Bush To Explore Common Ground With Pope

Talks With Pope Benedict XVI Will Center On Areas Of Agreement, White House Says

(CBS/AP)  The get-together by President George W. Bush and Pope Benedict XVI is the 25th meeting between a Roman Catholic pope and a U.S. president, sessions that span 89 years, five pontiffs and 11 American leaders.

These two leaders share much common ground, particularly in opposing abortion, gay marriage and embryonic stem cell research. But there are plenty of differences.

They disagree over the war in Iraq, the death penalty and the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. Benedict also speaks for environmental protection and social welfare in ways that often run counter to Bush policies. And the pontiff told reporters on his plane that he planned to bring up immigration policy with Mr. Bush during their private Oval Office meeting. Benedict has talked forcefully in the past about the damage caused by punitive immigration laws.

Perino said Mr. Bush would focus on areas of agreement, such as on expanding religious tolerance and containing violent extremism. She said shared concerns for Africa and Lebanon would be on the president's agenda.

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Watch live coverage of the Pope's visit to the White House at 10:30 a.m. ET.

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Perino predicted that Iraq would not "dominate the conversation in any way." If it comes up, it's likely to be focused almost exclusively on the fears of the Christian minority in Muslim-majority Iraq, she said.

Another topic that will get cursory attention, if any, is the clergy sex abuse scandal that continues to devastate the American church. Perino called it not "necessarily on the president's top priorities" for the meeting.

The scandal has cost the church $2 billion in settlements, a moral crisis that became a fiscal crisis. A crisis Benedict is now addressing, reports CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor.

Benedict chose to talk on the topic on his flight to the United States. Answering questions submitted to and selected by Vatican officials in advance, Benedict said he was "deeply ashamed" by the scandal and "will do everything possible to heal this wound."

Aside from holding talks, Mr. Bush has quite a birthday present for Benedict: at least 9,000 excited guests gathered on the White House's South Lawn for a 21-gun salute, a famed soprano's rendition of "The Lord's Prayer" and an emotional presidential welcome.

The pontiff turns 81 on Wednesday, the first full day of his first trip to the United States as leader of the world's Roman Catholics. He'll spend most of the day at the White House, only the second pope to do so and the first in 29 years.

In remarks during pomp-filled festivities that have had Washington aflutter for days, Mr. Bush was to tell the pontiff and the crowd how glad America is to have him visit - and to tell Americans they should listen to his words.

"He will hear from the president that America and the world need to hear his message that God is love, that human life is sacred, that we all must be guided by common moral law, and that we have responsibilities to care for our brothers and sisters in need, at home and across the world," Perino said.

On the way from Rome on Tuesday, Benedict said he was looking forward to meeting a "great people and a great church" during his first papal journey to the United States. The six-day trip to Washington and New York City coincides not just with his birthday, but the three-year anniversary of his ascendance to the Catholic church's top position. Nurturing the U.S. flock is a sensitive and important mission for Benedict at a time not just of ongoing scandal but also of his campaign to tamp down secularism and re-ignite faith.

No pope has been to the United States since the case of a Boston serial molester triggered a crisis that spread throughout the U.S. and beyond in 2002. Benedict's prayer service with U.S. bishops on Wednesday night at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception will be watched closely for how he addresses the issue. Because of the prayer service, the pope was not planning to attend a dinner in his honor at the White House.

Mr. Bush has courted the Catholic vote, about a quarter of the U.S. electorate, since his first presidential campaign, with some success. But though Mr. Bush has no more campaigns to run now, he is laying out the red carpet for the pontiff.

The president kicked off the unprecedented series of events by motoring to Andrews Air Force Base just outside Washington on Tuesday to meet Benedict's plane, something he's never done for any leader. The pontiff received a screaming, cheering reception befitting a rock star from the hundreds of Catholic students and others who filled bleachers on the tarmac while Mr. Bush, accompanied by his wife, Laura, and daughter Jenna, assumed the unusual role of second fiddle.

Wednesday's South Lawn audience for the pope's arrival, filled out by members of the Knights of Columbus and Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, is expected to be the largest of Mr. Bush's presidency and among the largest ever at the White House. So many people have been invited, in fact, that many will only be able to see Mr. Bush and Benedict on a large television screen.

