Bush in holy gaffe

[jddqr]

From news24.com/News24/World/News/0,2-10-1462_2127232,00.html …

Vatican City - US President George W Bush drew gasps at the Vatican on Saturday by referring to Pope Benedict XVI as “sir” instead of the expected “His Holiness”, pool reporters said.

They could clearly hear the US leader say “Yes, sir” when the pope asked him if he was going to meet with officials of the lay Catholic Sant’Egidio community at the US embassy later during his visit.

A handful of pool reporters were on hand as Benedict greeted Bush at the door of his private library ahead of a private audience of about half an hour.

On his way to see the 80-year-old pontiff, the US leader apparently recognised someone he knew, and could be heard greeting the person with a casual “How ya doin’?”

The pool reporters also noted Bush’s relaxed posture, crossing his legs “Texan style” while facing the pope across his desk in the private study of the apostolic palace.

 

[Guardian]

From news24.com/News24/World/News/0,2-10-1462_2127232,00.html …

Vatican City - US President George W Bush drew gasps at the Vatican on Saturday by referring to Pope Benedict XVI as “sir” instead of the expected “His Holiness”, pool reporters said.

They could clearly hear the US leader say “Yes, sir” when the pope asked him if he was going to meet with officials of the lay Catholic Sant’Egidio community at the US embassy later during his visit.

A handful of pool reporters were on hand as Benedict greeted Bush at the door of his private library ahead of a private audience of about half an hour.

On his way to see the 80-year-old pontiff, the US leader apparently recognised someone he knew, and could be heard greeting the person with a casual “How ya doin’?”

The pool reporters also noted Bush’s relaxed posture, crossing his legs “Texan style” while facing the pope across his desk in the private study of the apostolic palace.

I don’t really think what Bush did was a gaffe. Bush is not Catholic. He doesn’t believe in the position of the Pope, so why would you expect him to treat him as such?

 

[kellicouch77]

GW was respectful and polite to the Pope. That is what matters. He isn’t Catholic, so I think he deserves a break on this one.

 

[John_Higgins]

I’m really, really not a fan of the President, but give him a break! If you want an imperial President back elect one.

John

 

[mary_bobo]

I don’t really think what Bush did was a gaffe. Bush is not Catholic. He doesn’t believe in the position of the Pope, so why would you expect him to treat him as such?

I’m not sure he does not respect the position of the Pope, afterall his brother is a convert. I really don’t think his meant to be disrespectful. But then it is Bush, so we can expect criticism and an effort to make something out of nothing.

 

[Bennie_P]

This is not news.

 

[Tom317]

So, we are to believe that our President is unaware of the proper greeting for the Pope? I doubt that seriously. (and I am a Bush supporter, yet feel he did make a mistake with this, albeit a minor mistake at that)

 

[jimmy]

So, we are to believe that our President is unaware of the proper greeting for the Pope? I doubt that seriously. (and I am a Bush supporter, yet feel he did make a mistake with this, albeit a minor mistake at that)

And why should we even care what the president calls the pope? It is irrelevant. If we get annoyed by this then we have the wrong attitude. It is purely a worldly attitude.

 

[Tom317]

And why should we even care what the president calls the pope? It is irrelevant. If we get annoyed by this then we have the wrong attitude. It is purely a worldly attitude.

Wordly atttitude? How so? Wanting people to show proper respect is simply a Christian attitude, not a wordly attitude. How would it seem if the Pope greeted our President as “hey you?”

 

[jimmy]

Wordly atttitude? How so? Wanting people to show proper respect is simply a Christian attitude, not a wordly attitude. How would it seem if the Pope greeted our President as “hey you?”

It really doesn’t matter how the president greets the pope. I don’t think Pope Pius VII was too concerned with how Napolean greeted him. I don’t think Pope Pius VI was either. The early popes weren’t too concerned about how the Roman emperors greeted them. We are not here for respect from the world, neither is the pope. It is pride that demands someone greet the pope as ‘your holyness’. That is the attitude that Christ said the apostles would not lead by in Luke22. They will lead by service. They will not lord it over the people like the gentile kings do.

 

[Tom317]

It really doesn’t matter how the president greets the pope. I don’t think Pope Pius VII was too concerned with how Napolean greeted him. I don’t think Pope Pius VI was either. The early popes weren’t too concerned about how the Roman emperors greeted them. We are not here for respect from the world, neither is the pope. It is pride that demands someone greet the pope as ‘your holyness’. That is the attitude that Christ said the apostles would not lead by in Luke22. They will lead by service. They will not lord it over the people like the gentile kings do.

