A New Danger to Secularism?

So apparently, Bush is going to give Pope John Paul II the Presidential Medal of Freedom when he goes to Italy. Is this really a wise move on Bush's part?

Personally, I don't think so, given the timing:
1. Bush will look like he's pandering the religious vote, which has been divisive among American voters between church-goers vs non-church-goers and secularists during an election year. The prevention of Vatican criticism or an outright endorsement (at best, but not likely) from the Vatican is what the Bush campaign is aiming for to reign in votes more votes from the religous conservatives for the election campaign, something Kerry currently lacks.
1.b. He would also be seen as pushing to appease the Vatican with a medal and to also force their hand to avoid a tounge lashing on certain issues that the Vatican has been vhemently opposed to with international policy, if the tounge lashing was ever scheduled. Condemenation upon receiving the medal would be an insult to the US and would make the Vatican look bad, especially since it is related to what the medal stands for.

2. Given the events that have unfolded with current US national and international policy relating to terrorism and Iraq, and Abu Garib, the medal's significance has been tarnished due to the actions of the country bestowing the medal. It would not be an appropriate way to uphold the legacy of this medal.

3. This medal forces attention away from anti-war protesters in Italy and makes Bush turn a blind eye to popular sentiment of the anti-war movement. Like his visit to England last year, it makes Bush's policies and foresight very narrow and has dangerous consequences if he does not at least consider what is really going around him aside from the war on 'terror'.