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Pope Benedict St. Patrick's Cathedral Mass; Polygamy Sect Hearing; Archie Bunker Voters

Aired April 19, 2008 - 12:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Pope Benedict conducting mass with a message of hope and unity. All that this morning inside New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral and he again addressed the clergy on the sexual abuse scandal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HIS HOLINESS, POPE BENEDICT XVI: (INAUDIBLE) about the sexual abuse that has caused so much suffering. I have already had occasion to speak of this, but still a certain damage to the community (INAUDIBLE). Here, I simply wish to assure you (INAUDIBLE) of my spiritual closeness as you strive to respond with Christian hope with the continuing challenges the situation presents.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The sexual abuse scandal and the healing that should come from it, this seems to be the primary objective of the pope during his visit to the United States now in its second leg, there in New York. Betty Nguyen has been covering the pope's visit all morning long with that mass starting at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

A resounding message, one that no one really can be confused about in terms of where the pope stands on how the Catholic church should proceed.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: That is right, Fred. As you can hear behind me, the bells are still ringing outside of St. Patrick's Cathedral as the pope has finished celebrating mass, historic on many levels. It is the pope's first time in the United States, this being his third anniversary of being elected to papacy and the first time that any pope has ever celebrated mass inside of St. Patrick's Cathedral.

But as you mentioned, yes, he spoke specifically about the sexual abuse scandal, but it's not the first time that he has. Since day one, the pope has made it known that he understands the problem, he is aware of the problem and in fact, in Washington, D.C., he met with victims of that scandal and that was something that was really a surprise to many, not only those surrounding the pope covering him as a journalist, but as for the rest of us. It was something that was unannounced on his calendar, but it was obviously something that means a lot to him.

And again today, he reiterated that he is fully aware of it and that he has attempted to apologize for it many times. And for a lot of people, that means a world of difference. Because, you know, this is something that has really wreaked havoc on the church, and for many people, it is wreaked havoc on their lives, so for the pope to come out and address it as many times as he has is extremely significant.

WHITFIELD: And Betty, mass has ended, however, I still see a pretty sizable contingent of people outside there just waiting behind you. Are they waiting for a possible glimpse of the pope? Is there anything scripted that you know of in terms of him coming out of the church and seeing, firsthand, the people who are waiting?

NGUYEN: Well, you know the funny thing about it is, as you see the throngs of people behind me, both on the left and my right, many of them have been here since 5:00 this morning waiting in line to go through the different security checkpoints just so that they can catch a glimpse of the pope as he arrived.

Now he arrived for mass earlier today and I will tell you, Fred, as soon as he stepped out of the vehicle, you could hear the roar from the crowd. This crowd is full of Catholics and people in general who just really are here to celebrate this historic trip. And it was wonderful to see that. But for those still waiting, they're probably very unaware of the fact that the pope, not only left from inside of St. Patrick's Cathedral, but from there he was able to go to Cardinal Egan's residence and that's something that will not take him back outside, but obviously word hasn't made it to everybody, and just to be here to hear the bells to be outside of St. Patrick's Cathedral on such a historic day, means a lot to a lot of people and that's why you see them standing behind me.

WHITFIELD: Right, just to be that close to the Holy Father is enough. Betty Nguyen, thanks so much. All right, we'll see you again later on in the hour.

Meantime on this week where the pope is celebrating his 81st birthday, well, he's also now celebrating the third anniversary, today, as pope. This afternoon he'll actually head to Yonkers to meet with a group of disabled children at St. Joseph's Seminary and then later the pope will bless 25,000 young people gathered there from across the country for a late day rally.

Well, highly symbolic, the pope inside of a Jewish temple on the eve of Passover, meeting last night with a rabbi who survived the holocaust. It's a first for a pope in the United States.

And coming up in less than 30 minutes, the pope, politics and American Catholics. Our Vatican analyst, John Allen and PBS journalist, Kim Lawton, join us. And tomorrow afternoon, join CNN for the pope's historic mass in Yankee Stadium in New York. Soledad O'Brien hosts this special event on CNN and cnn.com with special on- scene iReports, that's Sunday afternoon beginning at 2:00 Eastern Time.

