When Status Quo is Weird Enough.

It seems my last comment about the selection of Pope Benedict XVI drew some criticism from "True Believers" who countered saying that the Pope's selection wasn't weird at all. It was a natural progression of the way things have been in the church for 2000 years.(Precisely!) I am however amazed or not amazed to find out that "Good ole W" on his last trip to Rome before the election, sought help from the Vatican to lure "Wayward Catholics" back into the fold. The good Cardinal obliged "W" by composing a letter to American Bishops stating that any and all Catholics who espouse ideas contrary to church mandate ( favoring a woman's right to choose) should not be afforded the right of Holy communion. His letter seemed to have done the trick. The percentage of American Catholics who voted for "Bushie" the second time increased by 6 points. Arthur Schlesinger's article entitled, "Holy War: It's Easy to Recognize Extremism Abroad, But Can We Recognize It at Home?" examines the role of Evangelical Protestantism in the Bush White House. It goes on to describe daily bible meetings and to say that it is not unusual to see White House aides scurrying here and there carrying bibles in their hands. So much for separation of church and state.