Pope John Paul II Dies; Times Can't Find Someone Who Liked Him

Powerline ^ | 4/2/05 | John H. Hinderaker

[BCrago66]

Pope John Paul II died this afternoon. The New York Times reports on his papacy in an article that inadvertently tells us more than the Times really wanted us to know. The Times had its criticisms of John Paul's papacy ready to go, but apparently went looking for something good to say about the Pope at the last minute:

Even as his own voice faded away, his views on the sanctity of all human life echoed unambiguously among Catholics and Christian evangelicals in the United States on issues from abortion to the end of life.

need some quote from supporter

John Paul II's admirers were as passionate as his detractors, for whom his long illness served as a symbol for what they said was a decrepit, tradition-bound papacy in need of rejuvenation and a bolder connection with modern life.

"The situation in the Catholic church is serious," Hans Kung, the eminent Swiss theologian, who was barred by from teaching in Catholic schools because of his liberal views, wrote last week. "The pope is gravely ill and deserves every compassion. But the Church has to live. ...

In my opinion, he is not the greatest pope but the most contradictory of the 20th century. A pope of many, great gifts, and of many bad decisions!"

Among liberal Catholics, he was criticized for his strong opposition to abortion, homosexuality and contraception, as well as the ordination of women and married men. Though he was never known as a strong administrator of the dense Vatican bureaucracy, he kept a centralizing hand on the selection of bishops around the world and enforced a rigid adherence to many basic church teachings among the clergy and Catholic theologians.

There you have it. The Times' criticisms are ready to go, a few good words for the Pope are an afterthought.

UPDATE: I got a screen grab of the second page of the Times article, just before they changed it to delete the "need some quote from supporter:"

[FormerACLUmember]

The NY Times staff lives in Deepest Blue Amerika, where there are absolutely no Christians.

[pbear8]

All the news that's fit to make up.

[Texas_Jarhead]

Pope John Paul II died this afternoon. The New York Times reports on his papacy in an article that inadvertently tells us more than the Times really wanted us to know. The Times had its criticisms of John Paul's papacy ready to go, but apparently went looking for something good to say about the Pope at the last minute:

Even as his own voice faded away, his views on the sanctity of all human life echoed unambiguously among Catholics and Christian evangelicals in the United States on issues from abortion to the end of life.

need some quote from supporter

John Paul II's admirers were as passionate as his detractors, for whom his long illness served as a symbol for what they said was a decrepit, tradition-bound papacy in need of rejuvenation and a bolder connection with modern life.

"The situation in the Catholic church is serious," Hans Kung, the eminent Swiss theologian, who was barred by from teaching in Catholic schools because of his liberal views, wrote last week. "The pope is gravely ill and deserves every compassion. But the Church has to live. ...

In my opinion, he is not the greatest pope but the most contradictory of the 20th century. A pope of many, great gifts, and of many bad decisions!"

Among liberal Catholics, he was criticized for his strong opposition to abortion, homosexuality and contraception, as well as the ordination of women and married men. Though he was never known as a strong administrator of the dense Vatican bureaucracy, he kept a centralizing hand on the selection of bishops around the world and enforced a rigid adherence to many basic church teachings among the clergy and Catholic theologians.

 

There you have it. The Times' criticisms are ready to go, a few good words for the Pope are an afterthought.

UPDATE: I got a screen grab of the second page of the Times article, just before they changed it to delete the "need some quote from supporter:"

Click on this graphic for a graphic of the actual article

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

"A homophobe old guy who was scared of condoms." Ah, what love. What honor they give him.

[Tall_Texan]

LOL!!! The Old Senile Grey Liberal Lady strikes again!

[mewzilla]

Among liberal Catholics...

Snort. Nice euphemism.

[An Old Marine]

The NY Times staff lives in Deepest Blue Amerika, where there are absolutely no Christians.

Not true. I live within 50 miles of the NY Times HQ. I will not surrender my home to the Nilists of the Times. Never give up, never surrender.

[South40]

[Bahbah]

need some quote from supporter

I can't believe they didn't call me. What is the matter with those people???

[Petronski]

[Dan from Michigan]

And this is "the paper of record"????

[TASMANIANRED]

bump.

[GenXFreedomFighter]

That's too funny! The 'Rats at the NYT got caught politicizing the death of the pope!

Rest in peace, Holy Father.

[moroque11]

-- insert funny quip from freeper --

[syriacus]

What a great catch!! I enjoyed sharing it with my family. Thank you.

[leadhead]

I interviewed 10 people today that couldn't think of any thing good to say about the NYT. Then they asked if it died yet!

[FlingWingFlyer]

"Liberal Catholics." Isn't that the mob who believes that the Ten Commandments are really only the Ten Suggestions?

[AnnOutragedCitizen]

Great catch.

It saddens me to know that so many think that God must follow the whims of man, as the Pope should change the church to follow the current desires of the population.

Seems to me that that is what got everyone in trouble back in the Old Testament (many times!). (OK, New Testament, too.)

One would think that the New York Times would have had something prepared, as millions will mourn the death of the Pope. I'm sure they will rectify the glaring error in the article, but a sad statement about the Times (and our society, based on the quotes.)

[cyborg]

LOL

[Txsleuth]

Mort Kondrake on Fox News last night was saying that the Catholics should look for a more "liberal" Pope this time because JP11 was too conservative because of the abortion, gay marriage, abstinence issues...

I thought Fred Barnes was gonna jump him...and even Charles Krauthammer and Chris Wallace were surprised that Kondrake would make that suggestion...
They all said that the Pope's conservativeness is what MADE him the respected Pope that he was!