Well, turning now from the pope to the polygamy sect hearing in Texas. A judge has ruled hundreds of children taken from the Yearning for Zion ranch in Texas will remain in state custody. Our Susan Roesgen is live from the courthouse in San Angelo, Texas -- Susan. SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, it was at this courthouse last night that the judge delivered her ruling after two days of hearings in this custody case. This was for temporary custody of those 400 children who were taken from ranch a few weeks ago. The judge ruled that she simply was not convinced that teenaged girls would not continue, perhaps, to be forced into arranged marriages and motherhood with older men. So, it was a big disappointment naturally for many of the women, the mothers who came here, the judge's ruling was also a disappointment for all the attorneys, 350 attorneys who volunteered to represent the children.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CODY TOWNS, ATTY FOR CHILD: Well, I think it was probably a difficult decision for her. She is obviously facing something that's unprecedented and under the circumstances, I think probably did the best that she could do in trying to work through the situation, as ad litem for the children, we're a little disappointed in what the process turned out to be, and obviously, we will be appealing and continuing with our children's rights.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROESGEN: Now, here is the strange twist, Fredricka, while the judge was announcing her ruling, almost simultaneously, the Texas Rangers announced that they were investigating this woman in Colorado, 33-year-old Rosita Swanton. They believe that she may have been the person who started this whole investigation by calling the police and claiming to be a 16-year-old mother at the ranch in Eldorado named "Sara."

As you know from our reporting, Fredricka, they have never found the initial Sara who made the initial call, so the investigators say they have found other young girls whom they believe have had underaged marriages and are now mothers and should not be. But one of the strange things that we're going to be talking about with this, I'm sure, in the future, is that Rosita Swanton, as you can tell from the photograph is apparently African-American and the Yearning for Zion members, all of these followers of Warren Jeffs are all Caucasian, they're all white, they don't have any black members. So, what the connection was between this woman and the Eldorado ranch, we don't know. We do know the Texas Rangers say that when they searched her apartment they found some materials that linked her to the ranch here in Texas, so, really strange story that continues to unfold out here.

WHITFIELD: Yeah, a complicated case just got a lot more confusing. All right, Susan Roesgen thanks so much from San Angelo, Texas.

And now, pausing to remember victims of a terror attack. The people of Oklahoma marking the 13th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrow federal building at Oklahoma City, at 9:02 a.m., the exact moment of the bombing. Those attending a service at the Oklahoma City National Memorial observed 168 seconds of silence for each bombing victim. You're looking here at the horrific scene moments after the truck bomb detonated. This remains the deadliest incidence of domestic terrorism in U.S. history.

President Bush is hosting South Korea's new president, Lee Myung- Bak, today they're at Camp David for talks focused on getting North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program and efforts to improve defense cooperation between the two countries.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Korea has asked that -- to upgrade its foreign military sales status with the United States and to have the same access to U.S. military technologies as NATO and other key allies, and I strongly support this request and have instructed secretaries Rice and Gates to work with the Congress to get this done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: President Lee is a pro U.S. conservative who has taken a strong stance against North Korea's nuclear program.

Meantime, a Chinese ship loaded with weapons for Zimbabwe is looking for a place to unload its cargo, now. Latest reports say the ship could dock at Angola or Mozambique. South Africa's high court ruled the cargo could be offloaded in the port of Durban, but they could not pass over South African roads to actually get into Zimbabwe. There are fears that the weapons could be used by Zimbabwe's government against its own people following disputed elections.

And in fact n Zimbabwe today, a partial recount of ballots for a couple of dozen legislation seats underway today. The result could overturn the Zimbabwean opposition's landslide victory in general elections just three weeks ago. Officials still have not have not announced results of the presidential vote that long-time leader, Robert Mugabe is widely believed to have actually lost. The opposition accuses him of trying to rig the vote.

Politics in this country, Hillary Clinton: do many older voters prefer her, and if they do, why?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

Obama, to me, doesn't have, in my opinion, the full experience, and with experience comes wisdom.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Money, also, part of the bottom line for Pennsylvania seniors.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The long election drought, almost over. Pennsylvania votes in three days. Barack Obama is on an old-fashioned whistle stop campaign across the state, today. First stop, right here, live pictures, the Philadelphia suburb of Winwood. Obama ends the day with a rally at the state capital in Harrisburg. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton started her day in the Philadelphia suburb, she'll be in West Lawn for a rally at Wilson Senior High School, this hour. The senator keeps heading west in that state all day, she'll end up in the Pittsburgh area tonight.

