Criticizing Pope John Paul II

The Wanderer Press ^ | May 10, 2003 | JOHN YOUNG

[ultima ratio]

I would place this bit of hagiography in the category of damage control. This Pope has certainly made mistakes--but they are not trivial, as this writer seems to believe, they are cataclysmic, and have taken the Church down a road never before travelled.

No pope in history has ever poured out libations to animist gods; none have ever kissed the Koran. This Pope has done this and more: he has elevated apostates to the cardinalate, he has canonized people of bogus sanctity, he has tolerated liturgical abuses for decades, he has presided over a scandal-ridden Church without taking measures to reform.

JnPII certainly deserves much criticism--though criticizing popes is not something traditional Catholics take to easily. But in recent years it has become increasingly apparent that it is a little ridiculous to complain about bad bishops and cardinals while pretending the man at the top has nothing to do with their multiple transgressions. It is not enough for him to do a p.r. turn, make a speech and hope the scandals and apostasies will go away. Action is called for.

The Pope globe-trots endlessly--as if these mass rallies were his primary function. They are not. The primary function of the papacy is to protect the traditional faith. This John Paul II has not done and is not doing.

[Aloysius]

How to Govern One's Speech

Perhaps you should have followed your own advice when posting comments about Bishop Williamson. Those who live in glass houses.......

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

I am already feeling annoyed with them and I don't even KNOW any of them - never have come across any in my life-time so far!!

You must invite her here:-)

[TradicalRC]

Um, women with their heads covered may be in the big 'T' column. The apostle to the gentiles, Paul states it in the New Testament. It's funny, the Protestants who used to tout Sola Scriptura, seem to totally ignore this for the sake of cultural "relevancy".

[ultima ratio]

"Nor did the Pope join in prayer with them, as is sometimes insinuated. The groups prayed separately."

The Pope HAS prayed with animists--and even noted as much in his diary--just as he has prayed in a synagogue with Jews THEIR PRAYER for the coming of "a" messiah. This should shock any thinking Catholic. The attempt to make this seem normal for a pope has been a trend among conservative excuse-makers ever since Vatican II. Catholics are being asked continuously to accept the unacceptable--a pope who prays with Voodoo priests and witchdoctors, Masses which more and more resemble Protestant worship services, "spiritual shepherds" who permit the rape of altar boys, seminary professors who teach heresy and expell orthodox candidates, Catholic colleges and universities that hire wiccan theologians and allow performances of "Vagina Monologues" during Lent. None of this is normal. All of it is profoundly unCatholic.

[Pyro7480]

You've got to love Scupoli. I recently got "Spiritual Combat" and a book by Fr. John Robinson titled "Spiritual Combat Revisited, printed this year by Ignatius Press. Scupoli's opus inspired one of my favorite saints, St. Francis de Sales. He carried a copy of "Spiritual Combat" for at least 18 years of his life. One can see the influence of Scupoli in the saint's writings.

[ultima ratio]

The figures you post are bogus. Why? Because they count as Catholic anyone who has been baptized. As you must know, this is no barometer to indicate who is a practicing Catholic--and even less is it a barometer to judge the spiritual health of the Church. Mass attendance is a much better guage and it has dropped from 80%+ in the early sixties to around 17%--and falling--today. The loss of faith in major Catholic dogmas such as the Real Presence is an even better determinant.

[Pyro7480]

All right already! I think highly of both of you, but this isn't getting us anywhere. I think we can all recognize that there are problems in this modern age of the Church. I know this has some overtones of Rodney King's famous words, but we know what our task is. Let's work together to help solve it, and put our faith in Jesus Christ, instead of men full of flaws. If we put of faith, hope, and love in Him, and let this govern our words, actions, thoughts, and feelings, we will see progress.

[Pyro7480]

I know ultimately, the man at the hope has responsibility if these things happen in the Church. However, I fail to see that he's to blame for everything. That's like blaming God for the evil in the world.

[Pyro7480]

I know, but I like to being outspoken... just to spite them all. ;-)

[Pyro7480]

I'd definitely recommend the book. I'm about halfway through it, and the great counsel I've found will last me a lifetime.

[ultima ratio]

Your friend is confused. Dogma didn't change because of the vernacular--it changed because whether in Latin or English the New Mass suppresses Catholic doctrine and asserts a Protestant theology in its stead. Gradually, this has destroyed belief in the Real Presence. Millions now no longer believe in this central Catholic dogma. Likewise the Catholic belief in Christ's expiation for our sins has been diminished by the new Mass. The vernacular only makes a bad situation worse by adding to an essentially Protestant theology prosaic prayers and tacky rubrics.

[St.Chuck]

Your friend on the other forum has a thorough understanding of what's up.

[ultima ratio]

Hey, Williamson guards the chastity of children. The Pope and his minions are doing a very bad job in this department the last several decades.

[St.Chuck]

Your back to your old list again. Boring.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

More importantly, what are you doing talking to other Catholics on other forums??!! We are the only ones you are allowed to talk to.

I feel slighted and cheap **turns head away in disgust**