[DTogo]

Among liberal Catholics, he was criticized for his strong opposition to abortion, homosexuality and contraception, as well as the ordination of women and married men.

The Catholic Church Sens. Flip-Flop and Chappaquiddick go to...

[ladyjane]

Does Drudge have this?

[Congressman Billybob]

Was this article, with its revealing inside comment still intact, posted in a public place on the net where regular humans could get and see it?

Billybob

[Texas_Jarhead]

John H. Hinderaker over @ Powerline blog caught it. I just reposted it with some helpful formatting. FReegards.

[sockmonkey]

That is my favorite picture of the Pope..Joking around with all the Young People who had come to see him that day-letting them know, "I see you."

If you saw the Pic's from St. Peter's Square as the Pope came nearer and nearer to his death. So many of those there praying for him, chanting, "Don't leave us Papa" were young people.

I find it notable that his last message this morning was to the young people- "I came looking for you, and now you come looking for me. I thank you."

[anniegetyourgun]

Their pope is John Kerry.

[Texas_Jarhead]

per the Powerline blog entry, "UPDATE: I got a screen grab of the second page of the Times article, just before they changed it to delete the "need some quote from supporter:"

To me that indicates a publicly viewable web page.

[wtc911]

John Paul II's admirers were as passionate as his detractors, for whom his long illness served as a symbol for what they said was a decrepit, tradition-bound papacy in need of rejuvenation and a bolder connection with modern life.

--------------------------------

Did you make this up? I can't find it.

[dts32041]

Echoing the Mort Kondracke syndrome, mort non catholic hated the this Pope cause he wouldn't ordain the female of the species.

[Bahbah]

Mort Kondrake on Fox News last night was saying that the Catholics should look for a more "liberal" Pope

I was watching that. In a way, it was kind of hilarious. There he was, a non-Catholic, suggesting that the Catholic church just go the way of the protestant denominations that are moving with the "culture". I'm listening to two ladies discuss what will be "looked for" in the next Pope, and it is pretty hilarious as well.

[bethelgrad]

I (an Evangelical) had the privilege of praying for him over the 1MC on the Cruiser I serve on two nights ago.

[FormerACLUmember]

The NY Times staff lives in Deepest Blue Amerika, where there are absolutely no Christians. Not true. I live within 50 miles of the NY Times HQ. I will not surrender my home to the Nilists of the Times. Never give up, never surrender.

Me too. The NY Times staff lives in parts of Manhattan and socialize in circles where they never, ever meet a practicing Christian. The only Catholics thay bump into are the Salvadoran cleaning girls coming in at night to the Times building offices.

[Texas_Jarhead]

my comment #29 was meant for you

[Tacis]

The NYT lack of ebthusiasm for Pope John Paul II is understandable. The Pope and Ronald Reagan destroyed communism! The two of them did more in a short span than all other anti-communists in 70 years were unable to do. Naturally, the NYT resents this. The NYT despises Reagan and is just as unhappy about the Pope. Except, there may still be some Catholics who buy the rag.

What's more, the death of the Pope leaves the NYT in an awkward position. Yhe Pope's death leaves George Bush as the world's leading Christian and foremost Christian leader. The new Pope may take this role, but he will need time to get established. Bush has the moral integrity and stature to, in effect, speak for the world's Christians and the NYTs doesn't like that one bit!

And, of course, the NYT is run by neocommunist scumbag dem liberal progressive crapweasels and they don't like ANYTHING Christian!

[anonymoussierra]

"MeekOneGOP""Admin Moderator"please""A homophobe old guy who was scared of condoms." Ah, what love. What honor they give him."ENOUGH!!!!

[FormerACLUmember]

You served your country and you are a devout Christian. You are utterly hated by the democrats, no matter what their deceptive spin is currently.

[softwarecreator]

I would love to see the NYT say anything bad about Islam. They won't because they can only pick on a religion that won't sneak into their homes at night and slice their fool heads off. Scum bagz, all of 'em.

[netmilsmom]

Oh that is just the most pitifully funny thing I have seen.

[FlingWingFlyer]

You've got that right. And Red Ted Kennedy is one of their cardinals.

[netmilsmom]

>>"Liberal Catholics." Isn't that the mob who believes that the Ten Commandments are really only the Ten Suggestions?<<

Oh geez, I just love this!
May I quote you?
May I quote you to my Flaming Lib/Former Cleveland teacher/lesbian/sister who is self proclaimed "So Marian"?

[unbalanced but fair]

Send it to Drudge. See if he'll post it.

[Soul Seeker]

Mort can be fairly reasonable on econimics and foriegn policy. Once we enter the topic of social conservatism and Faith in general, time to turn the channel.

I'm not surprised by the NYT's, I am pleased they got caught.

[Ed_in_NJ]

Well done!

[spinestein]

LOL!!!

[fortunecookie]

Well apparently they failed to check out St. Patrick's Cathedral, full of people praying for the Pope, for his recovery and later for the repose of his soul. Fox and CNN both had snippets of conversations with people full of kind things to say. (Hear that, NY times? Get out from under your rock.)

[TXBubba]

go the way of the protestant denominations that are moving with the "culture".

Hee, please put the word "some" in there when speaking of us Protestants. We aren't all moving with the "culture" here. No more than the whole Catholic church is moving with the liberals within it.

[oh8eleven]

Among liberal Catholics...
Snort. Nice euphemism.
Oxymoron is more fitting.
.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Conservative yes.
My criticism of him is that he did not support us in Iraq.Big mistake, although I take into account his age. How come its ok to war against the commies and the Nazis but not Sadaam. He missed it big time on this.