So, the back and forth over this week's Democratic debate. Yes, there is more. Obama complaining about the questions, Clinton complaing about the attack about Obama's complaing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And then last night I think we set a new record, because it took us 45 minutes before we even started talking about a single issue that matters to the American people. It took us 45 minutes.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am with Harry Truman on this, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. And just speaking for myself, I am very comfortable in the kitchen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: OK. Well, our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, is join us now, part of the best political team on television, joining us from Washington.

So Bill, does this help or hurt and either one of these candidates to kind of keep the arguments over what happened in the debate alive?

BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think Barack Obama thinks he has the initiative on this issue, because he's turning the debate into an issue. He's saying the debate was politics as usual, it's the Washington insiders, they're blaming the moderators at ABC News, they say it was the usual give and take and sniping back and forth and that's what we're sick and tired of and he's running against that. And he packages the media, Hillary Clinton, the Washington establishment, all of those forces as exactly what he's trying to change.

WHITFIELD: Meantime, Obama has since picked up a few endorsements since the debate on the flipside of that, this is really might be the do or die race, is it not for Hillary Clinton?

SCHNEIDER: Well, yeah, I mean, she's really running, not so much against Obama, but against the candidate I call "expected." She has to do better than expected to show that she has momentum. Let me try to define "expected."

The state just to the east of Pennsylvania is New Jersey. Clinton beat Obama there by 10 points on February 5. Just to the west of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and guess what, March 4, Clinton beat Obama there by exactly 10 points, so if she does better in Pennsylvania than her 10-point lead in the two neighboring states, she will be gaing momentum, if she does worse, say she beats him by five points, it'll look like she's losing momentum, so 10 points in my mind is what's expected for her to win by in Pennsylvania.

WHITFIELD: And what's interesting here is that while both of them are crisscrossing the state, I wonder if you could reach into the crystal ball, your political crystal ball, to see if there is a particular segment or particular populous of Pennsylvania that really is on the fence about these two where these two candidates need to focus on?

SCHNEIDER: Well, they're both focusing on the white working class voters, rural and small town voters, because these voters were supposed to have been, what, irritated, upset at Obama's comments at the San Francisco fundraiser. We don't see much evidence of that in the polls, but we'll see when the real test comes on Tuesday. And the other place which is crucial, is the Philadelphia suburbs, those are very highly populated. Those were swing votes, those suburbs have in the past, and leaning Republican, but Obama tends to do well among affluent upper middle class voters and Ed Rendell, the governor, the former mayor of Philadelphia is leading the Clinton campaign. He has say in those suburbs. So there's a real contest going on around Philadelphia.

WHITFIELD: All right, Bill Schneider, you're going to have to rest up, it looks like the voice thief made a visit to you, as well.

SCHNEIDER: Yes.

WHITFIELD: We're in trouble. It's going to be a long next couple of days before the Pennsylvania primary, so hopefully you can get a little rest. Bill Schneider, thanks so.

All right, well "Newsweek" calls them the "Archie Bunker Voters," older, white, and blue collar. Well, why do they back Hillary Clinton? As another Clinton would say, it's the economy, stupid. CNN's Randi Kaye, now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARNIE FREEDMAN, VOTING FOR CLINTON: Well, I am 62, she's going to be 62.

SHELLY WINSTON, VOTING FOR CLINTON: Sixty-one.

FREEMAN: Sixty-one, excuse me.

RANDI KAYE, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): They argue over how old the other is, but agree on this, both want Hillary Clinton in the White House.

WINSTON: I think you need to know the ins and outs of Washington. I think she knows it.

FREEDMAN: Obama, to me, doesn't have, in my opinion, the full experience, and with experience comes wisdom.

KAYE: Arnie Freedman and his companion of 12 years, Shelly Winston, represent the typical older Pennsylvania voter. They are concerned about how Barack Obama may handle the economy, social security and their retirement savings.

(on camera): He was in diapers when you were in Vietnam, does that bother you?

FREEDMAN: Absolutely.

KAYE (on camera): Pennsylvania's population is the second oldest in the country, behind Florida, and that is good for Hillary Clinton.

DON KETTL, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: The state is Hillary Clinton's to lose. She has a lead in the polls, and she has the demographic that lines up behind her.

KAYE: Political expert, Don Kettl, says Hillary Clinton's eight years as first lady means something to older folks. He says, they should look deeper.

