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Let me say first that I consider myself a loyal Catholic and am a great fan of the Pope. I do believe things are improving, but I do not see anything wrong in the trying to understand the perplexing way Rome has acted the past few decades. Many fair minded and loyal folks have wondered why Rome does not act in a more forceful manner.

Now, I understand that there are times when things happen behind the scenes, but one whould be hard pressed to make a case that Rome has done as much as they could in stopping abuses of all types. I am not referring to the sexual scandals alone. As I have said many times here, one can go into a McDonalds anywhere in the USA and know what one is getting, the same is not true of a Catholic parish. One may get a licit faithful mass and instruction or one may get material heresy and illicit masses.

We all know that the bishops are to blame in many respects, but one can't make a case that Rome is not aware of the tremendous dissent that has occurred. Why are some made bishops or cardinals when they defy Church teachings for example?

I see nothing wrong with the faithful urging Rome to act in a more direct and clear manner to stop error.

Part of the problem with what Rome can do is how the channels are set up and how information is disseminated.

Where I see positive change (read: orthodox tradition and sticking to the rubrics of Mass) is where the laity are holding the clergy's feet to the fire, if they can and if they know that it is their right to do so. (Some clergy are rather strong willed about things.) A good part of the problem is that when a directive is sent out, it is sent to the chanceries and it is up to the bishop to communicate and implement it. This is where things get sticky. There are those who would never think to look anywhere but the bishop for what was said. If the directive is ignored or communicated completely wrong, then it is up to the laity to research and find out if the bishops are correct and there are more than not who just won't expend the energy.

Last year I recommended any Catholic who was having trouble understanding what had happened to the Church and wondered how it could be stopped,read a good book on guerilla warfare.The Church was infiltrated and subverted by guerillas,using their age old techniqes and will be rescued by counterinsurgents,using unceasing prayer and clear voices,speaking out in truth,in season and out of season.

We can use all of their techniques except the lie but to counterbalance that we can call on all the saints in heaven to supplement our army.

I am sympathetic to your complaint.

Only guess I have is that Rome was so full of termites when JPII came to town (and he knew it) that he couldn't be TOO active without some problems.

And I think that the biggest potential problem he faced then was that if he started shooting, the bad guys would shoot back with "outings", naming-the-Masons, and finding a few other little skeletons here, there, and everywhere.

That sort of nuclear war would be intolerable. Sure, the Church would be left standing--but if it cost several million Faithful who left in disgust, cui bono??

It's clear to you and me that saving one's soul is up to oneself. No Cardinal or Bishop can do it for you; we can't phone it in. It's also worth remembering that a mis-catechized individual does not necessarily bear total responsibility for sins they have objectively committed.

This is not an argument for flaccidity, by any means, and it is obvious that JPII's appointments in the recent past in the USA demonstrate that he knows who's who.

OTOH, the Torquemada Gentlemen's Club is still taking members. If you have skill with building fires, or tracking down perps, or cross-examination, feel free to join.

I think JPII took over when the Vatican was full of termites, and he knew it.

It is entirely likely that if he started a cleanup campaign, they would have fired back with "outings," 'naming-the-Masons', and other dirt; it would have turned into a nuclear war.

That would have benefitted only one party: Satan--it most likely would not have been worth the millions of scandalized/lost members of the Faithful.

While I am no advocate of flaccidity, the last Canon in the Canon Law is '...to save souls...' Recall that mis-catechized people do NOT bear total culpability for objective sin--and in the end, that saving one's soul is our personal responsibility--no Bish or Cardinal can do it for you.

Feel free to join the Tomas Torquemada Gentleman's Club. If you are good with building fires from wood, at skip-tracing, or cross-examination, we are accepting new members. One never knows when Rome will call us into action.