I do not agree, respect for others is mandated, not a suggestion. We are not showing pride to expect people to treat each other with respect.

 

[bellesjoy]

I agree we can make far too much of this kind of “overheard” reporting.

What I have seen in Bush’s presidency is someone who follows more closely the Church’s teaching on abortion, embryonic stem cell research, cloning, and respect for one man, one woman to constitute a marriage than many of our so-called “catholic” politicians. Some of them make sure they use proper etiquette in salutation, but then vote like pagans when it comes to the above topics.

Calling attention to that kind of gaffe on the part of those who use their faith like an ornament to be put on at photo-ops is far more important than comments on this meeting.

It is rumored that Bush may convert, as did his brother, after his term is over. Pray for his conversion and especially that of those who are Catholic in name only.

 

[jimmy]

I do not agree, respect for others is mandated, not a suggestion. We are not showing pride to expect people to treat each other with respect.

I agree, we are to respect others. But that doesn’t mean that we are to expect the world to respect us. It will not happen. Christians show respect. As I said above, the great popes of history have not been concerned about whether the leaders of the world respected them.

 

[Biblioassistant]

Oh big woo! Evidently the Pope and the President had a nice and hopefully fruitful talk. I’m sure that Mr. Bush knew the correct mode of addressing the Pope, but I’ll be willing to bet he was overawed - I know I would be.

As long as he didn’t call him Benny

 

[the_phoenix]

I for one find Bush’s “gaffes” endearing. In the South, “Sir” is a term of respect, so I would say Bush was doing his best to show respect according to how he had been raised. (And yes, I realize this is contrary to the advice “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”)

Along the same lines, greeting someone else he happened to see that he knew with a “How ya doin’?” I would take as a well-intentioned and sincere friendly sign of Southern hospitality.

Living up North and vacationing down South, I can tell you that I definitely would love to see more people greeting each other with the kind of warm Southern hospitality that Bush extends to others instead of the cold, tight-lipped and silent, turn-your-head-and-pretend-not-to-see-people that I often experience up North. Since my last vacation to Virginia and Georgia, I find myself making more of an effort to acknowledge people’s presence, based on the kindness which I was shown by complete strangers when I needed help.

(My boss is half afraid I might move down South for this reason … )

~~ the phoenix

 

[Tom317]

I agree, we are to respect others. But that doesn’t mean that we are to expect the world to respect us. It will not happen. Christians show respect. As I said above, the great popes of history have not been concerned about whether the leaders of the world respected them.

This is not about what the Pope expects. It is about what we expect of our elected leaders…some respect. I would not call Presidentr Bush “George,” I would call him “Mr. President.”

 

[Tom317]

Oh big woo! Evidently the Pope and the President had a nice and hopefully fruitful talk. I’m sure that Mr. Bush knew the correct mode of addressing the Pope, but I’ll be willing to bet he was overawed - I know I would be.

As long as he didn’t call him Benny

He was awed, he would have shown proper respect.

 

[jimmy]

This is not about what the Pope expects. It is about what we expect of our elected leaders…some respect. I would not call Presidentr Bush “George,” I would call him “Mr. President.”

That is your choice to call him “Mr. President” and that is the Christian spirit.

There are far more important issues than whether the pope is called ‘your holyness’.

He didn’t call the pope Joseph or Benedict or anything like that. He called him ‘sir’. That is about as much respect you can expect from a secular leader.

 

[Tom317]

That is your choice to call him “Mr. President” and that is the Christian spirit.

There are far more important issues than whether the pope is called ‘your holyness’.

He didn’t call the pope Joseph or Benedict or anything like that. He called him ‘sir’. That is about as much respect you can expect from a secular leader.

I agree, it is not of high importance.

 

[Potato1]

Boy they sure find reasons to pile on Bush don’t they. The funny thing is that the left wing hollywood or elite media npr types LOVE to explicitly leave off the President part of Bush’s title and refer to him as Mr. Bush. This has stemmed from the “He stle the election” cry from early in this presidency, now it will be the same Bush Bashers that point out this (unintentional) “gaffe” If the world wasn’t in such a pickle these things would be funny as it is now they are just annoying. Can’t we focus on something better. BTW I would love to see other people (especially the speaker of the house meet with the Pope)