Got a question about the pope?
The Globe's religion writer, Michael Paulson, is fielding questions about the pope and his visit to the US. If you have a question, please send it along.
Two questions on a similar topic about the welcoming ceremony at the White House:
Q. What’s with the confederate flag?? Who’s flying it and why is it allowed at the white house lawn?? Esp. in a pic with the pres and the pope.. So distasteful. -- C.M., Boston
Q. I'm curious about the decision of the Pope and Mr. Bush to appear jointly in front of a Confederate flag yesterday while speaking at the White House. I'm also surprised at the media's lack of coverage of this curious and, in my opinion, disgraceful act, and any explanation of what possible meaning we should take from it. -- D.S., Weymouth
A.These questions were triggered by the following photo, which ran on Boston.com:
I figured this must be a state flag, but I e-mailed the White House to check; it turns out the image is from the state flag of Mississippi, which resembles the stars and bars. Here's an explanatory photo that the White House was kind enough to send along.
Q: I have heard a rumor that the disgraced former Cardinal of Boston, Bernard Law, may be accompanying Pope Benedict on his visit to the USA, April 15 - 20. Have you heard anything to that effect? Just wondering -- 'cause if it is true, that would explain why the Pope did not agree to visit Boston while on this trip -- he's afraid of violent protests. Could you check into that -- and give Boston Globe readers a 'heads up' if there is any truth to this rumor?
-- DO, Stoneham
A: I checked this out, and I'm told that Cardinal Law, who now lives and works in Rome overseeing a basilica there, is not accompanying the pope to the US.
For full coverage of the papal visit, check out boston.com/pope.
