Pope John Paul II believed Bush was the anti-Christ.

[genius]

He reportedly said so numberous times to various cardinals. While I don't know as I believe in an anti-Christ, if there is one I'm sure he's on the same side as Bush.

Bush's philosophy is certainly anti-Christian (as in the opposite of what Christ taught) and we need to counteract the lies told by his anti-Christian ministers (who also teach the opposite of what Christ taught).

Anyone want to discuss.

[purduejake]

1. Do you have a link?

Or a source you can cite? It would be incredible if true.

[The Magistrate]

2. As A Matter Of Curiousity. Sir

Do you have any supporting source for that statement?

[FuzzySlippers]

4. Here >>>

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0MKY/is_9_27/ai_108881880

[The Magistrate]

5. That Is Merely Madsen, Ma'am

He makes things up, with no more shame about it than an Alderman taking bribes for a zoning variance.

If this is to be treated as a credible claim, someone is going to have to provide a named source willing to state he or she actually heard the statement....

"On the whole, I'd rather be in Philadelphia."

[genius]

7. Madsen's a great journalist.

I'm really tired of seeing liberals or anyone with negative information about Bush get attacked here. Please treat Madsen with some respect. He does good work.

[The Magistrate]

9. Madsen, Sir

Is a performance artist, a species of comedian whose shtick is to be mistaken for a journalist. He makes things up, claims sources he does not have, and predicts things that do not then occur....

[genius]

11. Sorry. I know people who have worked with him. He's a great journalist.

He investigated election fraud in the district where one of my friends was the Democratic Congressinal candidate. The Republican pulled a fast one there and Madsen notified him of the situation. Madsen really does do good work and is well liked in Democratic circles. I don't like seeing him put down in this manner.

[The Magistrate]

12. He Makes Things Up, Sir

His site is entertainment only. You are welcome to your view, of course, but cannot expect others to refrain from expressing their own conclusions.

[greyl]

13. Madsen is cited in our Demopedia.

It may help the audience make an informed decision on Madsen if you provide a bit more than "nose in the air" ad hominem.

just sayin...

edit: Here's the link if you'd like to edit it for credibility;)
http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/index.php/WMD

[The Magistrate]

16. Amd The Signifigance Of That, Sir, Is What?

He has fans. Many people do. It means nothing.

[greyl]

17. Hone in on the following part of my post:

"It may help the audience make an informed decision on Madsen if you provide a bit more than "nose in the air" ad hominem."

So far you are just tilting at windmills - how do expect your conclusion to be adopted by the person you are replying to if you don't provide a convincing argument?

Especially because wayne seems to be respected enough to be included in our Demopedia as an at least occasionally reliable source.

[The Magistrate]

18. Having Had The Misfortune, Sir

Of reading a great many of his cited articles over the years, my conclusions have been forced on me by experience. Whether others share them is a matter of indifference to me.

[greyl]

19. I'm only suggesting you provide evidence.

Forgive me for finding it difficult to believe that you are indifferent to the reactions people have to your vocalized opinions.

That just doesn't make sense to me.

To be clear, I'm not demanding that you defend yourself, I'm suggesting that you attack wayne madsen properly.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

30. Attention, ladies and gentlemen:

Katherine Harris is still not dead.

[greyl]

34. Tom Flocco said that, not madsen. nt

[Justice]

31. I would agree with you Magistrate

[MadisonProgressive]

33. That's my take on it too.

[bemildred]

35. I must agree with The Magistrate.

Madsen "speculates" far too much.

He is entertaining, amusing, and not above using the
facts when they fit his purpose, but not above writing
fiction, if the facts won't do the job.

Not unlike the Defense Department, you might say.

[GetTheRightVote]

3. I recall hearing about this topic as well, it was reported in the Catholic

publishing circulated in the church itself.

:kick:

[expatriot]

6. you'd think he'd feel that it was his duty to wage a more public campaign

against the person he believed to be the Anti-Christ incarnate, being the Pope and all.

