Has John Kerry said anything about the Pope? Just curious.

[saracat]

I just posted a thread about Carl berstien and what he has said about the Pope being one of the greatest geo politicazl leaders of the last century.I agree. But I wonder if JK will issue a statement. Speaking of which, did he have a statement on Shiavo?

[Pirate Smile]

1. Somebody just started a thread asking if Kerry had ever met the Pope.

Does anybody know?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1700218

[XanaDUer]

2. I would like to know this, too.

...

[saracat]

3. None of the Catholic Dems have said ANYTHING. Wonder why?

it is too bad because the RW spin machine is claiming the Pope. Nancy reagan was on comparing him to Ronnie! they were both actors! GAG! What about Clinton? Hemet the Pope! And he went to Georgetown! Why the silence?

[TayTay]

4. I think both MA Senators will make a statement

when they deem it appropriate to do so. I am not sure that time has arrived. Most Catholics in Boston prayed in church and then kept their thoughts private. The Holy Father is dying, there is not much you can say.

Both MA Senators are Catholics and I believe that both Sens have met Pope John Paul II. (Multiple times.) Also, Sen. Kerry went through the trouble of obtaining a annulment so that he could marry again with a Catholic woman with full rights and blessings of the Church. Given that level of commitment to the faith, I am sure that he will have feelings on what this means for the future of the Church.

Even if Sens Kerry and Kennedy were not Catholic, it is highly likely that they would make a statement eventually. Massachusetts has one of the highest Catholic populations (by percentage anyway) in the nation. (I believe MA is more than 50% Catholic, Rhode Island is more than 65% Catholic.)

This is one of those events that is overtly religious in nature, yet has resonance in the secular world. I am sure a statement will be forthcoming, when it is appropriate.

[JohnKleeb]

5. Makes me want to live in MA

Virginia is only 13% Catholic. :)

[TayTay]

6. Hmmm, this sounds a bit snippy

That's because I feel a bit snippy. A man is dying. I know that he is the Pope and that we live in a media age and that the 24/7 cable tv beast must be fed, but, still, a man is dying. Comments from famous people will not change that. This man has genuine religious significance for millions and millions of people around the globe. I pray his death is painless. I send sympathy to all who grieve this death.

Beyond that, what can you say? A man is dying. Man supposes and God disposes. What else is there to say about this essential mystery of life.

[saracat]

7. I am very sad about the Pope. The fact that I do not agree

with some of his positions and have left the Church doesn't mean I can't grieve the passing of a great man! He is a peacemaker. I think it would be relevant for our prominent Democratic Catholic politicians to acknowledge him. It sickens me that the Republicans seem to be claiming him. He is universal I know, but still, the comparison with Reagen is nauseating.

[JohnKleeb]

8. I agree with your sentiments

:).

[saracat]

10. Thank you. My grandmother was from Poland as well.So that makes it a

little more poignant for me. I remember how proud my mothers family was when the Pope was elected. And the Pope is dying the same way my Dad did .He was also septic but on a respirator and I had to take him off. So I guess I am also identifying with that.

[JohnKleeb]

11. He's a good guy

Don't agree with him on gay rights or abortion or birth control but he's a good guy. I didnt know you were part Polish. My grandmother's family is from the country south of there, Slovakia, in fact Ive seen where the pope's hometown is in poland and its near the Slovak border.

[saracat]

15. I am half Polish. My Grandmother was an immigrant.

My Dad's family was Scots Irish and has been here since 1624! I actually traveled to Warsaw once with my parents when it was still under Soviet control and visited the village on the outskirts of the city. Actually several hours away by train. I think the name of the village was Vilna!Because of quota restrictions, it took many years for my grandmother to get her family over to the US. My Dad called in a favor from the then Sen. Robert Kennedy who finally bumped them to the top of the list. They arrived in America shortly after his assassination.

[JohnKleeb]

18. I am glad they were able to make it, I still have some of my mom's family

in eastern europe though, since IVe seen pictures of grave sites and my grandfather had a cousin killed in occupied europe. How is the city of Warsaw? Ive considered doing an eastern europe trip before.

[saracat]

20. It was many years ago but it was very beautiful. Very clean and

very wide boulevards similar to Paris. Very cosmopolitan restaurants and very beautiful women!

[TayTay]

9. But I don't really want a statement yet

Maybe it's a reaction to too many statements having been made over poor Terry Schiavo, but I would prefer that the solemn moment arrive in dignity. Comments can wait.

I used to be Catholic. I parted company with the Church. But I still respect the power and tradition of the Church. (Actually I admire a lot about them, particulary when it comes to economic justice issues.)

But I don't want either Kerry or Kennedy to make a statement until it's needed. It just seems shallow. Might be a regional difference, I might be exhibiting New England Reserve. (I promise to get a vaccine for this before the next major world event.)

