Today the President will visit the Shrine of St. John Paul II for another photo op at a religious site. Yesterday, holding a Bible in front of a church, he failed to quote Jesus, who said "Blessed are the peacemakers." Today he could quote St. John Paul II, first on racism... 
"Racism is a sin that constitutes a serious offence against God."
(Angelus, 26 August 2001).
(Angelus, 26 August 2001).
On justice and love for the poor:
"Love for others, and in the first place love for the poor, in whom the Church sees Christ himself, is made concrete in the promotion of justice."
(Centesimus Annus, 1991)
"Love for others, and in the first place love for the poor, in whom the Church sees Christ himself, is made concrete in the promotion of justice."
(Centesimus Annus, 1991)
On our duty to the poor:
"In this regard, it is not a matter of the duty of charity alone, that is, the duty to give from one's 'abundance,' and sometimes even out of one's needs, in order to provide what is essential for the life of a poor person."
(Centesimus Annus, 1991)
"In this regard, it is not a matter of the duty of charity alone, that is, the duty to give from one's 'abundance,' and sometimes even out of one's needs, in order to provide what is essential for the life of a poor person."
(Centesimus Annus, 1991)
And finally on what constitutes proper love of country:
"Love for one's country is thus a value to be fostered, without narrow-mindedness but with love for the whole human family and with an effort to avoid those pathological manifestations....
"Love for one's country is thus a value to be fostered, without narrow-mindedness but with love for the whole human family and with an effort to avoid those pathological manifestations....
...which occur when the sense of belonging turns into self-exaltation, the rejection of diversity, and forms of nationalism, racism and xenophobia."
(World Day of Peace Message, 2001)
(World Day of Peace Message, 2001)
That Bible the President was holding has something to teach us, so does St. John Paul II.
