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"I fear your efforts are in vain here. You are asking the classless to show some class. News of the Pope's passing will delight this person. What's so Christian about that attitude?

I suppose you're right, but I feel that I must make an effort. I'm not even a Christian, much less a Catholic, but I sure hate seeing a thread about the death of the leader of scores of millions of people hijacked by those who dislike what they think are the teachings of the RCC.

I'm saddened by the Pope's illness. I've seen four Popes in my lifetime, and seen three of them become Pope. It's clear that, as the leader of the largest denomination of Christianity, the Pope deserves respect, whether or not you hold the same beliefs.

I'm sad to see some Freepers take this occasion to begin another whining thread about their disagreement with RCC doctrine, or what they think is RCC doctrine. I wish they would take it somewhere else.

Let me also thank you for you kind opinion. You personality is a lot more "Christian" than either of these two individuals. John Paul II is a great man, responsible for both spiritual and political change throughout his life. The world will be a poorer place without him.

I, as a Catholic, thank you for your decorum. This is a thread about the Holy Father's declining health (my grandfather is the same age and he converted to Catholicism in his early 70s). I vaguely remember him becoming Pope when I was 5 years old because my devoutly Catholic maternal grandmother was quite excited by it. John Paul II is a man who has stood against the secular world and never wavered in his respect for life, he prays for those who would destroy him, and despite illness and age, has continued to spread the word of God everywhere he goes. Whether or not you are a Catholic, non-Catholic, Jew, whatever, it cannot be denied that he is a man of principle and compassion.

I get disgusted when I see the news of someone's ill health turn into 'my religion is better than yours, nana-boo-boo' within a handful of posts. So you don't like the Catholic Church--fine. Leave the doctrine and so on for another thread. There are times I want to join the name calling with words that would get me banned, but I restrain myself. Not because I am afraid of being banned per se (even though I would not like it), but because I have to stand before my Lord someday and account for what I have said and done.