To the Editor,This past week, Pope Benedict XVI visited The United States of America. This is a very important visit both spiritually and politically, since the Pope is both the political leader of the Vatican-the world’s smallest nation-and the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.1 billion Catholics.I write this letter for two reasons-one, because Benedict promoted several important messages during his trip, and the second because Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas deserves credit for refusing to politicize a resolution “officially” welcoming the Pope to America.Regarding Benedict’s messages, Kathleen Parker stated very succinctly in Monday’s New Hampshire Union Leader the positive effect his words bring-“…there’s something comforting about a stubborn Pope in a world of moral relativity. Like a strong father, he ignores his children’s pleas for leniency, knowing that his rules, though tough, serve a higher purpose.” Benedict has strongly pushed for a return to recognition of higher purpose and moral structure, very much a reversal of the modern “moral relativism” present in much of America and the modern world.Another of Benedict’s main points were his very positive feelings overall towards the United States, its people and the American Catholic Church-a church that has high attendance rates, strong Christian values still in daily life, etc. He also touched on how the separation of church and state in America has allowed religion to flourish, and how this and other American freedoms are very good for people to have.Lastly, Benedict made a point of talking and meeting with bishops and victims of the now infamous priest abuse scandal. This was the strongest statement by the Vatican in some time regarding the scandal, and showed that the current Pope is not some higher-up separate from the average person-instead, he is very close to this issue, and intends to deal with its aftereffects in as a forward-looking and positive manner as possible.Pope Benedict’s visit to America was, like all papal trips and experiences, very inspirational to many believers. Sam Brownback, a (relatively) recent Catholic convert, sponsored a resolution welcoming the Pope to America. However, Senator Barbara Boxer of California objected to part of the resolution, which stated, “Whereas Pope Benedict VI has spoken out for the weak and vulnerable, witnessing to the value of each and every human life.” Her objection was that this was language supported Benedict’s pro-life views. Brownback immediately e-mailed his staff, and they changed the language to “Whereas Pope Benedict XVI has spoken out for the weak and vulnerable.”I believe this is very admirable. Were I in Senator Brownback’s position, I believe I would have been far more obstinate regarding any such changes. After all, the original statement did not state abortion, nor did it directly address it. However, Brownback rose above the political maneuvering typical of Congressional representatives and changed the verbiage so that the message still got through in an effective and respectful manner. I believe he deserves a lot of credit for this.To end, I would just like to say: Gratias ago vos ut Pope Benedict. May Deus Beatus him America , quod universitas ”
Thank you, Dustin Siggins