Criticism of pope is unwarranted

To the editor:

Comments made by Catholic Pope Francis have drawn criticism from the political right that contends the pope improperly commented on things that must be left to politicians. Chastisement has come from conservatives such as Rush Limbaugh, Fox Network host Stuart Varney and presidential explorer Republican Sen. Marco Rubio.

This criticism doth seem a bit holy-mackerel disingenuous and fishy when it comes from members and supporters of a Republican Party whose loudest political voices insistently come from a religious-right stating absolute truths that are non-negotiable - this while the party rank-and-file listens and utters amen, or in silence pretends to have seen the light and been saved.

But sincerity be damned as Republicans are intent on being the political right hand of God in opposition to lefties be they pope, pagan or pious penitent. This made clear with Republican hopeful Bobby Jindal coming to Iowa to have a closed-door meeting with what the news describes as 'key demographic conservative religious leaders.” This is to be an invitation-only collection of pastors and politicos with the pope uninvited.

Similar meetings have been held featuring Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann and Mike Huckabee and no pope.

Regardless, Americans can have faith that if the words of the Holy Father are greeted with much public acceptance all Republican politicians will start thumping from the stump a new version of that old time GOP religion in a new big-tent meeting while singing in joyous agreement with the pope, 'We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.”

Sam Osborne

West Branch