Bush: The First Catholic President?

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A Catholic Wind in the White House
By Daniel Burke
Sunday, April 13, 2008; B02

Shortly after Pope Benedict XVI’s election in 2005, President Bush met with a small circle of advisers in the Oval Office. As some mentioned their own religious backgrounds, the president remarked that he had read one of the new pontiff’s books about faith and culture in Western Europe.

Save for one other soul, Bush was the only non-Catholic in the room. But his interest in the pope’s writings was no surprise to those around him. As the White House prepares to welcome Benedict on Tuesday, many in Bush’s inner circle expect the pontiff to find a kindred spirit in the president. Because **if Bill Clinton can be called America’s first black president, some say, then George W. Bush could well be the nation’s first Catholic president. **

This isn’t as strange a notion as it sounds. Yes, there was John F. Kennedy. But where Kennedy sought to divorce his religion from his office, Bush has welcomed Roman Catholic doctrine and teachings into the White House and based many important domestic policy decisions on them.
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washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/11/AR2008041103327_pf.html

Edited by moderator to comply with forum rule limiting quotes to three paragraphs.
 
Very, very interesting, but I don’t see any practical aspects of it, it’s one thing to keep the theology/theory but how much of it has taken root in government policies? For e.g. the war in Iraq, that was firmly opposed by the Vatican, however Bush had other motives for it. So this might just be an act, furthermore I don’t really see much implementation and neither do I see it coming anytime soon with the likes of Obama and Clinton.
 
I may be mistaken, but I think the President’s brother Jeb Bush is Catholic–the Governor of Florida. It doesn’t surprize me that George would read a book by the Holy Father.
 
You have know idea how much I loathe Bush.

And the principle of subsidiary is overrated – some people need a managerial state to survive.
 
Tonks40 said:
To get further insight on the President and how his faith has influenced his presidency, I recommend viewing this interview aired on this past Friday’s “The World Over” on EWTN:

Raymond Arroyo’s Interview with Pres. George W. Bush
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Yeah…I was going to bring that up. At the end of the interview, Ray Arroyo asks him about the famous quote about Bush looking into Putin’s eyes and seeing a good man. Ray then asks him what he saw when he looked into Benedict XVI’s eyes. Bush unflinchingly says, “God.”

Now, while that is an overstatement of sorts (I would have preferred “godliness”), it certainly gives an idea of how Bush feels about the Pope. I am praying for his conversion. I’m sure my brother knight (Jeb is a member of the KofC…not sure if he is 2nd, 3rd or 4th degree - I only remember the anouncement of his 2nd degree) is praying for him as well.

:gopray: :knight1: :knight2:
 
ribozyme said:
You have know idea how much I loathe Bush.

And the principle of subsidiary is overrated – some people need a managerial state to survive.
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Nonsense.

First of all, the number of people needing a “managerial state to survive” is very small. Most just need a boost when the going gets tough to get them back on their feet.

Second, subsidiarity doesn’t prevent the ability of government to assist those in need. Perhaps you don’t understand subsidiarity.
 
rlg94086 said:
Nonsense.

First of all, the number of people needing a “managerial state to survive” is very small. Most just need a boost when the going gets tough to get them back on their feet.

Second, subsidiarity doesn’t prevent the ability of government to assist those in need. Perhaps you don’t understand subsidiarity.
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I certainly want a managerial state, but I am afraid that we have much larger problems that need to be solved first.

So what’s a better alternative to a managerial state?
 
ribozyme said:
I certainly want a managerial state, but I am afraid that we have much larger problems that need to be solved first.

So what’s a better alternative to a managerial state?
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Well…it is just a scosch off-topic, but…

I personally believe in federalism, which does tend to follow the ideal of subsidiarity. The idea, in simple terms, is that any social programs/laws should be as close to the individual as possible.

For example, minimum wage doesn’t make sense at the federal level. From a *laissez faire *standpoint, the market determines wages. Ideally, all business owners would be good Catholic business owners, paying a decent wage. However, if you are going to impose a minimum wage, it should be as close to the individual as possible, so it will be meaningful. The minimum wage in San Francisco, CA should not be the same as the minimum wage in Biloxi, MS.

Basically, the idea of subsidiarity would dictate that most decisions effecting individuals should not be made at the federal level. That is why I believe that the Constititution and the Republican Party (from a national, federalist standpoint, at least) are very Catholic when it comes to subsidiarity.

The other aspect of subsidiarity, which can be demonstrated, is that private charitable organizations are more efficient and effective at providing social assistance (because they are closer to the recipients). That is why the article linked in the OP mentions the “faith-based” initiatives. The idea the Bush Administration had is that putting funds that would have gone to a government bureaucracy into the hands of efficient, private charities is a more effective way to help those in need.
 
If one is to approach matters from the aspect of Catholic influence in the Presidency and social teachings, couldn’t one argue that FDR was the first “Catholic” president? He had all the support in the world from the most prominent bishops who were quite influential in his administrative policy, after all.
 
Benedict XVI is the only real leader of the West today, it’s encouraging that some is listening. By the way, the Pope has requested to meet the Bush’s family privately when he’s at the Whitehouse. Maybe a conversion may come out of it.
 
bcuster said:
I may be mistaken, but I think the President’s brother Jeb Bush is Catholic–the Governor of Florida. It doesn’t surprize me that George would read a book by the Holy Father.
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Jeb Bush is no longer Governor. His two terms ended last year. Charlie Crist is the current governor.
 
George Bush, like a lot of Republicans, may express his belief in values that appeal to Catholic ears, and take political positions that Catholics favor, when he can do so without untaking much risk. But, for all the talk, what has he done? What has he *accomplished *that Catholics can point to that shows GWB is Catholic at heart? I say nothing, nada, nil, zilch.
 
OriginalJS said:
George Bush, like a lot of Republicans, may express his belief in values that appeal to Catholic ears, and take political positions that Catholics favor, when he can do so without untaking much risk. But, for all the talk, what has he done? What has he *accomplished *that Catholics can point to that shows GWB is Catholic at heart? I say nothing, nada, nil, zilch.
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Nothing? Other than vetoing the embryonic stem cell funding bill, appointing pro-life justices to the supreme court, supporting abstinence education and supporting the partial birth abortion ban, yeah, I guess he has done nothing. :rolleyes:

In Christ,
Rand
 
OriginalJS said:
George Bush, like a lot of Republicans, may express his belief in values that appeal to Catholic ears, and take political positions that Catholics favor, when he can do so without untaking much risk. But, for all the talk, what has he done? What has he *accomplished *that Catholics can point to that shows GWB is Catholic at heart? I say nothing, nada, nil, zilch.
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The partial birth abortion ban
 
I’ve been praying for President Bush’s conversion to Catholicism for years. I honestly believe it will happen one day. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see him welcomed into the Church during the Easter Vigil at the Vatican by Pope Benedict.
 
Although I do not agree with what he has done in Iraq, I believe this man does have faith and maybe great faith. Hopefully the Lord is calling him to be catholic…to the fullness of truth. Would that not be a wonderful thing?👍
 
That would be awesome. While I certainly do not support many policy decisions that President Bush has pushed through, I do not doubt that he is sincere in his faith. In some ways I admire his faith. I can easily see him entering the Church, perhaps soon after leaving office, much like Tony Blair. Who knows, Bush may even be taking private instruction as we speak… it’s not like the White House would broadcast it.
 
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