KETTL: Having circled the world 15,000 times doesn't necessarily make somebody a better pilot, it's having the experience about how to operate the controls.

KAYE: Bill Clinton operated the controls for two terms. Back then, the economy was stable. It was a good time to save for retirement. Hillary Clinton may benefit from that just by association.

WINSTON: I just don't want to wake up one day and everything is gone, because somebody didn't do the right thing economically.

KAYE (on camera): Anything Obama can say or do to win over the older voter?

KETTL: Assure the older voters that the stability in the economy that they are looking for and the stability of their savings are going to be there, that Medicare is going to be funded, that social security is going to be there.

KAYE (voice over): Shelly and Arnie want specifics.

WINSTON: I know that Barack Obama wants to make change, and unity and people coming together, but I don't know what he wants to do.

KAYE (on camera): Here in Pennsylvania, all Obama's talk of change may actually hurt him. Sure, the younger voters like it, but Kettl says change can be disturbing to older folks. They like what they have, they know what they want and to them change can sound uncertain, maybe even a bit scary.

(voice over): History may be another hurdle for Obama.

KETTL: Older Americans have also lived through a lot of periods of tremendous racial tension in their lives.

KAYE: Whichever Democrat wins Pennsylvania, he or she can expect to run against Republican John McCain, who would be the oldest person ever to become president, raising the question, who will older voters lean toward then?

Randi Kaye, CNN, Ardmore, Pennsylvania.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And tune into CNN's Election Center, Tuesday night for Pennsylvania primary election results. The best team on television brings you the numbers and analysis like no one else. Coverage begins at 7:00 Eastern, then a special edition of LARRY KING LIVE at Midnight. And join RICK ON THE ROAD tonight. CNN's Rick Sanchez is traveling throughout Pennsylvania this weekend and talking to voters. You don't want to miss his live two-hour special from Philadelphia, tonight 10:00 Eastern.

Well, there has been a whole lot of shaking across the Midwest. You'll see more of what got caught on tape, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, stories we are watching "Across America," this Saturday. A sniper threat against Orlando police officers. The warning apparently prompted by an incident at a nightclub. A woman claims a police officer shoved her down the stairs, his punishment was one-day suspension. A letter writer wants the officer to face criminal charges or, says police, will be randomly targeted.

Jumpy Midwesterners are spending the weekend on cleanup duty. A moderate earthquake packed enough power to knock items off of store shelves and even crack walls. Chicago sky scrapers even swayed. The quake was felt as far south as Atlanta.

And investigators say a smoldering trash pile started that devastating wildfire in Colorado. Three firefighters were actually killed this week, eight homes burned and all 1,200 residents of the town of Ordway had to flee. Police don't plan any criminal charges.

Let's check in with Reynolds Wolf in the Weather Center.

And earlier in the week, you know, at least with Colorado and fighting that blaze, the concern was the winds, it certainly didn't help at all.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: No, it really didn't. I mean, when you've got really dry conditions and you have a strong wind, that'll further dry out a lot of the foliage, which of course is more fuel to the fires and the wind helps the flames spread, so it's all a big mess. Today, wind is not a big issue around much of the nation.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right, Reynolds thanks so much.

WOLF: You bet.

WHITFIELD: Well, it has indeed been a historic day in New York as the pope celebrated mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Coming up, we'll examine the pope's reach beyond the Catholic church and into the world of politics and the upcoming presidential election.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: OK, here is a look at what's happening right now. A massive shipment of arms bound for Zimbabwe has been stopped in South Africa. Now, the Chinese ship is looking for a new port. There are reports the ship is carrying more than three million pounds of guns and ammunition, adding to fears of possible violence in the wake of Zimbabwe's disputed election.

Winding down Pope Benedict's mass at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral. Speaking before thousands, the pope continues his focus on the clergy's sex abuse scandal. Next on his schedule, a parade down Fifth Avenue. That's set to begin within the hour.

Pope Benedict's historic visit has special meaning in a corner of New York known as "Little Italy." Our Betty Nguyen is covering the pope's busy schedule in New York -- Betty.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey there, Fredricka.

Yes, about an hour ago, the pope just finished celebrating mass here at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in the heart of midtown Manhattan.