[The Magistrate]

10. Yes, Sir, One Would Think That

As it would be an event of unparallelled signifigance in the history of the his Church....

[DerekG]

25. At one point, this "anti-christ" was on John's territory

We all recall their sit-down, right? If this story had any validity, I'm pretty sure John Paul II would have had his posse break out the daggers, a la "The Omen." Instead, he merely chided the murderous bastard.

I say bullocks to this story.

[pro_blue_guy]

8. I've always liked Pope JP2.

Regardless of what some say, he was a great world leader/figure with most of his thoughts and policies.

[expatriot]

14. can't wait for JP3, although you can get kick ass JP2 expansion packs nt

[purduejake]

15. Really? If you're openly gay...

he might not have liked you.

[Little-Jen]

20. Although I would love to believe this,

If it were indeed true, it would have been heavily reported.

[greyl]

23. "If it were indeed true, it would have been heavily reported." ?

The popularity of a story isn't a reliable gauge of the truth of a story.

Think of a few "popular stories" that you know to be false...

[ShockediSay]

21. OK, so Bush is the anti-Christ and JPII will soon be a saint

No arguments from me.

[Jamison]

22. I'm not sure he was right.

I've always been told that the antichrist would be intelligent, eloquent, and a brilliant leader & politician who would win the support of many people of the world. This doesn't describe *. * is a bumbling idiot.

[jaded_at_best]

29. Harriet Miers thinks Bush is brilliant

Maybe Bush is so brilliant that he pretends to be an idiot just so we don't think he's the antichrist. As far as I'm concerned, he IS, period. And he won't rest until the planet melts in nuclear rapture.

[w13rd0]

24. This was actually first reported...

...in a German newspaper. The same one that published the story about Bush being surprised that they "had blacks in Brazil"...

[greyl]

26. Were they simply quoting Madsen from April 2003 or

was it a different source?

Madsen's original story: www.counterpunch.org/madsen04222003.html

[w13rd0]

27. They weren't quoting Madsen...

...as I recall, they cited sources inside the Vatican. Probably the same sources that are outting Pope Ratz.

[pattim]

37. What "newspaper?"

I mean, are we talking New York Times, Washington Times, or Worker's Weekly World here?

[jaded_at_best]

28. the only worthy thing to ever

come out of the Vatican, if true.

Bush is the most hated man in the world, more than Hitler at this point.

[ChickMagic]

32. Some comedian said

(I don't remember who) that the Pope thought Bush was the Antichrist.
He said, "Who knew that the Antichrist would be a retard?"

Sorry for the rudeness - I'm only quoting.

[pattim]

36. Let us have an actual link from an actual journalist, sir.

Madsen has no source either, and has no credibility in my eyes.

[Totally Committed]

38. I believe this is an urban legend.

If the Pope thought Bush was the Anti-Christ, he would have felt it his divine duty to inform all Catholics of this belief. That not only wasn't done, but several times after that rumor started making the rounds, he either supported Bush, or was photographed shaking hands with him. I doubt that would have happened if this was his belief.

The Catholic Church, sadly, remains cluless about, or in league with, this administration on a vast number of issues and "values". I am no bashing Catholics (I used to be one), but I am very troubled by The Church of Rome these days.

[ISUGRADIA]

39. If the Pope thought that one would think he would not have helped

Bush's campaign last year by the Catholic Church's in overdrive support of anti-gay marriage amendments last year and by Vatican pronouncements against pro-choice politicians (i.e. Kerry)

[mamalone]

40. I don't have a link, but

I have heard this as well and remember reading it in a reputable news source right around the start of the invasion of Iraq. Actually, I don't think that the Pope ever stated unequivocally that Bush WAS the Anti-Christ, but only that he felt that Bush showed many of the characteristics and that he MIGHT indeed turn out to be the Anti-Christ. The phrase that has cemented itself into my memory is the Pope's reference to Bush's "bloodlust"...a descriptor which I felt was horrifyingly accurate, and which has proved more true over time.