April 04, 2005

Local Catholics gather to honor John Paul II

CALIFORNIA
Daily Bulletin

By Brad A. Greenberg
Staff Writer

Thousands of Catholics flocked to local parishes Saturday to honor the life of Pope John Paul II.

"The world is a better place because he was in it," said Matt Beall, 21, of San Bernardino. "It is very sad he is gone, but it is also joyous because he is with the Lord."

The death of the 84-year-old pontiff closed the book on a fabled life for the third-longest-serving pope in history.

To many in the Inland Empire, John Paul embodied the teachings of Jesus Christ. ...

The Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests released a statement Saturday thanking John Paul for saying in 2002 that there is "no place in the priesthood for those who would harm the young."

"We all hope that his successor will push harder to hold bishops accountable for harboring priests who abuse children," Mary Grant, southwest regional director of Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests, said.

Posted by kshaw at April 4, 2005 04:50 AM