Soprano Kathleen Battle has been enlisted to sing "The Lord's Prayer" - a decision the White House defended as appropriate despite the overt insertion of religion into a public event. "I think we've struck the right balance," Perino said. "Many people across America and across the world say that prayer in order to provide themselves comfort and confidence in getting their day started."

[lindaredtail]

There have always been those who have referred to the Pope as the Child of Satan. All of this is another good reason to reject extremism. And fedupwithit1 is right. There was indeed a surplus, squandered on war, and lots of foolishness like tax cuts to people who did not need them. The writers of the constitution state clearly that taxes are to be used and collected for the public welfare. That is exact wording. Taxes are not evil as some conservatives have stated. And some people here sound like mindless subscribers to the New Republic. John Ashcroft lamented there what a great loss the "Old South" was. With all its slavery and KKK activity. When we state something as fact we should check more than one source and take their "facts" with a grain of salt until it is indisputable.

[wdrussell1]

I wonder if Bush will invite McCain to the meeting, so John can call the Pope a child of satan.
That is what John''s pastor Hagee says.

[lindaredtail]

There is a huge difference between a just and an unjust war. All this time we should have been chasing Osama Bin Laden the true perpetrator and planner of 9/11 rather than following a belief system that has no place in our policy making decisions. Those are supposed to be made on facts and evidence not dogma. The fact is that George W. Bush has been a terrible president in many ways. Good man of God? That question will be answered when his time arrives to enter heaven and he has to give his reasons for some of the things he has done.

[frankson2]

How can a president who applauds capital punishment, war and the torture of prisoners say he has alot in common with the pontiff?

[mudrose-2009]

Since Social Security had more money coming in than it had to pay in benefits to retired persons, allt hat extra money was immediately used to buy U.S. Government securites. The government was still running deficit but since there was so much money coming from excess Social Secuirty contributions there was no need to borrow more money directly from the public.

Are you getting the picture?

[mudrose-2009]

Interesting, the most likely was not even a conscious decision by Clinton. The SSA is legall required to talk all its surpluses and buy U.S. Government securites and the U.S. Government readily sells those securites which automatically and immediately becomes integovernmental holdings. The economy was doing well due to the dot-com bubble and people were earning a lot of money an paying a lot into Social Secuirty.

[mudrose-2009]

Keep in mind that President Bush took office in 2001 and his first budget took effect in October 2001 for the year ending 9/30/2002. so the $133.29 billion deficit in the year ending 9/2001 was Clinton''s. Granted Bush supported a tax refund where taxpayer received checks in 2001. However, the total amount refunded to taxpayers was $38 billiion. So that 38 billion of the FY2001 deficit was due to Bush''s tax refunds which were not part of Clinton''s last budget. That means that clinton''s last budget produced a deficit of 133.29 - 38 = $95.29 billion.

Clinton did achieve a surplus and he didn''t leave President Bush with a surplus.

[mudrose-2009]

Part IV

In no year did the national debt go down, nor did Clinton leave President Bush with a budget surplus that Bush subsequently turned into a deficit. Yes, the budge was almost balanced in FY2000 (ending in September 2002 with a deficit of only $17.9 billion, but it never reach zero, let along a positive number.

[mudrose-2009]

Part III

Verifying this is as simple as accessing the U.S. Treasury website where the national debt is updated daily and a history f the debt since January 1993 can be obtained. Considering the government''s fiscal year ends on the last day of September each year, and considering Clinton''s budget proposal in 1993 took effect in October 1993 and concluded in September 1994 (FY1994), here''s the national debt at the end of each year of Clinton Budgets:

1991 $4.411488 trillion
Fy1993 4.692749 Deficit 281.26 billion
FY1995 $4.973982 Deficit 281.23 billion
etc.
FY2001 $5,807463 trillion Deficit $133.29 billion

[mudrose-2009]

Part II

While not defending the increase of the federal debt under President Bush, it is aggravating seeing Clinton''s record promoted as having generated a surplus. It never happened. There was never a surplus and the cold hard facts support that position. In fact, far from a $360 billion reduction in the national debt in FY 1998-FY200, there was an increase of $281 billion.

