Bush met with the Pope today and gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Bush referred to the Pope as a "symbol of freedom," and praised him for his promotion of "freedom," etc. Question: What has the Pope done recently except oppose the war in Iraq? Under his watch, the Vatican has interfered with distribution of condoms in AIDS-striken countries. The Catholic Church, mainly through its hospitals and secular enterprises, has systematically interfered with the distribution of contraceptives, particularly emergency contraceptives for rape victims. They have sainted a woman who died rather than have a medically advisable abortion. What the hell does any of that have to do with freedom!? This is a disgustingly cynical move on the part of Bush. Does he not know how stupidly transparent he is? And about that saint: as I understand it, the Catholic Church teaches that it is every woman's duty to die rather than have an abortion. I always thought that someone earned sainthood for superogatory behavior. Are they now, by this act, acknowledging that refusing a medically-advised abortion is above and beyond what could reasonably be expected of an ordinary person?