But just to the south of me in Little Italy as it's known, there is the original St. Patrick's Cathedral and I got to speak with the pastor about the pope's visit and also talk to him about the rich Catholic history that still remains there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN (voice-over): History resonates throughout the walls of this sanctuary. Built in the early 1800s, it's New York City's first Catholic cathedral.

(on camera): What is it like for you to be stepping in the halls of history?

MSGR. DONALD SAKANO, SAINT PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL: Oh, well, it's awesome, you know, to put my shoes into the pastors and the bishops that were here before me.

NGUYEN (voice-over): Monsignor Donald Sakano is pastor of what's called Old St. Patrick's Cathedral.

(on camera): So, why did it move from here, this being the original, the cornerstone was set in what, 1809 ...

SAKANO: 1809.

NGUYEN: ...to the one on Fifth Avenue? Did the people just -- population overgrowth?

SAKANO: Growth.

NGUYEN: Yes?

SAKANO: Growth -- I mean, the city grew leaps and bounds, especially with the Civil War, after the Civil War. Immigrants poured into the country with New York being its point of entry, as you know.

NGUYEN (voice-over): While on his U.S. tour, Pope Benedict the XVI will perform mass at the city's newer and better known St. Patrick's Cathedral in the heart of Manhattan. And Monsignor Sakano will be there hoping to hear words of inspiration.

SAKANO: I think we really need strong voices in this culture of ours that is very confused, and a lot of disappointment, you know, and they want someone to inspire them, you know, to give them a reason to make the sacrifices that they have to and to carry the burdens that they do.

NGUYEN: Part of the church's burden is the lingering legacy of the scandal involving priests sexually abusing children over a long span of time.

SAKANO: We don't like to tell the pope what he should be doing, but it seems to me it's on everybody's mind. It was a terrible period in the church's history, and they need clarification. They need leadership on it.

NGUYEN: And when you walk through the streets of Little Italy, not all of the Catholic faithful is satisfied with the pope's apology.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think the Catholic Church should have apologized a long time ago. That hurt my husband and I deeply that it wasn't addressed sooner. I feel that they just shoveled it under the rug a little bit.

NGUYEN: But others are focused on the historic nature of this trip.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, he's the closest thing to God, so that's what I believe in, so I think it's wonderful that he's here.

SAKANO: Watch your step here, these are ...

NGUYEN (on camera): You can feel it getting colder down here.

SAKANO: Yes, definitely.

NGUYEN (voice-over): While this tour through old St. Patrick's crypt isn't on the pope's agenda, those buried here helped plant the seeds of Catholicism in America.

(on camera): Do you get nervous at all coming down here?

SAKANO: Not a bit.

NGUYEN: Do you talk to them?

SAKANO: In prayer, sure. NGUYEN: Yes?

SAKANO: I mean, we're standing right before the tomb of the first bishop that actually came here, which was John Connolly.

NGUYEN (voice-over): And even today, these founding fathers give inspiration to the next generation of Catholics.

(on camera): Do you get voices of encouragement when you walk down here?

SAKANO: I always do, yes. We all have our bad days or, you know, of feeling overwhelmed and isolated. And I like the idea that I celebrate mass, you know, this celebration of the Eucharist and bringing the community together over these graves. Because we're right on top of them, and knowing that these are our foundation for the work we have to do is very encouraging to me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And Fred, I will tell you going down into that crypt, you did feel something. It didn't feel somber, but instead, it felt sacred and I found it really fascinating how the monsignor told us it was a source of inspiration for him. He would go down there and he would really gain strength from the generations that have come before him.

Now, back here at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue, you can still see the crowds behind me, and we are getting word, Fred, that the pope after speaking in the residence of Cardinal Egan is spending a little time there, he will be getting into a vehicle and passing through Fifth Avenue.

So as we spoke a little bit earlier, the crowds of people have been waiting out here ...

WHITFIELD: They knew something.

NGUYEN: ...since 5:00 a.m. this morning just to catch a glimpse of the pope, and they will continue to wait, because today is very historic on many levels.

WHITFIELD: Yes, I'm sure they would feel pretty dismissed if the pope were not to make a parade down Fifth Avenue to see the many hundreds or perhaps even thousands who have come out to see him. They get a bird's-eye view.

NGUYEN: Yes, he did earlier, Fred, when he first arrived to St. Patrick's Cathedral. He came out of the vehicle and you should have heard the crowd. They were roaring. You would have thought it was a rock concert out here. And you know ...

