Go America, GO! Even the Pope says so!

It is a time of renewal for both the Catholic Church and Americans, as evidenced by the meeting today on the White House lawn between President Bush and Pope Benedict.

Plagued by the priest scandal, questioned by both society and some of its own members as to the role women play in the church, and various other issues, the Catholic Church in America, similar to America itself, has been on unsteady ground. In his speech, Pope Benedict stated:

“As I begin my visit, I trust that my presence will be a source of renewal and hope for the Church in the United States, and strengthen the resolve of Catholics to contribute ever more responsibly to the life of this nation, of which they are proud to be citizens.

Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience - almost every town in this country has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one’s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate. In a word, freedom is ever new. It is a challenge held out to each generation, and it must constantly be won over for the cause of good (cf. Spe Salvi, 24).”

All Americans, regardless of their faith, should look upon the Pope’s visit to America as a symbol of national renewal and an opportunity to appreciate the freedoms that this great country affords its citizens. Each American should evaluate his or her own situation in today’s era. Despite rising gas prices, a war that has no clear end, and a presidential election where negativity garners too much attention, each American should find the good in their lives and the good in our country and appreciate what we all have as Americans. May each American examine their own lives to evaluate whether he or she is truly achieving their full potential, in a nation that allows its citizens such freedom to attain their highest goals.

God Bless America!