Opinion: Papal flack?

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On the old ‘Bob Newhart Show,’ the psychologist played by Newhart had a patient, Craig Plager, a television writer. In one episode Plager talks about his latest sitcom idea, the title of which (as I recall) was ‘That Darn Pope!’

That once-risible phrase is circulating through even conservative Catholic circles after the pope rehabilitated a breakaway bishop who questioned whether the Nazis really exterminated large numbers of Jews in gas chambers. A British columnist has suggested a solution that could be the premise for a Plager sitcom: A papal PR whiz!

‘So, what should Pope Benedict do?’ asks Damian Thompson on the Daily Telegraph’s Web site. ‘He must overhaul the Vatican’s communications operation, staffing it with media-savvy English speakers.’

Calling Pat Buchanan!