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Monday, April 14, 2008
Will U.S. embrace Pope’s visit and teachings?
Next up for Pope Benedict XVI, a welcoming nation that wants to get to know him! Benedict’s first trip to the United States as pope begins Tuesday — a five-day visit to Washington and New York, including a speech at the United Nations. Anyone expecting strident speeches from the man once called “God’s rottweiler” for his role defending Roman Catholic doctrine will be disappointed. Benedict will deliver an unwavering message that society needs religious values. In recently receiving the new U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, Harvard law professor Mary Ann Glendon, Benedict welcomed what he called the American people’s “historic” appreciation of the role of religion in shaping public policy. He used the occasion to condemn abortion, euthanasia and gay marriage, praising “the efforts of so many of your fellow citizens and government leaders to ensure legal protection for God’s gift of life from conception to natural death.” {Associated Press}
Catholics and non-Catholics alike are excited about the Pontiff’s visit to America Tuesday. The Pope is one of God’s most revered servants in the world and requires the highest security of any head of state. It has been stated that he has a fondness for America and New York because of the “spiritual potential” they represent. A March poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press found nearly three-quarters of U.S. Catholics viewed Benedict positively. Among the U.S. public at large, 52 percent viewed the pope favorably.
For me, any minister who can lead people closer to God and can use their influence to bring people to faith is a cool person in my books. I just don’t know if America is ready to receive his words of faith? To me, America is saturated with the word of God, yet as we have seen even on this blog, while confessing Jesus Christ as their Lord,many choose to believe what they want in spite of what God’s word says.
So, is this a match made in heaven? Will Benedict like what he sees in America? Will America receive with open ears, the message he will deliver to the nation? How about you personally-what do you think of the bishop? Extraordinary guy, or just another man like you trying to find his way to God?
