Congressman Tom Tancredo, who ran a “stellar” campaign for President, amassing a string of showings in the one and two percent support ranges before withdrawal, has now chosen to insult Pope Benedict XVI over the Pope’s comments on immigration. Tancredo was scored for this latest display of stupidity by the Wall Street Journal editorial page yesterday. The Pope’s comments, calling on U.S. Bishops to

continue to welcome the immigrants who join your ranks today, to share their hopes and joys, to support them in their sorrows and trials and to help them flourish in their new home.

Tancredo objected to these remarks, saying;

the Pope’s immigration comments may have less to do with spreading the gospel than they do about recruiting new members of the Church.

Tancredo also cited a Wall Street Journal editorial on religion and immigration, which had discussed the fact that the Catholic Church has been losing native born members but picking up immigrants as members. The Journal’s counterstrike on Tancredo was swift and hard hitting. From the Journal:

Our point, evidently missed by the Congressman, was that the U.S. Catholic Church has traditionally been an immigrant Church, helping to settle and assimilate generations of Irish, Polish, and Italian newcomers. The pope made a similar argument during his visit last week in separate remarks to U.S. educators. “Countless dedicated religious sisters, brothers, and priests, together with selfless parents have, through Catholic schools, helped generations of immigrants to rise from poverty and take their place in mainstream society,” he said.

The Journal closes with a sharp stick in the eye to Tancredo:

The pope welcomes immigrants because he’s Catholic, not because they are. He isn’t “marketing” his faith. He’s practicing it.