www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Carter 'Willing' to Forego Pope's Funeral

Former President Ford was not asked to visit the tsunami areas, either. Yes, he is 91 and not in the best of health, but given your logic he must have felt snubbed at not even being asked and allowed the dignity to decline. It is far more likely that President Bush wanted a balance of one former president from each party. If former President Clinton had declined I�m sure that former President Carter would have been asked (although I�m sure that Clinton was the first choice due to his excellent skill at fundraising).

Now if President Carter had a long-standing and active relationship with Pope John Paul II he would have some rightful expectation of being asked. But he had no such relationship and when in office refused to establish formal relations with the Vatican and appoint an ambassador there. His interest in humanitarian activities is honorable, even though he has had no huge successes in those areas. But by itself, an interest in humanitarian activities is not something he can claim expectation to be invited when the number of seats is limited. There is a pecking order for these things. You can rightly hold the opinion that a former president should take precedence to the current Secretary of State. But to insist that the non-invitation of the former president is a snub is too much of a stretch to be believed.

Dan, the point is that the take on the situation presented initally, and supported in numerous subsequent posts is IMO incorrect. That's all.

If I were President Bush, there is no way on God's earth I would have invited Jimmy Carter. Carter was a failure as President and has an inflated opinion of himself. Carter was and is a joke when he is not building homes for Habitat for Humanity.

I wouldn't have invited Clinton, either. Carter and Clinton could have gone with the Senate delegation that features such prominent and faithful Catholics like Ted Kennedy and Barbra Mikulski.

, indeed.

And by my logic a former President known to be too frail for travel would not be invited. To do so would undiplomaticallly call attention to the frailty.

So we put you in the pro gratuitous snub camp.

I disagree. There is a protocol for these things. It shows that regardless of political party our entire country offers its respect. I am confident that if the Vatican had set the number for the presidential delegation at 10 that President Carter and his wife would be there now.

I can respect a difference of opinion here. To some the idea that one would purposely exclude someone because he might be too frail and not allow him the opportunity to speak for himself would imply a fragility of mind in addition to a fragility of body.

Mr Administrator,

You are much too harsh on former President Carter. By sending his mother, perhaps he was sending a subtle pro-Catholic message. On the other hand, he could have sent First Brother, Billy.

[Linked Image]

Thanks for the picture Randy.

Aloha Aunty,

You are welcome. I thought its better to show the picture of what thier reaction . The first lady really look awesome.

You have a higher opinion of Carter than I do. I remember all too well his MisAdministration.

Bush should have invited his brother Jeb and his wife
Columba along with Condoleeza Rice. They are both Catholics.

I am tired of hearing this "gratuitous snub" stuff. The U.S. was told to bring a delegation of 5 people, and Bush only chose one former president - Clinton - presumably because Bill and Pop have become such good friends.

If Bush had left Clinton out, and taken a non-former President in that 5th position instead, there wouldn't be any controversy.

My opinion is simply that he is a former President of the United States. Correct protocol on these matters is not connected to politics, performance, or post-presidential activitites and commentaries. Gratuitious snubs, of course are.

Btw, I was intrigued by the comments on the funerals of other popes to do just a little checking. It's interesting how times have changed. The US did not have diplomatic relations recently. An ambassadorial appointment got through only in 1983. That appointment was challenged in the courts immediately by a interesting coalition that included ment to the judiciary. Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A., the National Association of Evangelicals, and the National Association of [Catholic] Laity. After it was a fait accompli, the controversy rapidly subsided.

http://americamagazine.org/reese/america/a-wilson.htm
http://americamagazine.org/reese/america/a-wilson.htm

Oops, sorry - I keep forgetting Poppa Bush was a president too! :p