Opinion
Hoff: Does a pope’s death warrant flag lowering?
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Also by Casey Hoff:
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Pope John Paul II was more than a man. He was a humanitarian, a philosopher, a uniter, a healer, a motivator and above all else, a man of God. But he was not a politician. The Holy See didn’t care about polls, he didn’t worry about people that criticized him, and he had no political platform. He was a man who interpreted the Bible the way he thought God wanted him to read it and based his moral principles on that philosophical interpretation. That is the fundamental misunderstanding that the people who love to hate the pope still can’t comprehend.
The Pope’s funeral was watched by more than two billion people worldwide, far more than any event in the history of the world. In attendance was an amazing array of statesmen from countries that historically hated each other and would never be able to convene under normal situations. But the passing of the pope was far from a normal situation and miraculously allowed for those differences to be forgotten.
It was a spectacle that brought millions together in St. Peter’s Square: Catholics, Jews, Muslims, atheists, men, women, children and people of all races, classes, religions and backgrounds. All in all, it was a bittersweet week for people who respected and loved the Pope, and a miserable week for people who despise religion and aren’t comfortable enough with their own religious beliefs or lack thereof.
One woman who has had a particularly rough week is Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. She’s distraught and angry because President Bush recently ordered all public government buildings to lower their flags to half-staff in honor of Pope John Paul II. Gaylor responded by calling for the flag at the state capitol building to be raised back up, saying “Let’s reserve the honor of half-staff for true American heroes.” She also called Pope John Paul II “the word’s leading sexist.”
Gaylor simply refuses to acknowledge that a religious man could possibly do any good in the world. She, like the others attacking the Pope, are doing so out of complete selfishness in an attempt to further their own political agendas. Gaylor hates the Pope because he opposed abortion, didn’t allow women to become priests and was not in favor of gay marriage.
Now, as a Catholic, I disagree with the Pope on some social issues, but that doesn’t mean that he was a man who didn’t deserve immense respect and honor. Religious bigots ignore the Pope’s work on poverty in impoverished nations (many in Africa), his fight to end the oppressive practices of communist regimes, his denunciation and stellar record on putting an end to human rights abuses throughout the world, his opposition to unjust wars (including the Iraq War), his efforts to squelch hundreds of years of Jewish bigotry in the Catholic church and so much more.
While people like Gaylor and other bigots were bashing the Pope and complaining about too much media coverage on the situation, billions of people across the world were rejoicing about a man who, in my opinion, was as close to perfect as any human being in modern history. The vitriol from religious bigots like Gaylor says far more about her than it does about the Pope and other Catholics. Anti-religious sentiment only makes the faiths of religious people stronger, because in witnessing the great suffering of those spewing the sentiment, our hearts go out to them, and we pray that they may one day find their life’s purpose.
What also troubles these people is that the Pope loved them just as much as he loved anyone else. He was able to forgive in a way that many of us have never seen. An assassin named Mehmet Ali Agca shot the Pope in St. Peters Square in 1981. While the Pope was being scurried away from the crowd and near death, he told his acquaintances that he forgave his would-be assassin. The Pope amazingly recovered, and then, just two days after Christmas of 1983, the Holy See went to visit Mehmet Ali Agca in an Italian prison to forgive him face-to-face. It was an amazing spectacle of forgiveness and love that touched the world in an almost miraculous fashion.
As a Catholic and in the honor of Pope John Paul II’s legacy, I recognize the unbelievable power of his ability to forgive others through his love, compassion, and unwavering faith. And so, I say to all the people who are suffering in their hatred for religion: God bless you all.
Casey Hoff (choff@badgerherald.com) is a UW student and the host of “New Ground with Casey Hoff,” live Monday through Friday, 9-11 a.m., on Talk Radio 1670 WTDY.
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The flag should not be lowered out of respect for the pope just because he was the pope. That would be government promotion of religion, and would be wrong.
The flag should be lowered our of respect for the pope because of everything he did to help ease the suffering of billions of people around the world -- the poor, the sick, victims of war and terrorism -- and for his strong efforts to rectify the wrongs committed in the name of the Catholic Church over the past 2000 years.
But the glag? The glag should not be lowered under any circumstances, and I'll have words with anyone who claims otherwise.
