Leading the Sheep Astray?

It's no secret that Pope Benedict XVI is in the United States of America, his first visit since becoming head of the Roman Catholic Church. Today Benedict met with President George W. Bush on the White House lawns for a celebration held in his honor. Spending his 81st birthday today in America comes as somewhat of a gift for the pontiff, for he is here to help nurture and re-ignite the faith in the Catholics of America. Saying to the audience in attendance at the White House, ""I trust that my presence will be a source of renewal and hope for the church in the United States and strengthens the resolve of Catholics to contribute even more responsibly to the life of this nation of which they are proud to be citizens."

While continuing my research on Pope Benedict's visit, I came across the following statement made by President Bush, "In a world where some treat life as something to be debased and discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred and that each of us is willed, each of us is loved, and each of us is necessary."

Wait sorry, his message? You mean we need the pope to help us feel better about ourselves, or to help renew our faith? Now I'm not Catholic but I don't think anyone needs the pope to blow his little horn of positive thinking, or his message of love to help them realize what is needed in a world full of evil. To me the pope's like Al Gore, receiving honor for something he didn't do- I'm surprised he hasn't been given the Noble Peace Prize yet. Now correct me if I was wrong but wasn't the main reason the pilgrims came to this land for religious freedom? Sure we have freedom of religion, but it certainly seems that the president is speaking on behalf of the entire of nation in accepting the "words" of Pope Benedict.

Now you might be wondering how I can write such things when I'm not Catholic, and how this post doesn't seem to be leaning towards neutral thinking, but I'm going to pull a Dick Cheney here and say, "so?" Sure I can here my pastors preach and thank them for their message, but I know that their message isn't their's but God's. Yes the pope can bring a message of love and speak of renewal in faith, but it doesn't take the pope, it shouldn't take the pope to bring one to God, but it seems to me that that is what's happening. Where does Jesus say in the Bible that man must go through man in order to connect with God. Yes the disciples of Christ, or missionaries in today's world have gone out and helped bring others to God, but I don't think their saying, "to get to God you must go through me." I don't go to my pastor and ask them for them to forgive me on behalf of God. And where do those who are elected to become head of the "universal" church get the right to have such authority? Faith is the most powerful thing one can control but the only one can control's one's faith- only you can be in charge of what you believe.

When the pope's six-day visit is over, he'll board Shepard One, and fly back to Rome. So I can't help but leave you with this question for you to provide your own answer too, is the pope leading the sheep astray?