WHITFIELD: He's the new rock star.

NGUYEN: ...looking at the pope's face -- yes, he seemed to really embrace it. WHITFIELD: Betty Nguyen, thanks so much.

All right, well, the pope and how about American politics? What's his impact during this presidential election year?

Let's talk to John Allen, the CNN senior Vatican analyst as well as senior correspondence for "National Catholic Reporter" and Kim Lawton ...

JOHN ALLEN, CNN SR. VATICAN ANALYST: Hey, Fedricka.

WHITFIELD: ...the editor and correspondent for the PBS series "Religion and Ethics Newsweekly." Good to see both of you.

Well, how exciting, we 'll try to squeeze this in before the pope is to make his appearance there at -- particular, the Fifth Avenue location where it will get very noisy.

Well, let's talk about this, because the pontiff entered the U.S. clearly with an agenda. He spoke very candidly about the sex abuse scandal and then at the U.N., imploring the international community to take responsibility as it pertains to human rights and then today, renew a sense of unity and purpose.

So, John, how impactful, if there's a way of measuring it right now, might his visit be to the U.S.?

ALLEN: Well, if you mean in terms of American politics, I'm actually not sure there is any immediate payoff for any of the sides in the current American political scrum. I think -- and neither was that Benedict's purpose in coming. I mean, Benedict of course is not a superdelegate riding into the United States to sort of involve himself in the political life of the country.

I think the impact of the visit is going to be felt more, probably in the first place in terms of the internal life of the Catholic Church. His call for unity, also his call for candor in dealing with the sex abuse crisis.

I think the political dimension of it is going to come into play after the fact when you see the various parties sort of with all of whom have their own Catholic operations. You know that Senator McCain has a Catholics for McCain staff. Senator Obama has formed a national coalition of Catholics for Obama. Senator Clinton has her Catholic advisers.

I think what you'll see in coming days is that each of those operations picking up bits and pieces of the pope's message and trying to use them, in effect, to score political points. And we're probably going to see that in the first instance in the next few days, because there's this little matter of the Pennsylvania primary ...

WHITFIELD: Yes.

ALLEN: ...looming on the horizon, Fredricka. WHITFIELD: Well, Kim, while the pontiff didn't single out any political leaders, at the U.N., he was talking to representatives of over 190 countries, he wasn't speaking specifically to any of the presidential candidates either. However, he touched upon issues that any of them would have to tackle if becoming -- once elected president. And do you suppose, you know, he knew what he was doing when he did that? This is a political year, there's no way that if pontiff could come to this country and not have the realization that this is a tenuous, contentious political race.

KIM LAWTON, PBS' RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY: Well, of course, politics is dominating so much of what's happening here and that includes the pope's visit, but he's trying to avoid it. I think the spin doctors are taking a look at what he's saying.

Certainly, they're looking at some of the broad themes that he's raising, things like -- he talked a lot about the common good at the United Nations, and that's something Barack Obama's people in particular talk a lot about, the dignity of the individual.

And both Hillary Clinton's people and Barack Obama's people like to talk about how their candidates support positions that would foster the common good. So, they're hoping to appeal in a subtle way, I think to the Roman Catholics and of course, they want those Catholic votes.

WHITFIELD: Yes, and let's talk about these advisers that all of the candidates have. None, of course, will have that one-on-one kind of dialogue with the pontiff while he's here, but how, John, are these advisers being used to help reach out, to particularly the Catholic vote, because we're talking about 70 million Americans and I remember hearing your statistic that more than 70 percent of those Catholics are Hispanic. So, a pretty significant voting base.

ALLEN: Yes, that's right. I mean, you're talking about 1/4 of the country's population, but i think the key thing to understand is that there really is no such thing as a single Catholic vote in America, because the huge population of Catholics -- they do not all think alike.

WHITFIELD: Right.

ALLEN: I mean, you've got Catholic Republicans and Catholics Democrats, liberal Catholics and conservative Catholics, you have Hispanic Catholics and Anglo Catholics. So, what you're really talking about with these political opertions is not going after Catholics as a monolith, but trying to peel off a certain percentage of Catholics who are closest to your own positions.

