[Stone Mountain]

In fact, the night before the pope's funeral he turned down an invitation to join president Bush and the American delegation for dinner

I can't believe Bush's people would have allowed this anyway - can you imagine what the media would say if they had dinner together?

[pintus]

Bush was happy to meet the Cardinal but he didn't stay for dinner as his pastoral duties with the poor were of more importance to him than dining with the rich and powerful. You may be interested to know that the Cardinal preached an excellent homily at the mass tonight which received sustained applause. It seems that the media are intent upon destroying this man who has already been punished enough. Leave him in peace to serve the poor and needy of Rome and go find some other target.