I support flying the flag at half-mast for any person who did as much as the Pope to help win World War III, no matter what their nationality.
Let's make one thing clear, since Mr. Hoff seems to be unable to make the distinction: The pope is a person, but the Holy See is a place. A see is another word for diocese, and the Holy See is the traditional name for the diocese of Rome.
Let's think before we use pronouns, shall we?
As a homosexual, I got up at 3:00 a.m. to start the coffee pot and begin a state of mourning of a blessed man. As a non-Catholic I rejoiced in Pope John Paul II's presence this past June in St. Peter's Square. Of course I don't see eye to eye on the late Pope's hot arguments such as abortion and contraception, women in the ministry and homosexuality, however that's not to say I am not reminded every time I've seen a flag at half staff of the great man this world has lost. I admire Casey's stance in his article and challenge those who saw the Pope as nothing more than a Catholic leader to look past that and see the other unarguable good he did this world.
Yes, it does.
"Flag controversies" are always utterly fucking stupid. What the hell is with people fetishizing a piece of cloth?
I would support lowering the US Flag only if it is a recognized practice in other countries as well. If not, then why should we? To not lower the flag to half-mast in no way diminishes our respect and gratitude for a pope. There are other ways to express our remorse for someone who had contributed so much to so many.
Don't forget that the pope is also the head of the Vatican State, which is classified as an independant country.
We should not lower the flag for non-Americans.
"I would support lowering the US Flag only if it is a recognized practice in other countries as well."
No way. Other countries do not determine what America does with its own flag.
Every week your articles are fucking ridiculously stupid.
I love how Hoff calls non-believers "bigots"... right, because they definitely run the place. We Christians are so poor and oppressed, it sucks to only be an 80% majority!
How can someone who calls other people "bigots" not be one himself?
karl rove planned this all.
What a twit. Please have a point when you write articles. It would also help to take remedial writing courses to avoid odd sentence structures.
"No way. Other countries do not determine what America does with its own flag."
I'm not saying we should let other countries tell us what to do with our own flag, you nitwit. I'm saying that if it is considered universal to lower the flag for the pope in other countries, then perhaps we should follow suit so as to avoid being uncaring snobs.
While Anne Gaylor probably wasn't the best person to carry the message about this issue, I know many people of all political persuasions who were not comfortable with our government lowering of the flag for the pope. Do they find it worth marching on Washington, D.C.? No. But quietly offended? You bet. Our government should not be in the business of endorsing one religion over another. The argument that it's OK in this case because the pope was "a head of state" is kind of like arguing that the pope isn't head of the Catholic church-just some revered political figure. But even accepting the head of state argument, how many other times has this country lowered its flag for a head of state the size of Vatican City? Should this country lower a flag for an undemocratically elected head of state? And please spare me your condescending views of people who don't agree with Catholicism. Catholics want to be political (just look at the last election) but when people criticize the church for its politics, they whine about being victims of religious bigotry. Catholics have a right to express political opinions, but it's my obligation as an American to be critical of political views I don't agree with. If you want to call it bigotry, then you bet--I'm a bigot. I call it being patriotic. Just remember, Mr. Hoff, the only reason you have the luxury to "pick and choose" the Catholic teachings you want to follow is because you were fortunate to be born into a free society that is not dominated by any one religion. I am sorry that a young man who professes (endlessly) to be progressive doesn't understand the role that separation of church and state plays in assuring a fair and just society for people of all faiths. Maybe you would be wise to spend less time praying for people who express what you view as "anti-religious" sentiments and more time studying the constitution.
WARREN G. HARDING IS AWESOME!
Thank you very much. Warren G. Harding may have had his strong points. (ha!) Seriously, I am not anti-Catholic, just a little tired of people not "getting" why separation of church and state is important. And it is.
Another key point, like any Chief of an American Indian Tribe, the Pope is considered a The "Head of State" og the Papal States.
The Vatican is a soverign nation. As the leader of that nation, the Pope can have our flag flown at half staff. Just as Prince Rainier could have had it flown at half staff if the President had wanted to do that for him.
Personally, I don't agree with the President flying it at half staff for the Pope, but he has a right to do it as the President.