| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"RG" |
| Date: |
05 Apr 2005 05:14:05 PM |
| Object: |
Conservatives exaggerating John Paul II's role? |
Pope's place in history 'enlarged'
Peter Wilson
SUPPORTERS of Pope John Paul II have been accused of exaggerating his
place in Catholic history in an effort to tie the hands of future
popes and make it impossible for successors in coming decades to move
away from his tough position on issues such as contraception, women
priests and married clergy.
The row has been sparked by the speed with which several conservative
cardinals, including Sydney Archbishop George Pell, have declared the
Polish Pope should be known as "John Paul the Great".
The Pope's most ardent admirers say his achievements in undermining
communism and overseeing the church's rapid expansion in developing
countries warrant the title of Great, which is reserved for the
greatest of popes.
The term has only been universally applied to two previous popes -
both saints and recognised as pivotal figures in Christianity's
2000-year history, and it has not been awarded to any pope of the past
1400 years.
John Wilkins, a former editor of the Catholic weekly Tablet, and a
liberal who has criticised many of John Paul's conservative policies,
said the bestowing of the title of Great was deliberate.
"It's part of a rush to attempt to commit the Pope's successor to what
policies he should follow, and to push the cardinals in their conclave
in a certain direction," he said, referring to the choice of a new
pope.
The Pope's most senior aide, Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Sodano,
described the dead pontiff as "John Paul the Great" in the written
text of a speech issued to reporters after his death.
Cardinal Pell was one of several cardinals to make similar statements,
declaring: "History will know him as John Paul the Great.
"He was not only the most politically influential pope in centuries.
He was also, to the very end, one of the greatest Christian pastors in
history," Cardinal Pell said.
Several newspapers in Italy, Britain and other countries used the
title "John Paul the Great" this week in covering the Pope's death,
including the official Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano.
If the new pope uses the same term after being selected in the next
three weeks, the title is likely to be widely adopted. Experts say
there is no formal process for bestowing the title, and it depends on
public usage and the future judgments of historians.
English cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor said John Paul was a giant of
the church who should be known as a saint as well as Great.
"I would be surprised if his case didn't come up for canonisation,
when you think of his life, his dedication and his genuine holiness,"
he said.
Mexican cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan has already publicly backed a
bid to attribute a miracle to John Paul II, the first step to
fast-tracking him to sainthood.
Lozano Barragan told Mexican television on the weekend about an
incident in 1990 when the Pope blessed and kissed a four-year-old who
was suffering from leukaemia and had been declared terminally ill. The
boy is now a 19-year-old student and his family believe he was healed
miraculously.
Becoming a saint used to take decades but John Paul streamlined the
process, canonising his friend Mother Teresa within six years of her
death.
The two previous popes who are hailed as saints and Greats are Leo I
and Gregory I, both of whom were as acclaimed for their work as
political leaders as they were for their spiritual guidance.
Pope's place in history 'enlarged'
Peter Wilson
SUPPORTERS of Pope John Paul II have been accused of exaggerating his
place in Catholic history in an effort to tie the hands of future
popes and make it impossible for successors in coming decades to move
away from his tough position on issues such as contraception, women
priests and married clergy.
The row has been sparked by the speed with which several conservative
cardinals, including Sydney Archbishop George Pell, have declared the
Polish Pope should be known as "John Paul the Great".
The Pope's most ardent admirers say his achievements in undermining
communism and overseeing the church's rapid expansion in developing
countries warrant the title of Great, which is reserved for the
greatest of popes.
The term has only been universally applied to two previous popes -
both saints and recognised as pivotal figures in Christianity's
2000-year history, and it has not been awarded to any pope of the past
1400 years.
John Wilkins, a former editor of the Catholic weekly Tablet, and a
liberal who has criticised many of John Paul's conservative policies,
said the bestowing of the title of Great was deliberate.
"It's part of a rush to attempt to commit the Pope's successor to what
policies he should follow, and to push the cardinals in their conclave
in a certain direction," he said, referring to the choice of a new
pope.
The Pope's most senior aide, Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Sodano,
described the dead pontiff as "John Paul the Great" in the written
text of a speech issued to reporters after his death.
Cardinal Pell was one of several cardinals to make similar statements,
declaring: "History will know him as John Paul the Great.