And of course, but the classic example of this, in 2004, was the very successful Catholic operation run by the Bush campaign. President Bush in 2004 won the Catholic vote overall. He got 53 percent of Catholics, but he got 56 percent of Catholics who go to mass at least once a week and for those Catholics who go to mass everyday that is the most faithful Catholics, he got 60 percent. Now, part of that, Fredricka was because some Catholic bishops in this country actually threatened to withhold communion from the pro- choice candidate, that was the Democratic Senator John Kerry, which seemed to suggest a kind of Catholic backing for the hardline position.

And there was a bit of drama at this morning's mass that may bear on that debate, because we saw former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is himself pro-choice, receive communion ...

WHITFIELD: I saw that.

ALLEN: ...at this mass, which would suggest that in the context of a papal liturgy, that he himself would not side with those who want to deny communion with those candidates.

WHITFIELD: Right.

ALLEN: It would seem he would rather embrace the position that the Eucharist should not be politicized.

WHITFIELD: OK, John Allen, Kim Lawton, thank you so much. Comprehensive topic, I wish we had more time. But I know we'll get an oppportunity to delve into it again over the next couple of days. Thanks so much, the both of you.

And of course, if you'd like to know more about Pope Benedict's life or see pictures or videos from his trip to America, check out CNN.com. You can also send and share your i-Reports of the pope while he's here. All that at CNN.com/pope.

And join CNN tomorrow afternoon for the pope's historic mass at Yankee Stadium. Soledad O'Brien hosts the special event on CNN and CNN.com with special unseen i-Reports Sunday afternoon beginning 2:00 Eastern time.

Well, now that stopping for gas means making a major financial investment and commitment, what are you going to do to cope?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): Travelers to Africa are giving back. A stay at Okonjima, a luxury lodge and wildlife reserve in Namibia is one way tourists are helping to save wildcats.

DONNA HANSSEN, OKONJIMA: Over 13 years, we've saved, rescued over 900 cats and 86 percent of them have been released back into the wild.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Money from guests help fund AfriCat, a nonprofit organization that rescues cheetahs and leopards.

HANSSEN: We basically take these orphans, once they're adults and release them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Accommodations fit any budget. At Abu Camp in Botswana, travelers ride on the back of the world's largest land mammal with elephant back safaris.

DENIS DE SYLVA, ELEPHANT BACK SAFARIS: It's not just about climbing on the elephant and going on the ride, it's sharing the time and mass (ph), getting to know the elephants.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One camp is a hub for elephant research and release.

DE SYLVA: We have a research (INAUDIBLE) seeing how the elephants that we release are behaving in the wild.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Record high gas prices just in time for the summer. Prices are so high now that many of you may have reached the pain threshol. From buying smaller cars to taking fewer trips, many Americans are now changing the way they drive.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

BARNEY JACOBS, CONSUMER: I'm filling up every half a tank so it doesn't look so bad, but it's costing me about $150 a week. And, you know, you're very aware of where you're going now because of the cost of fuel.

JIM MCFADDEN, CONSUMER: I just sold my 2002 Cadillac SLS and bought a '93 Honda. I have been spending and filling up my Honda for roughly about $33 to $35. I was spending $90 a week on my Cadillac.

MICHELLE SMOAK, CONSUMER: I'm making changes in my life to conserve by filling up and not keeping extra things in my trunk. I'm trying to manage the gas prices by doing that.

NEAL ZUCKER, CONSUMER: I'm considering buying a hybrid car to augment what I'm doing with my gasoline car. If the price -- an increase of gasoline will not justify the cost of the car, it's being able to pass up a gas station so that I don't have to feel that impact every time. It's more for peace of mind than anything else.

KEVIN LIEVSAY, CONSUMER: I drive about 1,000 miles a month and I just filled up and it was about 20 percent higher than what I paid just maybe two weeks ago. So, I try to cut back and not to travel as far, consolidate my trips, stuff like that.

JACOBS: I take my wife back and forth to work and her car sits in the garage because we don't have -- that way, we don't have two gas guzzlers, only one. But you know, it really affects you. Every time you go to the pump, you just close your eyes and pump the gas, and you just wait until the next time you have to fill up.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: Well, keeping watch here at CNN, our money team has you covered, whether it's jobs, debt, housing, or savings. Join us for a special report. It's called "ISSUE #1," the economy all next week at noon Eastern only on CNN.