[mudrose-2009]

Part I

Time and time again anyone reading the mainstream news or reading articles on the internet will read the claim that President Clinton not only balanced the budget, but had a surplus. This is then used as an argument to further highlight the fiscal irresponsibility fot he federal government under the Bush Administration.

The claim is generally made that Clingon had a surplus of $69 billion in FY1998, $123 billion in FY1999 and $230 billing in FY2000. In that same line, Clingon cliam that the national debt had been reduced by $360 billion in the last three years, presumably FY 1998, Fy 1999, and FY 2000 - though interestingly, $360 billion is not the sum of the alleged surpluses of the three years in question.

[guad07rg]

Just checked still no article from CBS about Jimmy Carter meeting with the Chief Terrorist from Hamas,
The same group backed by Iran responsible for the
deaths of over 200 marines in 1983. Guess it doesn''t
jive with their agenda, of only printing negative
articles about conservatives.

[venkata4--2008]

"All this and he had a BUDGET SURPLUS WHEN HE CAME INTO OFFICE.

Posted by fedupwithit1 at 10:36 AM : Apr 16, 2008"

Well said fedupwithit1. Compared to 140 billions surplus to 400 billions deficit and internal debt of 5.7 trillions to 9 trillions. Dollar at record low against all major currencies. Good going for so called conservative spending. Keep it up Prez.

[mudrose-2009]

mudrose I hope that the Democrats tax everyone that makes over $200,000.00 a year at 75% until the national debt is paid off.
Posted by Oscarez

And you think the Dimnowits are going to take all that tax money and pay off debt. Hahahahah!

[mudrose-2009]

Gore, got a Nobel Prize and world recognition and RESPECT for his work. Bush is recognized as a murderer of innocent lives; women and children..
Posted by zoe2006

Jimmah Carter got a Nobel. Look where he is. Kissing up to Hamas. Sadaam murdered innocent woman and children and as the Rev. Wright stated, didn''t bat an eyelash. Murderers are what they are. They kill innocent people like the ones that died on 9/11 and then they accuse Good Men of God who defend their country as murderers. You like the rest of your ilk just love to Blame America first. Well someday some raghead may just tap you on the shoulder and take your head.

[oscarez]

mudrose I hope that the Democrats tax everyone that makes over $200,000.00 a year at 75% until the national debt is paid off.

[mudrose-2009]

All this and he had a BUDGET SURPLUS WHEN HE CAME INTO OFFICE.

Posted by fedupwithit1

There was no budget surplus. If there was a budget surplus that means that the American people were taxed way beyond what the government should have taxed them. It was our Social Security money that was moved over. Ya know those funds that the Government constantly rapes from the treasury and then says we have a Social Security crisis.

[mudrose-2009]

Bush, no matter how much you kiss the Pope''''s behind, you''''re still going to Hell.
Posted by borris007

Do you go to Trinity Church? I''m beginning to believe the Rev. Wright teaches what appears to be the same type of gospel they preach in the Madrassas. Unlike them, the God of Christianity, forgives.

[mudrose-2009]

Mudrose:After braking 23 bones in a tree cutting accident and a brain swell along with Plates and screws in my face,removal of part of my jaw.A 23" titanium rod in my right legg,a flaled chest,puntchard lungs,three chest tubes,lacerated liver and spleen,four eye operations to help me see and TYPE.Ten units of blood and considering they said I would never walk again....let alone TYPE complete sentances..kinda.I take Moraphine and Oxycontin for the bad pain days.The prozac for depression and xanax for people like you.So I''''ll take a xanax and you''''ll get over it!I''''m not much to look at I''''ll give you that.But I bet I still look better than that vertical crack you talk out of.I''''ll try to speak better and you put some preporation H on that itch you have on your face

Posted by labombaOH

Hey you brought up the subject and you shouldn''t have taken a sip before you drove off that cliff or did someone push you. Oh, by the way, I can see you aren''t one of those gun-toting, religious clinging-antipathetic-immigrant hating Blue Colar types now are ya. You''re just plain ole bitter.

[borris007-2009]

Bush, no matter how much you kiss the Pope''s behind, you''re still going to Hell.