[saracat]

12. I understand Tay Tay. I just hate the repukes

fawning all over this. Nancy really got to me!"thy had sooo much in common, you know.They were both actors!" Yech!

[JohnKleeb]

14. Yeah and one of them actually gave a damn about the poor

and fought tyranny instead of being in a movie studio. I hate it too btw, since I know the bitter truth is that the fundies hate Catholics.

[saracat]

17. And that'a the truth! I was waiting for Randall Terry to dump the priests

and go back to calling Catholics spawns of hell now that the Shiavo thing has played out and he doesn't need them. They always say Catholics aren't Christian! I keep expecting Randall terry to appear talking about the Pope!

[whometense]

13. I feel the same way.

Too much residual ghoulishness after the Schiavo circus.

Plus, as just two more good Catholics, it would seem obvious that they're just doing what all the other good Catholics are doing. It's not a political event, and for now they shouldn't be making statements.

Or maybe I've got the same thing TayTay has, and need a vaccine as well. ;-)

[saracat]

16. I guess I am just frustrated at our usual lack of PR savvy.

Maybe its a good thing. I dunno. I get ya about the Shiavo circus.But on the other hand, everything is political. And we are to dignified to get that!:)

[whometense]

19. I know what you mean.

I just think Kerry and Kennedy are two people who I would expect would draw a sharp line between their political leadership and just being part of the flock as far as their catholicism goes. It's just the way they are.

[TayTay]

27. I have a feeling there will be plenty of statements after

the College of Cardinals meets and chooses a new Pope. There are strong indications that the next Pope might be from a Third World country and might even be a person of color. (Is 'person of color' a phrase that means anything? Should it be 'a minority'? Not sure what actually communicates something in there and what just sounds funny. Perhaps a person from Africa of a person from LAtin America. Semantics matter and I feel like I am flubbing it.)

There is every indication that the next major phase of the Church, under a new and more vibrant Pope, would be to address economic injustice in the world. This Pope would push for the rights of the poor, the morality of having huge separations between rich and poor and other economic issues. That would be a breath of fresh air.

I left the Church over many reasons that I probably don't need to articulate here. But I also left out of respect. They have the right to their opinion and I have the right to mine. But there are things that I deeply admire about the Church and the commitment to the poor is numero uno. (With caveats that I don't want to go into due to the Papal circumstances.)

[rox63]

21. Most northeastern Catholics are reserved about religion

I have also parted ways with the Church, on issues like gay rights, birth control, abortion, and ordination of women and married priests. But I was raised Catholic in a mostly Catholic neighborhood, and went to 12 years of Catholic school. So I have a pretty good frame of reference. I'm sure both Kerry and Kennedy will make a statement after the pope has passed away. A lot of faithful Catholics are praying for him. But they aren't doing it in public. I was raised to believe that prayer was something done quietly and humbly, and not as a public show. The overt religiosity was one of the many things I found offensive in the media circus around Terri Schiavo.

[ginnyinWI]

22. right

No need to jump on any political bandwagons, I say.

As a non-Catholic, I still think the pope has been an important world figure and his passing will affect us all on some level. He was conservative on social issues, but blasted Bush on Iraq and Abu Garaib, and for that I'm grateful. And he's the third-longest serving pope, and that alone makes him important. From what I see, he has been much loved.

[Hans Delbrook]

25. Kerry considers religion to be a very private matter

that was made clear during the election. And I support that - a man, a great and much beloved man is dying. I can't watch cable news right now. This death watch is pointless and unseemly. But expecting any kind of class or a shred of human kindness or dignity from cable news (or those vulture rethugs like Nancy Reagan) is, I guess, too much to ask!

[europegirl4jfk]

23. He isn't dead yet

It's just my personal opinion, but I think a statement is more appropriate after the death of the pope and not while he is dying. Most of our European leaders didn't speak out yet either.

[TayTay]

26. Oh, I see what happened.

My 'this seems a bit snippy' remark was self-directed. I found my origianl answer to your very reasonable question a bit, well, snippy. And cold. So I tried to give it a bit more zip.

I just seem to be a bit unemotional lately. I think I blew an emotional fuse on the the whole Terry Schiavo thing and have to get it replaced. Sigh! I think I will be a bit on the wonky side for a while. Feel free to call me on it.

Sorry!

[whometense]

24. A little OT, but humorous

My husband just wandered into the room, and said, "How are things in the blogosphere?"

I answered, "Everyone's just holding their breath waiting for news about the Pope.

He said, "It's too bad the idiots on tv aren't holding their breath."

Remember a world before 24-hour cable tv news? I'm inclined to think it was a better one.