The Pope and politics.

Your short item about Pope Benedict's warning to church leaders in Poland that priests are not meant to be politicians is interesting to say the least ("Priests Are Not Meant To Be Politicians, Pope Says During Poland Visit," July/August Church & State). It reminds me of John Paul II's order to Jesuit Fr. Robert Drinan to quit the U.S. Congress.

All the while, the Vatican claims to be a state. It exchanges ambassadors and other levels of diplomatic relations with countries all around the globe. It has worked steadily and hard over the years to increase those representations and raise lower levels of diplomats to higher levels. The popes eagerly await visits from world political leaders. They usually exchange presents with them. The popes issue non-stop political statements, usually couched in theological or moral terms.

That's not just interesting, it's hypocritical.

--Gilbert Cantlin

Berea, Ohio