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	An Argument against John Paul Ii's Canonization By Rod Dreher Beliefnet August 14, 2009 http://blog.beliefnet.com/crunchycon/2009/08/an-argument-against-john-paul.html Eric Giunta, a conservative Catholic from Florida, uses the latest Maciel scandal as the starting point for arguing that Pope John Paul II should not be canonized. Excerpt: The allegations highlight what for all too many Catholics is the elephant-in-the-room when discussing the ills which beset the modern Church: the extent to which the late Pope John Paul II was an enabler of these perversions, from sexual and liturgical abuse to theological dissent and the scandal of Catholic politicians who support the most immoral of social policies with the tacit or express blessings of their Church. One does not need to deny or disparage the personal sanctity, thoughtful conservatism, or religious orthodoxy of the late Pontiff in order to acknowledge that his Pontificate, by all accounts, was a glorious failure. Yes, he aided in the fall of Eastern European Communism, but the Pope of Rome is not primarily a mover and shaker of state politics, but a Christian pastor whose mission it is to save souls, convert the lost, and govern his church in such a way that it resembles, as best as possible, the city on a hill, the light of the world whose radiance cannot be hid under a bushel-basket. More: Though Catholics and others are loathe to admit it of an otherwise beloved Pope, John Paul II oversaw a church which deteriorated in both its inner and outer life. His callous indifference toward the victims of priestly sexual abuse in refusing to meet personally with a single one of them, and his stubborn refusal to compel the resignation from office of any of the bishops who aided, abetted, and covered-up the abuse, are testamentary to his utter failure: not as a Catholic or a theologian, but as a Pope. And this is precisely why he should not be canonized. Read the whole thing. I'm sure this will be a controversial discussion, but remember one thing: I'm neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the Giunta essay. I'm no longer a Catholic, and it's not my place to do so, and I wouldn't feel comfortable making this kind of call even if I were Catholic. I'm putting it out there for readers to consider because it's interesting to consider the late pope's legacy, and to what extent his personal sanctity (which few doubt) and his effectiveness in his office have to do with making this judgment. I.e., should the sex abuse scandals and John Paul's alleged misgovernance of the church prevent him from being canonized?
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