So, late last week my eye was caught by a piece with the headline "Tancredo slams pope". Following the link (http://www.denverpost.com/ci_8960784?source=rss), I found that specifically the outgoing congressman from Colorado used the occasion of Benedict's visit and goodwill tour to denounce the pope's stance on immigration --nativist anti-immigration policies being a keystone of Tancredo's credo.
Now, I don't think Benedict is immune to criticism, for his actions either before and since he became pope.
But (and this is a pretty big BUT) all he was doing in this case was urging American Catholics to welcome immigrants who share their faith into their churches and communities as brethren. It's pretty hard to find fault with a church leader who encourages all fellow denomenationalists to treat each other well; it's like slamming the Dalai Lama for advocating peace, tolerance, and enlightenment. Surely telling Catholics to love and respect one another is a fundamental part of what being pope is all about.
So, dismissing a call to Xian charity as mere "faith based marketing" is confirmation that Tancredo deserves his spot in the waxworks of horrors alongside Strom Thurman, George Wallace, Senator Bilbo, and the rest. Pity, but there it is.
--John R.
current reading: THE BRILLIANT CAREER OF WINNIE-THE-POOH by Ann Thwaite.