[Mpls] City Hall flag

[Jim Bernstein]

I will not bash John Paul II but I do question the decision to lower the
U.S. flag in his honor.  Traditionally, we do not lower the U.S. flag to
honor foreign heads of state although there may be some exceptions to
that rule. The Pope though, derives his status in the world not as head
of state for the Vatican City but rather as the spiritual leader of the
Roman Catholic Church.  So far as I can tell, never before have we
lowered the U.S. flag to honor the spiritual leader of a religion and I
am perplexed as to why we are doing it now.  

That the Pope was a "very influential, important, and decent man" and
was respected by many in my opinion does not merit lowering the U.S.
flag.  There are many men and women from many walks of life who die each
year and who are also accurately described as very influential,
important, decent and respected by many.  That alone cannot be the
criteria! 

What is different about the Pope is that the Roman Catholic church is
one of the largest faiths and unlike other major faiths, the authority
is so clearly vested in one man.  There is really nothing else like it
among the largest (or most of the smaller) faiths in the world. Even
among Protestant denominations, the leader of any one denomination does
not enjoy the status or the authority that the Pope has within the Roman
Catholic church.  

No matter what one thinks of Pope John Paul II, I think that the
decision to lower flags in his honor as a spiritual leader is a mistake
at best or political pandering at worst. This very tribute should be
reserved for Americans only.  If we make the exception for a world
figure, then it should be for the day of funeral only. 

Jim Bernstein
Fulton  



-----Original Message-----
From: mpls-bounces at mnforum.org [mailto:mpls-bounces at mnforum.org] On
Behalf Of athmpsn77 at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 11:20 AM
To: mpls at mnforum.org
Subject: Re: [Mpls] City Hall flag

Before this thread devolves into a bash-fest on JP2, I want to say that
I support the City of Minneapolis' decision to lower the flags to honor
the passing away of Pope John Paul II.
 
This is not a separation of church and state issue.  I dont think anyone
can honestly interpret the lowering of the flag and honoring the Pope as
the establishment of religion or as an endorsement by the government
(federal, state or city) of the Roman Catholic Faith.
 
It is merely acknowledging the death of a significant person.
Regardless your disagreement with his pro-life, anti-iraq-war stances, I
think you have to acknowledge he was a very important, influential and
decent man.  Regardless their faith, many Minneapolitans looked up to
and respected him.
 
Anthony Thompson
Standish
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