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Here's the difference, AeroGuy, though I have to say it's kind of sad that something so elementary has to be explained to you.
Kim Davis, when she is doing her job, represents the U.S. government. That means that she must adhere to the laws of the government she represents and not to her own personal religious views.
The Pope represents the Catholic Church, who, the last time I checked, has no power in the U.S. government to create laws.
Now maybe there are some Democrats who agree with his words and would like to implement some of those ideas into laws, but that's no different than the Republicans wanting to incorporate Netanyahu's beliefs into laws or policies as well.
Two different heads of state stated their personal beliefs to Congress, but you only seem upset about one of them. Why is that?
The Pope can influence the people by his teachings .
He says we should have opened arms to Syrian refugees, yet he has armed guards around him for his own safety. What about the safety of everyday people? with God there is no respecter of persons.
The Pope must recognize the evil in the world for all people. Even Jesus avoided the stone throwers . We must be wise to the evils of this world and recognize terrorism is real.
The Pope - and anyone else - can use any foundation whatsoever to form his views, argue for those views and - if the arguments win favor - see those views enshrined in law. If the law passes constitutional muster, it is 100% irrelevant on which basis the underlying views were formed.
Kim Davis can do the exact same - argue her fervently held viewpoints and try to influence legislation. What she cannot do, as a county clerk, is pick and choose what secular law she wishes to follow, for whatever reason - religion, personal taste, laziness or a deepheld dislike of the citizen standing in front of her.
This isn't hard at all.
Thank you for explaining it so clearly. It's scary to think we have citizens who don't grasp this distinction.
Definitely need better civics education in our schools.
The thread can end now. The OP was answered clearly and refuted with the objective truth. No further discussion needed.
Huckabee is an ordained Baptist minister. So are you disqualifying him from holding office in the federal government?
You really don't see the difference between someone holding religious beliefs and running for a political position, and a person who is a religious leader addressing lawmakers (that are supposed to uphold a Constitution with a clear separation)??
The Pope - and anyone else - can use any foundation whatsoever to form his views, argue for those views and - if the arguments win favor - see those views enshrined in law. If the law passes constitutional muster, it is 100% irrelevant on which basis the underlying views were formed.
Kim Davis can do the exact same - argue her fervently held viewpoints and try to influence legislation. What she cannot do, as a county clerk, is pick and choose what secular law she wishes to follow, for whatever reason - religion, personal taste, laziness or a deepheld dislike of the citizen standing in front of her.
This isn't hard at all.
I agree, but the big difference here is that religion has no place in law making. The reason that the founding fathers wrote the constitution with a clear separation is that "beliefs" cloud rationality. That is why the pope is more than entitled to his opinions, and more than entitled to share them, but absolutely not to the US Congress.
I'd be interested to see the reaction if a prominent Islamic leader were invited to address congress. Half the country's heads would explode!
OP should be quite upset with Boehner as he has been trying to get a Pope to visit for the past 20 years and he finally got one but apparently not one that the conservatives like. Oh well.
Sure he does. He's also a head of state. Do we have to do everything he says? Nope. Can we listen and hear? Sure we can.
Is this a state visit? No. Is the "Pope" visiting as a head of state? No. He is addressing Congress wearing his robe, hat and crucifix. Hey, its not that I don't like the guy, but a religious leader should not be addressing congress. Visit the US by all means, but do it in a purely religious capacity.
If there is one wall we should really be talking about, it isn't the silly wall Trump wants to build. It is the one between church and state.
The Pope is not an ignorant bigot or a person who has been a cancer on this society since its founding. He's not a person whose views align themselves with that of the Klan or that of Slaveowners or that of the most ignorant and backwards people in this country.
Is this a state visit? No. Is the "Pope" visiting as a head of state? No. He is addressing Congress wearing his robe, hat and crucifix. Hey, its not that I don't like the guy, but a religious leader should not be addressing congress. Visit the US by all means, but do it in a purely religious capacity.
Well, Congress *did* invite him.
"House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, both Catholics, extended the speaking invitation to Francis, who will become the first pontiff ever to address a joint session of Congress."
Thank you for explaining it so clearly. It's scary to think we have citizens who don't grasp this distinction.
Definitely need better civics education in our schools.
The thread can end now. The OP was answered clearly and refuted with the objective truth. No further discussion needed.
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Her views are shared by the most ignorant
