equal rights for gay Americans. The battle cry of this appointed president is “Protect the sanctity of marriage!” George W. Bush has based his election campaign on fear, and a principal fear he’s trying to fan the flames of is that of gay marriage. What else does he have to run on?


Continued:
http://www.advocate.com/html/stories/919/919_communion.asp

[struggle4progress]

1. Worth reading. And frightening. eom

[flordehinojos]

2. Well, at least one Catholic Bishop has not lost sight of Christ !

At least one Catholic Bishop has not lost sight of Christ. Alleluiah!

Sadly, the rest of his colleagues will symbolically crucify him and his message in the same way that they crucified Christ.

He is so clear when he says,
"Not being happy with just abusing the Eucharist, the pope is now putting pressure on American bishops to carry out the command to get Bush (re-)elected" ...

These words "Not being happy with just abusing the Eucharist .." ought to really resonate in the hearts of every thinking Catholic who ought to really follow The Way of Christ--stand up to the Pope's misguided pressuring of the American Bishops and their American electorate, say NO to Bush and SEND HIM ON HIS WAY BACK TO CRAWFORD. I think, that would be the answer to the Bishop's question:
"What has become of us and what will we do about this to correct it?"
.........


O8) Thank God for Achbishop Bruce J. Simpson O8)