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	What Should the Pope Talk about during Visit to U.S. Area Religious Observers Would like to Hear Him Address Church Scandal, Climate, War By Khalid Moss Dayton Daily News April 13, 2008 http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/04/12/ddn041308popeinside.html Religious observers differ on what Pope Benedict XVI should say during his visit to the United States. University of Dayton professor of religious studies William Portier thinks Benedict has an obligation to address the church's sexual abuse crisis. "The Vatican has been too silent on the sex abuse scandal," Portier said. "People are outraged by it and the pope needs to say it's a shame. He needs to say extreme things about it and do penance for it." Vincent Miller, UD's visiting distinguished professor of religious studies, said Benedict will score points with environmental advocates for his position on global warming. "Benedict's taken the Vatican carbon-neutral," Miller said. "He's in Al Gore land on that. He appeals to youth because Millennials are desperate to embrace religious leaders who take up the cause of environmental leadership." Local history professor Una Cadegan thinks Benedict should speak out against the war in Iraq. "The unique destructiveness of modern warfare makes it almost indefensible even within the tradition of Christian just-war theory," Cadegan said. "Popes have been speaking out strongly about nonviolent means of resolving conflict, the importance of diplomacy and the need to seek justice as a way of cultivating lasting peace." But the bottom line, says the Rev. Ron Heft of St. Charles Barromeo, is that Benedict is here to preach. "People will find that the false image some have painted of him as being God's Rottweiler is not true," Heft said. "He is, above all, a pastor, shepherd and teacher. Perhaps as a teacher you have to say things people don't want to hear but he will always teach the truth in love." Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2167 or kmoss@DaytonDailyNews.com. Where is the pope going? Wednesday, April 16: 10:30 a.m., President Bush and the first lady host the Holy Father on the south lawn of the White House. This is only the second time a pontiff has visited the White House. Thursday, April 17: 10 a.m., The pope will offer Mass at Nationals Park in Washington. Sunday, April 20: 9:30 a.m., The pope will pray at Ground Zero in New York City. Sunday, April 20: 2:30 p.m., Mass at Yankee Stadium will bring this historic visit to a close.
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