So, what do the rising waters of the Mississippi mean for those who live near the levees in New Orleans?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will take the steps that we can to ensure to best of our ability that it doesn't fail. But with anything, I can't guarantee that it won't.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Pretty nerve-wracking. Watching the river, straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.

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WHITFIELD: The rich farmland of the Mississippi River Delta is under assault this morning. The culprit: flooding triggered by torrential rain. The river is spilling over its banks in much of Louisiana and Mississippi and it isn't expected to crest until Monday at the earliest.

Enough water has already leaked through levee walls, flooding several homes and businesses. In New Orleans, a published report out today warns that levees in the Katrina-battered city could be vulnerable to catastrophic failure.

Bill Capo of our New Orleans affiliate WWL reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL CAPO, WWL REPORTER (voice-over): With the Mississippi River just 2/10 OF a foot below the official flood stage in New Orleans, a ride on the ferry is a speedy trip these days. But with the swift moving water near the tops of the levees that protect the city, residents are calling the quarter reports spots that are leaking up to 12 times a day.

CAPT. JASON ROYSTON, CORPS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Somebody has actually call in to me and said this is a problem area. You know, I've got seepage. If I don't find it, if I haven't seen it before, like I said, I'll get somebody out there within an hour or two.

CAPO: This is the Corps Emergency Command Center, the central point in the fight to prevent Mississippi River flooding. They're seeing two types of leaks in some spots along the levees right now, including 20 areas where a trickle of water is seeping through the levee. But what they're more concerned are the 21 places where the water is causing what are called "sand boils."

ROYSTON: We are seeing some up closer to Baton Rouge. As you can see, this is what we call our lower middle west (ph) sector and you see, we've got Baton Rouge here and most the sand boils are here.

CAPO: Sandbags are used to patch the sand boils, but in the New Orleans area, no sand boils.

(on camera): In New Orleans, what are you finding?

ROYSTON: Some seepage really. That's all we're really seeing is a little bit of seepage and it's nothing to be concerned about.

CAPO (voice-over): They say seepages like this one in Algiers are not automatically an indication a section of the levee is about to fail.

ROYSTON: A lot of the things we're actually seeing also are historic. We see them in the same place every year, so it's not really a problem.

CAPO (on camera): While Corps officials say they have not seen major problems with the levees, what will they do if one should occur?

ROYSTON: You know, we do sheep (ph) piles, we can do sandbagging. We -- in a lot of places, I know that we're doing it down in our Lake Borne sector, (INAUDIBLE) and stuff like that, they're placing additional rip rap (ph), which is stone. We will take the steps that we can to ensure to the best of our ability that it doesn't fail. But with anything, I can't guarantee that it won't.

CAPO (voice-over): So, the emphasis is on finding problems before they get out of control, so 53 inspectors are patrolling 970 miles of levees everyday.

ROYSTON: You're getting it driven by us, you're getting it covered by the levee police in the levee district every day. So, you're getting probably the same point of land is getting driven by two, three times a day.

CAPO: I'm Bill Capo, Channel 4 Eye Witness News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Well, the heated, contentious battle for Pennsylvania just days away from decision day, that is primary day for the Democrats. Hillary Clinton right now in West Lawn, Pennsylvania, making on of her last pushes as she crisscrosses the state trying to secure as many votes as possible.

And as we near Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary, hear directly from the candidates themselves raw and unfiltered. At 2:00 Eastern today, CNN's "BALLOT BOWL," you don't want to miss it.

A check of the top stories straight ahead. "YOUR MONEY" is next. Here's a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ALI VELSHI, CNN HOST: Thanks.

Coming up on "YOUR MONEY," a special hour, debt free forever. From credit cards, to home equity loans, we'll tell you how America became a debt nation.

Also ahead, the credit crisis has taken a toll on the student loan market. But we'll explain why it might not be as bad as you think.

And debt and dating: what you should find out about your significant other's finances before things get too serious.

All that and more after a quick check of the headlines.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Pope Benedict in New York, saying he'll remain close to priests and nuns as they deal with challenges created by the clergy's sex abuse scandal. The remarks came this morning during a mass attended by thousands at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Right now, the pope is getting ready for a parade down New York's Fifth Avenue.

A Texas judge has ruled hundreds of children removed from a polygamist ranch will remain in state custody. The judge also ordered court DNA tests for all 416 children taken from the Texas compound. The tests will determine the children's biological parents.