
By: Robin Murray-o'hair
Re: Who Pays for the Pope Show?

WHO PAYS WHILE THE POPE SHOW PLAYS?

Pope John Paul is Coming to America Again -- Do All of Us Get
Stuck With the Bill?

by Conrad F. Goeringer

   Pope John Paul is coming to America again. And some people
are wondering who will end up footing the bill for a whirlwind of
masses, prayer-sessions, meetings with public officials and
church events as the Roman Catholic leader tours the New York
area.

   Archdiocese officials in the Big Apple are already working
on plans to turn Central Park into an "open air cathedral" for a
mass expected to attract hundreds of thousands of people --
perhaps many of them protesters.

   While an event like this would close much of the Park to
those New Yorkers not wishing to participate in a religious
ritual, there was no public hearing on the proposal. Catholic New
York, the church newspaper, reports that security plans have
already been approved by the NY Police Department and the U.S.
Secret Service.

   The mass is scheduled for Oct. 7.  John Paul arrives on
October 4 and addresses a meeting of the UN General Assembly on
the following day.  That evening, he will celebrate a "mass" at
Giant's Stadium.  On October 6, he is scheduled for another
"mass" at Shea Stadium (are both baseball leagues represented in
heaven?), has the Central Park gig on Oct. 7, then is scheduled
meet with President Clinton at Baltimore-Washington
International Airport on Oct. 8 before flying back to Rome.

                            But Who Pays?

   The previous papal visits to the United States have been
marked not only with political protest against church meddling in
politics -- and its doctrine against abortion, women, gays,
Atheists and others -- but about violations of church/state
separation, including subsidies.  Margie Wait, a representative
of American Atheists, helped organize protests against John
Paul's visit to Denver, Colorado, in August of 1993.

   "It cost the taxpayers millions of dollars to subsidize
the pope's visit," said Wait.  "And the Catholic church made
millions on the visit through free media coverage, police
protection for government officials who met with the pope, and
use of public facilities." Wait cited the example of Arapahoe
County, Colorado, where various government departments ended up
in debt due to the papal visit.  The county went to court to
recoup losses, but the demand was denied.

                     Protests Scheduled

   But even with government help, John Paul's October visit
will not be  all smooth sailing.  A number of protests are
expected, including demonstrations by American Atheists, which is
again calling on President Clinton to "be a President for all
Americans" and not meet with the pope.

   But the pope is wearing another hat these days along with
the papal crown; he is also a "head of state" for the only
religious group which has been accorded governmental status by
both the United States and the United Nations.  The Vatican was
recognized as a political entity first by the fascist dictator
Benito Mussolini, who signed a "Concordant" with the church,
guaranteeing it sovereignty.  And President Ronald Reagan
extended official recognition to the Vatican during his
administration, in part to give the church more leverage in
Poland in its struggle for political control, and to tap into
Vatican intelligence and diplomatic contacts throughout the
world.

   It is the only religion given this official sanction by
the United States -- a point disturbing not only to First
Amendment supporters, but to various other religious groups as
well.

   Although the papal visit is part religious with masses,
rosary/prayer-bead rituals and meeting with American church
officials, its intent (and timing) is also political.

   In his last visit, John Paul lectured President Clinton on a
number of political "hot button" issues on which the Church has
definite opinions, including abortion.  Faced with a tough
Republican challenge in the Nov. 1996 elections -- and a hostile
congress -- Clinton is politically vulnerable.  Any votes the
pope can deliver may be needed if Clinton wants another term. The
price may be a shift in government policy on abortion, civil
liberties, women's rights, and other issues. --30--

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