Supporters of sainthood for Pope John Paul II argue that he did everything from end communism to cure Parkinson’s. His detractors point out the pontiff was an autocrat and pedophile collaborator. There is truth in everything, and this article will examine those assertions; however, as of Sunday, May 1, 2011 the Polish Pope is but one miracle away from becoming Catholicism’s latest saint.
Five Requirements for Sainthood
Investigation – is the authorization to begin examination of an applicant’s life, five years after death, except in special cases.
Postulator – begins a thorough investigation into the applicant's life, now called a “Servant of God” (SOG).
Certification – requires exhumation and verification of the Servant of God’s body and a determination to be cult free.
Heroic in Virtue – once it has been determined the SOG led a heroic life, adhering to the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity and the cardinal principles of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance, the church accepts the status. The applicant is now “Venerable.”
Beatification – is the second to last step to sainthood. The Venerable is suspected of being in heaven, called “Blessed” and may now intercede on behalf of a living person requesting help.
Saint – upon canonization the servant is known to be in heaven and has performed two miracles after death.
Mr. Gorbachev Tear-Down this Wall
Cardinal Karol Jozef Wojtyla was definitely a popular pope, coming into power at a time of profound change. He symbolized the decades’ long ideological dichotomies between Polish communism and western Roman Catholicism.
He traveled extensively using great linguistic skills to express his message. Supporters argue he would dispel the autocratic rule of communism while simultaneously decrying the social ills of capitalism; preaching hope amid injustice and fortitude among lethargy.
Solidarity – John Paul’s clandestine support of the polish anticommunist movement is credited with aiding in the fall of communism. “I think he played an extraordinary role in bringing about the end of communism, the end of the cold war…" Father Thomas Reese, editor of America magazine, said to CNN in 2003.
Human Rights – On the eve of a trip to Africa (August 8, 1985), John Paul spoke out against apartheid. Marco Politi, author of "His Holiness," said in a CNN profile, broadcast in 2003, the pontiff wanted “…to transform the Roman papacy into the spokesman of human rights."
The Miracle – Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, suffering from Parkinson's degenerative symptoms could no longer write because of her trembling hand. Nicole Winfield, of the Associated Press reported Sister Marie’s supervisor “told her that ‘John Paul II hasn't had the last word’ and that she should pray.”
Simon-Pierre "was healed on the night between June 2 and 3," reported Peter Mayer of the Kansas City Star on April 30, 2011. A group of medical and church experts investigated the event, concluded it could not be scientifically explained and on January 14, 2011 Pope Benedict proclaimed the healing a miracle.
John Paul II the Desperado
There are an equal number of detractors of the canonization who refute nearly all positive arguments. An April 27, 2011 BBC documentary argued, “John Paul's critics condemned him [for]…stifling new thinking…stamping out dissent…and [undoing] the second Vatican Council.”
Communism – opponents disagree with the Polish Pope’s anticommunist influence. As a western thinking Pole opposition was natural. Nobel Laureate Andrei Sakharov opposed the Soviet regime as well but was not credited with such authority.
Historians agree; the FSU collapsed because of economics. The Cold War Museum argues that citizens in the west were able to prosper from the military industrial buildup while Soviet citizens “could not get a descent pair of boots.” It had little to do with the Pope or Sakharov, but guns and butter.
Human Rights – cynics maintain John Paul’s human rights policies were selective, especially in light of the church’s sex scandals. The BBC contended, “John Paul II was a…powerful, if inflexible…evangelist.” His stance on contraception was ignored by many but followed by those least in a position to do so. And when confronted by critics, who demanded the church divest a small portion of its massive wealth to aid those less fortunate, John Paul vociferously objected.
Pedophiles – disqualification arguments, based upon the church’s sex scandals, revolve around three central treatises.
1. If the Pope were unaware of the crises for 26.5 years he was incompetent and thus unfit for sainthood. He fails the Heroic in Virtue test because inattention defies the cardinal principles of prudence and fortitude.
2. If he were aware and felt it a minor issue he failed the Heroic in Virtue test in judgment. His assumption neglected the theological virtues of charity and the cardinal principle of justice.
3. If he attempted to cover it up, then he collapsed miserably, forsaking the most vulnerable. All the church’s theological virtues and cardinal principles were ignored.
Miracle Relapse – John Hooper, of The Guardian reported on March 5, 2010 that Sister Marie’s “recovery from Parkinson’s disease has been set back [and]… the French nun has fallen ill again.”
The controversy over this beatification will continue. Whether he was a miracle worker, a saint or just a good man will be supported by his believers. Skeptics contend he was a power hungry demagogue, subsidizing pedophiles instead of his congregation. They maintain he readily utilized his position to fortify the church’s power while perpetuating dark age’s dogma. Today both points are irrelevant: The Holy See pronounced John Paul II Blessed.
Frank W. Hardy - Frank has 36 years of airline experience navigating every ocean & continent. Flying 25,000 hours in 42 years presents a rare historical ...
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