"He was not only the most politically influential pope in centuries.
He was also, to the very end, one of the greatest Christian pastors in
history," Cardinal Pell said.
Several newspapers in Italy, Britain and other countries used the
title "John Paul the Great" this week in covering the Pope's death,
including the official Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano.
If the new pope uses the same term after being selected in the next
three weeks, the title is likely to be widely adopted. Experts say
there is no formal process for bestowing the title, and it depends on
public usage and the future judgments of historians.
English cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor said John Paul was a giant of
the church who should be known as a saint as well as Great.
"I would be surprised if his case didn't come up for canonisation,
when you think of his life, his dedication and his genuine holiness,"
he said.
Mexican cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan has already publicly backed a
bid to attribute a miracle to John Paul II, the first step to
fast-tracking him to sainthood.
Lozano Barragan told Mexican television on the weekend about an
incident in 1990 when the Pope blessed and kissed a four-year-old who
was suffering from leukaemia and had been declared terminally ill. The
boy is now a 19-year-old student and his family believe he was healed
miraculously.
Becoming a saint used to take decades but John Paul streamlined the
process, canonising his friend Mother Teresa within six years of her
death.
The two previous popes who are hailed as saints and Greats are Leo I
and Gregory I, both of whom were as acclaimed for their work as
political leaders as they were for their spiritual guidance.
.
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| User: "Ike" |
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| Title: Re: Conservatives exaggerating John Paul II's role? |
05 Apr 2005 06:55:06 PM |
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"RG" <RG@no.thks.net> wrote in message
news:rph5519176c24qs0dqub8srn7bhhohlo8l@4ax.com...
Pope's place in history 'enlarged'
Peter Wilson
SUPPORTERS of Pope John Paul II have been accused of exaggerating his
place in Catholic history in an effort to tie the hands of future
popes and make it impossible for successors in coming decades to move
away from his tough position on issues such as contraception, women
priests and married clergy.
The row has been sparked by the speed with which several conservative
cardinals, including Sydney Archbishop George Pell, have declared the
Polish Pope should be known as "John Paul the Great".
The Pope's most ardent admirers say his achievements in undermining
communism and overseeing the church's rapid expansion in developing
countries warrant the title of Great, which is reserved for the
greatest of popes.
Great tourist attraction. The next one will be a blackamoor.
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| User: "Major Malfunction" |
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| Title: Re: Conservatives exaggerating John Paul II's role? |
05 Apr 2005 11:55:00 PM |
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"RG" <RG@no.thks.net> wrote in message
news:rph5519176c24qs0dqub8srn7bhhohlo8l@4ax.com...
Pope's place in history 'enlarged'
Peter Wilson
SUPPORTERS of Pope John Paul II have been accused of exaggerating his
place in Catholic history in an effort to tie the hands of future
popes and make it impossible for successors in coming decades to move
away from his tough position on issues such as contraception, women
priests and married clergy.
Bwahahaha!! Since when did the Catholic Church become a democracy, worrying
about the "popularity" of stances on issues. If that were the case, the
church would've changed their position on the issues mentioned above years
ago. No, the Catholic Church does not compromise their doctrines in this
way. We have the Anglican Church for that.
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| User: "Ray Fischer" |
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| Title: Re: Conservatives exaggerating John Paul II's role? |
06 Apr 2005 03:54:44 AM |
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RG <RG@no.thks.net> wrote:
Pope's place in history 'enlarged'
Peter Wilson
SUPPORTERS of Pope John Paul II have been accused of exaggerating his
place in Catholic history in an effort to tie the hands of future
popes and make it impossible for successors in coming decades to move
away from his tough position on issues such as contraception, women
priests and married clergy.
The row has been sparked by the speed with which several conservative
cardinals, including Sydney Archbishop George Pell, have declared the
Polish Pope should be known as "John Paul the Great".
Well, gee, if I wanted to be really crude, I could make some comment
about another Catholic bishop showing how experienced he is at kissing
***** and sucking *****.
The Pope's most ardent admirers say his achievements in undermining
communism and overseeing the church's rapid expansion in developing
countries warrant the title of Great, which is reserved for the
greatest of popes.
Never mind the millions of people dead because of his irrational
distaste for sexuality.
--
Ray Fischer
rfischer@sonic.net
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