Pontificating

The Pope made a rather impassioned appeal during his Easter mass for a ceasation of the violence in the middle east. For the first time he acknowledged that the blood shed was serving no purpose except to tear the region apart.

Yet at the same time, he recently sent out new guidelines for European Catholic politicans to follow, telling them basically what they could and couldn't support.

I am Catholic yet I am very uncomfortable with this role the new pope has decided to play in politics. John Paul was much more diplomatic, abet determined, to shape our policial arena. Yet he did it by appealing to the best in us, thinking that by doing so the other would follow.

Not so, Benedict. It's his contention that he has the right and obligation to tell us what we can and can't support.

Nahhhhhhh

There are many more Catholics better than I. I do not hold the pope above man, but see him as simply a man. One that may be better read than I but one who is fallible.

There should be a separation of church and politics in the world. Often the blunt truth of politics does not mesh well with religion. Let religion speak to the soul of man. Allow politics to speak to it's governing.