"I Am Hopeful," Cranford's Mayor Says About New Pope
Tom Hannen, a Catholic calls the new pope "a person of the people."
"I am hopeful for our newly Holy Father," said Mayor Tom Hannen, Cranford's mayor and a Catholic.
News broke earlier today of the selection of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio to the role of pope.
"From what I've read, he is a person of the people," commented Hannen.
"You don't give up the ability to live in a palace, to live in an apartment, or give up your chauffeur said Hannen.
"With the challenges facing our faith, my prayers are with him," he said.
Monk
9:01 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Would it be too much to ask that people withhold their opinions about a man they never heard of two days ago, and whose entire store of knowledge of him is based on hastily written articles?
Michele
12:26 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Monk, actually Hannen didn't give a personal opinion of the Pope. He only said that from what he READ, he is a person of the people. That is what I have been reading as well. News travels VERY quickly these days. It would appear that the new Pope, from all that is being said about him, is indeed a man who cares about the people. Whether as Pope he remains that way will have to be seen.
Monk
4:04 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
OK, Michele, I should have used "comments". I'm not against commenting when someone offers something intelligent and substantive.
I would have been more impressed had the mayor said, "Why are you asking me to comment on the election of the pope? The only impact on Cranford happens inside St. Michael's RC Church during Mass when the priest inserts 'Francis' for the pope's name in the Eucharistic prayer. How about we give the pope a full day on the job?"
Not_From_Around_Here
8:54 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Why is the mayor giving comments on a religious leader?
IanMoyer
9:03 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013
I don't know - maybe the same reason why the President or any other leader/ public figure would.
Monk
6:13 am on Sunday, March 17, 2013
And why is that, Ian?
The question is: Is it always appropriate for leaders and public figures at all levels to comment on anything? Commenting for the sake of commenting, when one is not involved in the topic or event, is just so much noise at best. At worst, it is a breach of decorum. It is self-promotion, even arrogance. Politicians and celebrities sticking their noses into matters beyond their jurisdiction or area of expertise has become the bane of modern politics and media.