History happened April 16, 2008,
when Pope Benedict XVI met with President Bush at the White
House. Never before has such an event taken place. An event
of “Tremendous religious significance”, CNN declared as it
began. (CNN, 4-16-08). By the time his visit was over the
Catholic media was in a swoon, and the Roman Church was
ecstatic, euphoric, wildly energized. Pope Benedict
repeatedly made it brazenly clear that he was celebrating in
this visit to America the Jesuit John Carroll, first Roman
Catholic bishop in America, and the establishment of the
first American archdiocese in Baltimore, with its dioceses
in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Louisville.Why the Focus on the American
Revolution?
Like a ton of bricks did the Pope's visit hit my consciousness. Amid the outrage over the incredible betrayal of once-Protestant America by the White House of the representative of that power which murdered hundreds of millions of souls, I asked as I watched the ceremony at the White House, Why the Revolutionary War marching fife and drum (U.S Army old Guard) display with tri-corner hats, emphasizing the American Revolution? What did that have to do with the pope's visit? There had to be a reason. What is it? Why is the pope repeatedly referring to the first Jesuit bishop, John Carroll? Why is the pope repeatedly speaking about how Britain banned the Mass, but religious liberty is written in America's Constitution, granting freedom to celebrate the Mass? Why is the pope making it clear that apparently his real reason in coming to America is to celebrate the 200 year anniversary of the establishment of the archdiocese of Baltimore, in Mary Land?
A New Power Has Seized American
Catholicism
This was
not just another papal visit to America. A new power
has seized Roman Catholicism in America, a power that even
amazed Pope Benedict XVI. Never have we ever seen such an
out poring of enthusiasm conveyed by television as what took
place at Yankee Stadium...Rome is mightily on the
march...The pope gathered up the whole history of Roman
Catholicism in America, since the Revolution of 1776 in his
mission to America...for a purpose. He is undoubtedly the
most intelligent pope the papacy has had in a while. His
incredible stamina for 81 years of age sustained him in an
absolute whirlwind of intense meetings in a densely packed
schedule. His intellectual focus is spurring on American
Catholicism. More people crowd St. Peter's to hear what this
pope has to say , than thronged it to see the actor pope,
John Paul II. He is a man deeply beloved by the Catholic
people for his Catholic piety, and his devotion to the
interests of Roman Catholicism.