Posted by
Andrews on Friday, April 18, 2008 9:47:44 AM
I have not really watched much news about the papal visit to Washington, as I have been rather busy this week, but I did catch a few local news reports about his arrival. I noticed a strange pattern to those reports, all of them spent far more time on the Pope's views on Iraq than anything else. A few reporters made a token nod to the Pope's agreement with the president on abortion and other matters before launching into their predictions about how the Pope planned to scold the president, but that was the bottom line in every report.
What is most interesting is the press' sudden respect for papal opinion. Of course they mention it whenever he makes a pronouncement on sin or abortion or genetic engineering. It usually runs near the end of the half hour, where the stories of quintuplets or talking dogs usually run, but they do take notice. But while they may take notice, they hardly show great deference to papal opinion in such matters.
So when did the press develop such respect for Papal opinion? They hardly seem as interested in his statements on abortion or on sin, but for some reason, during this visit, the press is intensely interested in the Pope's opinions, at least his opinions on Iraq. Far be it from me to say the press is biased, but is it possible the Pope's opinion is actually getting some respect only because he is on "the right side" on the conflict in Iraq?