Colman McCarthy's April 25 Other Views article Pope's U.S. visit incomplete was a peevish tirade. His criticisms of Pope Benedict XVI showed little understanding of the Bible. He suggested the pope could have done more. But no matter what anyone does, there is always more to be done. The pope's job as a religion's leader is to promulgate what he perceives as the word of God. It's not to spend a whole day answering questions.
The Lord's Prayer neither implicitly nor explicitly demands that trespassers be forgiven: ''Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.'' This is usually interpreted to mean that God forgives those who sin against God, but man must ask forgiveness from the injured party when man sins against man. The injured, righteous person is expected to grant this forgiveness much as God forgives.
As for the petty concern about landing at a military airport, there are several possible reasons such as security, not interfering with commercial flight schedules or protocol requested by his hosts. Last, McCarthy's disdain for President Bush and Vice President Cheney shows an obvious bias.
McCarthy expressed himself in the manner of a hatemonger, unbecoming to a man with the title of director of the Center for Teaching Peace.
LEONARD GOLDBERG, Pinecrest
