Opinion

Bush, Iraq, and Pope John Paul II

By Luciana Bohne
Online Journal Contributing Writer

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September 17, 2005—Cardinal Pio Laghi, Pope John Paul II's special envoy to George W. Bush in March 2003, has told Italian RadioRai in a recent interview that the US president did not read the pope's letter urging him not to pursue the war against Iraq.

Cardinal Laghi said that when he handed Bush Pope John Paul's letter, Bush didn't read it and set it aside, saying he had already pinpointed a solution. Laghi then explained that the president gave him an audience of 40 minutes, speaking uninterruptedly until Laghi broke in to say he'd come to Washington to present him with the pope's thoughts, not just to listen to him.

But, then, the good cardinal might not have heard Bush's humble admission that God spoke directly to him, in private—nor could he have been aware of General William G. "Jerry" Boykin's assertion that, since Bush had not been strictly elected, his appointment must have come directly from God!

The Vatican seems to have been sadly out of touch with God's special relationship with the White House, which would have explained the Bush's indifference to Peter's supposed successor's opinion on the divine belligerence against the people of Iraq, which he intended devoutly to carry out. It really does look like the Roman Catholic Church is unaware that there is a clash of civilizations going on and that God has definitely taken sides.

Either that, or those whom the gods mean to destroy, they first make crazy!

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."—George Orwell

US Constitution, First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Luciana Bohne teaches film and literature at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She can be reached at lbohne@edinboro.edu.