Once upon a time, Christian leaders were deemed above reproach by social conservatives. And if said leader were the pope, then heaven help the person (read liberal) who criticized him, his pronouncements or the tenets of the Catholic Church. Not anymore. Shaw’s astonishing post shows that not even the pope is off limits to the fury of the far right. The pope’s words against the downside of capitalism, not to mention his exhortation to not “obsess” over social issues at the expense of the church’s greater message, make him sound more like a follower of the teachings of Jesus Christ than many of his holier-than-thou critics. In addition, Shaw’s linking of the pope and the president shows that hatred of Obama knows no bounds. But, hey, at least the two are in good company for the right reason.