Bush to Greet the Pope in Europe

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, May 14—It seems that Pope John Paul is a high priority for President Bush, who has made extensive, repeated efforts to win Catholic support for his presidency—for instance, by opposing federal funding for most stem cell research, and by seeking to ban all cloning. According to sources in the White House, the first schedule for Bush's trip next week to Rome did not include a papal visit.

Staffers realized that this was an oversight, reported the Associated Press, and juggled his schedule to accommodate the Holy See. Bush is expected to meet with the Holy Father on May 28, between the president's meetings with NATO officials and Russian diplomats.

Columnist Gloats Over Pope's Illness

THE NEW YORK TIMES, May 4—In an Op-Ed piece dealing with Church scandals, self-styled “collapsed Catholic” Bill Keller seemed to take delight in describing Pope John Paul's age and infirmity, pointing to them as a metaphor for a Church Keller considers sclerotic and corrupt.

He scorned the Pope's attempts to discipline and guide the American cardinals, and craft a new policy that protects youngsters from abuse, while preserving the rights of priests who are accused.

Then Keller suggested that John Paul had learned authoritarian ways from the Communist bureaucrats he used to confront—and finally become much like Leonid Brezhnev, in refusing to re-examine long-held doctrinal positions. The Times writer recounts a capsule history of the background behind Pope Paul VI's Humanae Vitae, noting wistfully that the Church would be quite a different institution had Paul VI not reaffirmed her constant teaching about contraception. Keller went on to speculate about when John Paul will die—much the way the Rastafarians of Jamaica bang on a drum three times a day for the death of the Pope.

Two Cardinals Reach 80, Lose Voting Privileges

CWNEWS.COM, May 9—Senior citizens are a major factor in most secular elections—especially since retiree lobbies are frequently the best organized, and the elderly the most likely to vote. But in papal conclaves, no one over 80 may vote for a new pope, thanks to changes in electoral rules made by Pope Paul VI. CWNews.com reported this week that two cardinals, Bernardin Gantin and Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, had reached age 80 and joined the ranks of the non-voting cardinals. Gantin, once prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, will remain as dean of the College of Cardinals—although his age and ill health mean he will not actually preside over the election. That will fall instead to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, as the most senior active cardinal.

The Catholic news site pointed out that Gantin has “worked closely with every Pontiff since Pius XII,” and “had often been seen as a potential Pope himself, and a representative of the rising strength of Catholicism in the Third World and especially in Africa.”

The other retiring cardinal, Kim, was archbishop of Seoul, Korea, from 1966 until 1998, when he retired—overseeing an explosion in the growth of the Church in his country. The Church now has 124 active cardinals—all but seven of whom were appointed by Pope John Paul II.