Tomorrow's elevation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II to sainthood by the Catholic Church is a mixed bag. Both Popes had major impacts on the Church they led: John XXIII for his modernization of the Church and ecumenical outreach to other faiths, and John Paul II for his return to more conservative and evangelical policies. And, of course there was the impact of scandal in the latter's Papacy: John Paul II presided over the worst scandal for the Church in modern times, child sexual abuse by clergy and the long-term coverup. An article in The Nation from a few years ago has the particulars and perhaps the best case for objecting to John Paul II's sainthood.
The Church can elevate whomever they want to sainthood -- both Popes were put on a fast-track that normally takes decades and even centuries. But John Paul II's elevation to sainthood discounts the horrendous impact the sex abuse scandal had on the most vulnerable in the Church and his failure to ask questions, take action and clean house (see, Cardinal Bernard Law, who acted as travel agent and bursar for pedophile priests, and kept his red biretta). After seeing the tragic photo below, some would say a message is being sent. It's a statue of Christ that was dedicated to John Paul II that toppled over on Thursday and killed a young man in Cevo, Italy.
(cartoon: Darrin Bell, via Gocomics.com)
