Bill Press: The pope and the Speaker

Speaker John Boehner finally got something right. He invited Pope Francis to address a joint session of Congress, when he visits Washington on Sept. 24. And this time, unlike his disastrous faux pas with Bibi Netanyahu, Boehner actually consulted ahead of time with the White House — after all, Francis is also a head of state — and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.

What surprised official Washington is, the pope promptly accepted. 

{mosads}For Boehner, that’s both good news and bad news. The good news is that he’ll get credit for arranging the first appearance by any pope before the U.S. Congress. The bad news is that, just like a State of the Union address, Boehner will have to sit up there right behind Francis — with his every grin, grimace, groan and gesture broadcast worldwide.

“His teachings, prayers, and very example bring us back to the blessings of simple things and our obligations to one another,” said the Catholic Boehner in announcing the pope’s visit. But that doesn’t mean he’ll be happy with everything the pontiff says.

For example, I can’t wait to see the look on Boehner’s face when Francis repeats his criticism of Republican economics. In the first apostolic statement of his papacy, Francis wrote: “Some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naïve trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic system.”

Republicans are “crude and naïve?” Rush Limbaugh called those comments by the pope “pure Marxism.” Will Boehner stand up and cheer with Democrats, when the pope says government, like the church, has a primary responsibility to help the poor? 

Francis has also echoed Pope Leo XIII in his support of labor unions and raising the minimum wage, calling on Catholics worldwide “to fight for social benefits, a dignified retirement, holidays, rest and freedom for trade unions. All of these issues create social justice.” Will the Speaker who won’t even schedule a House vote on raising the minimum wage support the pope, or stick with his party?

Boehner’s greatest challenge may come when the pope gets around to climate change, which he, unlike most congressional Republicans, is convinced is man-made. “I don’t know if human activity is the only cause, but mostly, in great part, it is man who has slapped nature in the face,” the pontiff told reporters earlier this year. No doubt the pope, who will issue an encyclical on the environment this spring, will challenge Congress to take action on climate change — at which point, Boehner may actually break down in tears.

One thing for sure: When it’s over, Democrats will be ecstatic that John Boehner invited Pope Francis to address the Congress. Republicans, and Boehner himself, will wish he’d invited Benedict XVI instead. 

Press is host of “The Bill Press Show” on Free Speech TV and author of The Obama Hate Machine.