President Bush Orders Flags Flown at Half Staff in Honor of Pope John Paul II (Text)

White House website ^ | April 3, 2005

[byteback]

President Bush Orders Flags Flown at Half Staff in Honor of Pope John Paul II
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

As a mark of respect for His Holiness Pope John Paul II, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half staff at the White House and on all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on the day of his interment. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half staff for the same period at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty ninth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

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Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/04/20050402-3.html

[big'ol_freeper]

Ping

[mlc9852]

How long til the ACLU complains about separation of church and state?

[BullDog108]

Very nice honor. I can't wait to listen to the nashing of teeth from the "separation of church and state" crowd.....

[BullDog108]

Beat me by 19 seconds! ;^)

[Grig]

Is this a first? And will any Dems be dumb enough to complain about violating separation of church and state?

[Crazieman]

If they complain, you can still slap them around saying he's the head of a state.

[goldstategop]

Its a mark of respect for a good man. The world is the poorer for his departure. He is now one with the Ages.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[Miss Marple]

There will be the usual whiners, but since the Pope was also a head of state, they can go pound sand.

[RedBeaconNY]

and to them I say... give it a break. He was a very distinguished world leader and a great man. Even if you don't share his convictions, he deserves our respect.

[dfwgator]

Very nice honor. I can't wait to listen to the nashing of teeth from the "separation of church and state" crowd.....

These same people won't complain about us celebrating "Reverend" Martin Luther King day.

[NZerFromHK]

They cannot do much in this case. Pope John Paul II was also simultaneously the head of state of a sovereign country. They can't very well argue honouring a foreign head of state is disallowed just because that state's head of state includes by capacity head of a religious organization as well.

[NZerFromHK]

It looks infinitely better than countries putting flags at half mast in commemoration of this man back in 1997:

Deng Xiaoping, Chinese Communist dictator (1904-1997)

[JustAnAmerican]

100 percent in agreement with this proclamation.

[deadhead]

"100 percent in agreement with this proclamation."

Me too. God Bless Pope John Paul II

[hineybona]

oh yea , the libs will be freaking over this ...

[followerofchrist]

This man was so Christlike in his opposition to Communism. No guns, no tanks to overthrow the enemy. Just prayers and quiet determination that transformed Poland. That's what i loved about him.

[JudyinCanada]

A very respectful gesture.

I can't help but wonder, if a great respected leader of islam (ok, just pretend there is one) died, would the same proclamation be made (or forced)?

[notaliberal]

Can you name a respected leader of islam?

farrakan??? I heard him this morning spewing more of his hate--big difference between him and John Paul.

[unkus]

I haven't heard of any respected leader of Islam. At least none that condemned 911.

[Truth666]

9+3+7=4+2+2+5 = Satan rules - NOT!!!

[CelticLord]

Hey guys..if you read between the lines Judy is taking
a shot at Islam.
I think you should read things more carefully before
responding.

[Lead Moderator]

That is correct.

[Dutchgirl]

Nice profile page...but you have quite a few little red x's. May want to update...

[Lead Moderator]

Glad to help.

[byteback]

But his doctorate is in divinity.

[NautiNurse]

A wonderful way for us to honor an historic leader. Thanks for the post.

[eddie willers]

9+3+7=4+2+2+5 = Satan rules - NOT!!!

What the hell?

[SaltyJoe]

"if a great respected leader of islam"

Sadat (spelling?) of Egypt? Not necessarily a leader of Islam, but from a nation full of Islamics.

[don-o]

About now.

I plan to make sure that my workplace lowers ours.

Good on you W!

[drc43]

The Soviets feared him as much as they feared President Reagan. Rightly so. He was very much a part of the collapse of the Soviet State. His courage must never be forgotten.

In every way, this man was a leader for the ages.

[tiredoflaundry]

I'm happy GWB has done this.

[don-o]

Add my thanks for moving it to BN. Most appropriate.

[k2blader]

When I see a flag at half-mast, Terri will come to mind as much as the pope..

[NYer]

Just announced: President George W. Bush will attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II. This is the first time a US President has attended the funeral of a Pope.

Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[boxerblues]

oh yea , the libs will be freaking over this ..

Clueless Dems

dflprincess (1000+ posts) Sat Apr-02-05 04:38 PM Response to Original message 28. My mother, who is still a practicing Catholic, agreed with me (who is not a practicing Catholic) that lowering the White House flag is inappropriate.

they already are bashing

[Victoria Delsoul]

Excellent!

[anonymoussierra]

THANK YOU AMERICA!!!:{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{

[Soul Seeker]

The first? Wow. I would have thought one or two others would have attended a Pope's funeral in our over 200 years of history.

[ShadowDancer]

You are a prime example of why New Math sucks.

[NautiNurse]

President George W. Bush will attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II

No surprise there, especially after hearing the President's moving tribute to the Pope today, and Mrs. Bush fighting back tears while standing at her husband's side.

[drc43]

"lowering the White House flag is inappropriate.

This Pope had profound influence on the outcome of world events in the 1980's.

It is entirely appropriate.

[mainepatsfan]

My first thought as well.

[NautiNurse]

They went to public schools, so they don't know the Pope is Head of State for a sovereign nation.