In milestone, Pope Francis will address US Congress this fall

[webfact]

In milestone, Pope Francis will address Congress this fall
By ALAN FRAM

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a landmark event that could have many holding their breath, Pope Francis has agreed to address a joint meeting of Congress this fall. That sets the stage for an oration by an outspoken pontiff whose views on immigration and global warming clash with those of many Republicans who run the House and Senate.

Francis will speak Sept. 24, marking the first time the head of the world's Roman Catholics will address Congress. It will come during the first U.S. visit of Francis' two-year-old papacy, a trip also expected to include a White House meeting with President Barack Obama, a speech to the United Nations in New York and a Catholic rally for families in Philadelphia.

Saying he had "a bit of good news," House Speaker John Boehner delivered first word of Francis' speech at his weekly news conference Thursday.

"We're humbled that the Holy Father has accepted our invitation and certainly look forward to receiving his message on behalf of the American people," Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a written statement that she looks forward to "hearing his call to live our values, to protect the poor and the needy, and to promote peace."

When he speaks to lawmakers, Francis will address a Congress that is 31 percent Catholic, well above the 22 percent of all Americans, according to a survey released last month by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center. Boehner and Pelosi are both Catholic.

Francis, an Argentinian Jesuit and the first pope from the Western Hemisphere, has made helping immigrants a cornerstone of his papacy and has called on wealthy nations to do more for the poor.

By this summer, he also plans to release an encyclical, or teaching document, on climate change, which he says is mostly manmade. He plans to use his trip to the U.S. to urge world leaders to take bold steps to curb global warming ahead of this fall's U.N. climate change conference in Paris.

Republicans have battled Obama's efforts to make it easier for many immigrants in the U.S. illegally to remain in the country, and want to strengthen border security to keep more of them out. Many of them have also opposed efforts to reduce pollutants that contribute to global warming.

Francis, 78, has shown a willingness to publicly call on political leaders to follow some of his values. In a pair of speeches to European leaders last November, he urged them to create jobs and help immigrants gain acceptance.

"We cannot allow the Mediterranean to become a vast cemetery," he said, referring to the thousands of immigrants annually who try reaching Europe across that sea.

"He has a track record of challenging people," said Mathew Schmalz, a religious studies professor at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. "I don't think he'll be overawed by Congress."

Democrats may not be immune to Francis' views, either.

He has condemned abortion and the use of artificial contraception, and called marriage between a man and a woman a "fundamental pillar" of society. However, he has not emphasized these issues as much as immigration and poverty.

Boehner's announcement follows his controversial invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will address Congress about Iran on March 3, two weeks before he seeks re-election. Boehner made that offer without consulting Obama, angering the White House and congressional Democrats.

At the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, Obama said he was eager to welcome the pope to the U.S.

"Like so many people around the world, I've been touched by his call to relieve suffering, and to show justice and mercy and compassion to the most vulnerable," the president said.

Francis' predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, visited Washington and New York during a 2008 trip. That visit included a meeting with President George W. Bush at the White House, a celebration of Mass at Nationals Park and a speech at Catholic University.

Paul VI became the first pope to visit the United States with a 1965 trip that included an appeal for peace at the United Nations at the height of the Vietnam War. He did not travel to Washington during the visit.
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Associated Press writers Nicole Winfield in Rome, Rachel Zoll in New York and David Espo, Donna Cassata and Nedra Pickler in Washington contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-02-06

[pitrevie]

I don't think the Pope when addressing the Congress should bang on too much about JC and his message, that business about helping the poor and loving thine enemies sounds a tad too socialist. What was the bit about it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle and a rich man, straight out of the communist manifesto. Best to concentrate about condoms, homos and abortions that should go down well.

[MJP]

I thought these people just used Twitter nowadays?

[zaphod reborn]

I hope the courts block this as unreasonable entanglement between church and state. Why should 1 religion be given a governmental platform to preach nonsense? Are you going to give the same opportunity to every other religious faith? And, no, the Pope is not a politician or political figure, he's just the leader of an incredibly corrupt organized crime scheme.

[mania]

I hope the courts block this as unreasonable entanglement between church and state. Why should 1 religion be given a governmental platform to preach nonsense? Are you going to give the same opportunity to every other religious faith? And, no, the Pope is not a politician or political figure, he's just the leader of an incredibly corrupt organized crime scheme.

Exactly & if Church wants to mix/dictate/influence State then off with their tax exemption

[NeverSure]

I hope the courts block this as unreasonable entanglement between church and state. Why should 1 religion be given a governmental platform to preach nonsense? Are you going to give the same opportunity to every other religious faith? And, no, the Pope is not a politician or political figure, he's just the leader of an incredibly corrupt organized crime scheme.

Exactly & if Church wants to mix/dictate/influence State then off with their tax exemption

That's actually the law. Churches which take tax exempt status can't promote anything in politics.

The other issue is the one we call "Separation of church and state." The Constitution doesn't actually say that, but it says that the government "shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion." The Supreme Court has always come down on the side of requiring the government to maintain neutrality regarding religion.

Allowing this guy to speak before Congress doesn't sound neutral to me.

[iReason]

<deleted> off Frank.

"We're humbled that the Holy Father has accepted our invitation and certainly look forward to receiving his message on behalf of the American people," Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters.

Speak for yourself you reactionary, delusional <deleted>.

"Boehner's announcement follows his controversial invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will address Congress about Iran"

Boner's true colors lie in that invitation.

[Tywais]

Inappropriate post removed.

[wwest5829]

I hope the courts block this as unreasonable entanglement between church and state. Why should 1 religion be given a governmental platform to preach nonsense? Are you going to give the same opportunity to every other religious faith? And, no, the Pope is not a politician or political figure, he's just the leader of an incredibly corrupt organized crime scheme.

Exactly & if Church wants to mix/dictate/influence State then off with their tax exemption

That's actually the law. Churches which take tax exempt status can't promote anything in politics.

The other issue is the one we call "Separation of church and state." The Constitution doesn't actually say that, but it says that the government "shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion." The Supreme Court has always come down on the side of requiring the government to maintain neutrality regarding religion.

Allowing this guy to speak before Congress doesn't sound neutral to me.

I am a strong advocate of separation of church and state but having the Pope or the Dalai Lama speak is not establishing religion. If we want to look at that issue we can discuss the Hobby Lobby case. Or discuss should pharmacists be able to refuse to dispense medicine to customers on the basis of their personal religious beliefs. I am curious if the Congressional invitation was in accord with accepted protocol or if it again ignored informing the Chief Executive.

[Credo]

Perhaps he could be scheduled to speak at the same session as Netanyahu. Then the new head of the ISIS Caliphate could speak, provided he still has a head.

[Steely Dan]

I guess this should please the Muslim in the White House almost as much as Netanyahu's visit.